SIR JAMES FERGUSON AT HOME.

Dunstan Times, Issue 578, 16 May 1873, Page 3

SIR JAMES FERGUSON AT HOME.

In the Scotsman February 4th, is the following:—“ His Excellency Sir James Ferguson, Bart., who recently returned to this country from South Australia, on a visit, previous to his assumption of the Governorship of New Zealand, met with his tenantry on the Kilkerran estate at Kilkerran House, Ayrshire, yesterday. The tenantry numbered about seventy. Sir James expressed the pleasure he felt at being once more in their midst, and said he wished to address them briefly on general matters in which he and _ they were interested. He did not intend to speak on political questions at all. In connection with the question of hypothetic, however, he thought it was more a question which concerned the tenantry than the landlords, and he had no doubt that if the tenantry wanted it abolished it would be abolished. He wished move particularly to speak to them on cottage accommodation. He thought there ought to be better accommodation for laborers on all estates than there was at present, and it was his intention to provide such improved accommodation on his estate. He intended to provide good cottages for the larm laborers, giving to each of them a bit of ground and in some cases a cow’s grass, and by this means the laborers condition would be bettered. He intended to do all this in co-operation with his tenantry. At the close of his address three cheers were given tor Sir James and his family, and the company were afterwards entertained to luncheon.