PRAISE FOR QUEENSLAND. A NEW ZEALANDER'S VIEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2285, 2 September 1908, Page 3

PRAISE FOR QUEENSLAND. A NEW ZEALANDER'S VIEWS.

Mr A. C. Thompson, of Christchurch, N.Z., is one of the many recent visitors to Queensland (says the “Brisbane Courier”) and in a short cli.it with a representative of this journal lie spoke in terms of wilrm eulogy of our State. Mr Thompson has travelled a good deal and knows something of the United States and Canada, and he has been farming for some years in tho district of Canterbury. N.Z., so that his praise oi Queensland is that of one who can measure by comparison. Land lias become so dear in New Zealand, said the visitor, that whcyi he sold out some little time ago he felt loth to reinvest there, and hearing something of Queensland, ho decided to como here and investigate. After . three weeks spent here, during which he his been over the Darling Downs and ns far west as Dalby, and has seen both the Brisbane and Toowoomba (Shows, Mr Thompson is consulting his family as fo the advisableness of buying land and settling here. Ono of tho first points that impressed tho visitor was that after taking all facilities, the quality of the soil, etc., into full consideration, land in Queensland is just about one-tinrd the price of that in New Zealand, and he is convinced that this is the State for voting New Zealanders. Recently, the Dominion Government bought 30,000 acres, which they cut up into 28 farms on tho 33 years’ lease system, which is not considered too favorably, yet tho rush for that l.vnd was so great that after it hacl been balloted for there were over 800 disappointed applicants. He- thinks that the appointment of an agent in New Zealand would result in many people coming here to settle, and every man who camo would probably be the means of bringing over a dozen of his friends. “I thought from what I heard that Queensland was a pretty fair country,” said the visitor, “but your shows were a revelation. Your stock -altogether surprised me. Christchurch is supposed to be a champion place for light horses, but I doubt if you could not beat them with the animals shown liere. I saw some very good draught horses, but not quite up to New Zealand standard. Your cattlo all round would compare very favorably with that at Christchurch, and I was impressed with the dairy shorthorns as a very desirable type. Our shows in New Zealand differ from yours in that they are agricultural shows simply, but I like the broader and more comprehensive character of your industrial and agricultural show.” Mr Thompson expressed surprise that closer cultivation was not indulged in on the Downs, and said our farmers should certainly turn their attention to the raising of fat Jambs, ati industry that had been the making of New Zealand. Mr Thompson considers that very valuable work is being dono by the State departments in encouraging land settlement. He lias been particularly surprised at the strides which dairying has made m Queensland, and tho quantity of butter being turned out by our factories in what are practically winter months. The equipment and working of these factories, lie considers, arc also an object lesson. He lias seen some of the big bacon factories of tho world, such as Armour’s, and he thinks the leading factories of Queensland surpass anything he has known for their methods of handling, cleanliness, and the quality of the product. In a'letter to a member of the “Times” staff, Mr Thompson gives some particulars about tho Darling Downs. “The country,” lie says, is magnificent and a great part of the Downs consists of black soil from one to forty feet deep. Water can be obtained almost anywhere at a depth of from 25ft to 50ft. It costs about £35 to sink a well, but the well-bor-ers work oil the “no-water-no-pay” system. As a pastoral country this is great. It is admirably adapted for grazing, and it appears to me that tho natural grasses here are superior to those of Now Zealand. I think the country is on the verge of *ii great land rush and that things will greatly improve. I should say that land will almost double itself in value here within the next eight or ten years, providing, ofcotirse, that no unforeseen crisis arises. The rainfall here is just on a par with that of Canterbury, and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Land can bo bought on very reasonable terms from the Government, viz., 10 per cent cash and nothing more for 5 years, but 5 per cent on the unpaid capital. Then the purchaser commences to pay off the principal and finishes at the end; of.ten years from time of purchase, Tho Queenslanders are very good with stock, but are not such expert farmers as aro New Zealanders- Every week there arc numbers of Victorians and New Zealanders arriving here, and the majority of them purchase. Personally, after a careful inspection of this country, and with the prospects it has in view, I should certainly buy hero' in preference to New Zealand. I had an interview with the Minister of Lands the other day and he tells me he is anxious to get New Zealanders over to show the Queenslanders how to farm. Stock here is- somewhat lower in price than in New Zealand, but not to any great extent. Sheep are about 2s to 3s lower and cittle are also a shade cheaper. Light horses sell from £5 to £ls and draughts up to £4O, or slightly below New Zealand ruling rates. There is a good demand for horses for India. Dairying is becoming well established and factories are at present paying Is per pound for butter fat. The presence of snakes here has often been spoken of in New Zealand, but they do not seem to be so troublesome, at least on the Darling Downs, as ono is led to believe. Indeed, I have here met people up to thirty years of ago who have never yet seen a snake.” »