THE CAPE COMMISSIONERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5489, 14 February 1896, Page 2

THE CAPE COMMISSIONERS.

Messrs Visser and Halse, the commissioners appointed by the Government of Cape Colony to visit the Australasian colonies and inquire into the systems of agriculture employed there, particularly as regards grain production, left yesterday afternoon for Ashburton. Yesterday, under the guidance of Mr Holderness, stock inspector, they visited the farms of Messrs John Deans, Riccarton, andW. Boag, Burnside, and were highly pleased at both places with the stock they saw. They also attended the meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and were cordially received by the President, Mr_ E. G. Staveley, the members of committee and the Secretary, Mr Murphy. They also visited one of the polling booths for the parliamentary election, and were favourably impressed with the method of conducting the ballot, which they considered superior to that in use at the Cape. They think highly of New Zealand farming, and regret they are unable to make a longer stay here. Both commissioners are farmers. Mr Visser's home is in the western district, near Cape Town, and Mr Halse's near Queenstown, in the eastern district. Mr Halse, in partnership with his brother, farms on a large scale, their farm producing last year 20,000 bushels of wheat, 72,000 bushels of potatoes, and a large quantity of other produce. The commissioners also take much interest in the New Zealand timber trade. They leave Bluff next Tuesday on their return, hoinoj via Melbourne.