CONDITIONS IN OTAGO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 10

CONDITIONS IN OTAGO.

• MR. MASSEY MSAPPjOINTED. Interviewed at Dunedin-- this week by-. a representative , of 'the "Otago Daily Tinies,'.' Mr.'Massey.ssid he was disappointed with, the appearance of Central Otago as compared with what it was on.the occasion of his last visit. It had evidently suffered severely from the cycle pf' dry.'.' seasons which had been experienced, and in some places there was.hardly a sign of vegetation left. Tho'. soil was ' good and only wanted water. Hβ thought-a great deal more should be done in the ■ way of tree-planting, ..wrKh tho'iobject not ■only 'of : providing shelter, *!jbut of. increasing' the'rainfall.'' He.tfcelicved it ; would pay to plant ..trees byf-'t-he thousand, and tie necessary encouragement Bh'buld 'be. given; by: .the Government, as. most of. ithe'landwas : !the of .the Crown,. Treesj-grew .particularly ;weU, {and, if-.'iihe,: country; ,was to do 'any . gpMj: wholesale" planting should bo ■,taken"in hand.. ...He, noticed, that in place's the • original' had practically r died out, and he thought experi-J ■ments i should by.i surface-sow-ing some of'.the .grasses which had proved'; successful in parts, of v the.' North Island. There was a lot of good-country, but it wanted water,,, trees, and grasses- suitable to the "soil. -Clbs&:'sellomenf.Wo.uld bo encouraged wherever possible, and better, tenure -provided.; than the ordinary pastoral lease, which, though right .enough". under...certain conditions, did not'make' for ; the-''pefm&neiit improve-? mentsiwhich" ( were.--required. Hβ was greatly pleased with the appearance of the. orchards' about Roxburgh, and other places, and much impressed with the.'-suitability of and'climate for fruit-growfng. purposes.