FARMING IN FIJI.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 66285, 2 October 1925, Page 3

FARMING IN FIJI.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRIT AND ENTERPRISE ' Opportunities for the raising of sheep and other kinds of stock in the islands of the Pacific are steadily growing, according to Mr C. G. Russell, a Wanganui runholder, who returned by the Tofua recently from a trip through the islands. The success achieved by a Fiji sheep-owner in establishing the industry on a firm basis in the islands is regarded hopefully by the residents of Fiji, and it is likely to prove an incentive to others who might be tempted to adopt a similar calling. The Fiji resident in question has some 700 to 1000 sheep on his run, and received very good prices for the wool during the past season. Dairying in Fiji was growing, said Mr Russell, and with the importation of a better class of beast and the improvement of herds the future of dairying was quite good. The Fijian native, however, was lamentably lacking in a knowledge of animals and how they should be treated. A great many of the animals to be seen in the islands were in very poor condition and much of the trouble could be traced to insufficient and improper feeding. The islander seemed to have no idea how to treat a horse, and had just as little respect for it. He was glad to find that in Samoa, at least, General Richardson’s administration was working wonders in the direction of educating and improving the natives’ mind .without depriving them of too much of their native virtues. As far as stock was concerned, the islanders were being taught how to feed and treat animals, and Mr Russell had very little doubt that a change for the better would be noticeable in the near future.