THE PARLIAMENT VISIT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2571, 4 July 1882, Page 3

THE PARLIAMENT VISIT.

SCHOOL OP AGBIOULTUBE. Yesterday morning several members of Parliament and of the Board of Governors, besides other guests, paid a visit to the School of Agriculture, Lincoln, a special train leoving Ohristohuroh shortly after ten o'clock, and stopping at Springs Track, a few minutes' walk from the sohool grounds. Here a pause as to the next move was decided by Mr Buothara, M.H.8., who gallantly stormed the heighta of a windmill ladder forty feet high, several members following, to obtain a bird'seye view of the surrounding country. A num ber* of coteries was presently formed, the personnel of eaoh being organised without regard to parly politioa. The objaotii of interest passed under view were indeed multifarious. Firßt, one of Chandler's liquid manure drills, next, pigs. The stables are substantially ouilt and well ventilated, but the flooring is of uneven bricks instead of smooth and lasting cement. Here the hay box is in vogue, and no doubt with advantage, as raoks for overhead feeding are a torment in filling horses' throats, eyes and manea with dusf., the swallowing of which frequently results in broken-windedness. The dairy will next year be probably utilised as a oheesefactory, it being contemplated to buy milk from farmers in the vicinity. Cheese pressors are already provided; also Olewctt's patent combined cheese-maker. For summer use vessels are provided after tho Aylesbury dairy pattern, the height of the milk boing gamged by scale. The cover being adjusted, the vessel is plunged in running cold water, and the milk is drawn, the cream (white and pure) remaining. It may be, that, from both a medical and a dairyman's point of view, a leading merit in keeping the vessel thus hermetically sealed, and preventing atmospheric air from coming in contaot with the milk or cream, is that the generation of noxious germs is comparatively obviated. The next article is a calf-feeder, a rectangular box for holding milk, a level lid being furnished with a oouple of vuloanised india-rubber suckers. Of two churns, one of similar make drew a prize in England, but in this colony haß been found somewhat tedious in throwing the butter into little round lumps. This article has heavy metal castings, and is turned by handle with an oval twist. The other ohurn ia of a pattern that went to the fore in Philadelphia, the milk being daßbed forward by horizontal motion. Soeosy is the mechanism that one would imagine the good Quaker matrons can readily make butter with one hand and rock the cradle with the other. The strengths necessary to work these two churns are oapital expositions of the objects aimed at by mechanics in Bngland and in America. A butterstamp attracts attention, with the initial letters of the institution, and getting rid of superfluous milk in working. The aotion is quick and sure, presenting an impress of uniform shape—an important point in faotorywork. The Aylesbury Dairy Company's butter worker extracts butter-milk with pitilets constancy, the use of the warm human hand being discarded. Water is at hand to play by hose on this worker. Samples of Hunter's white and other grain are shown growing in test-boxes indoors, nor are signs wanting that one of the sterling features of the Bchool will be to ascertain experimentally the nature of New Zealand soils, their respective chemical defects, and the praotical method, by chemical manure, lime or otherwise, of supplying soils with the ingredient they may lack. The bottled samples of barley (of which, it will be remembered, a good deal was imported to New Zealand when we wero abort of this cereal) are badly saved and of bad color. It may be that the grain was cut all right but had to stand in heavy rain. As compared with the chevalier barley, the Oalifornian is huaky, much thinner, and more oatlike in appearance ; but it will admittedly make malt adapted for a bright and light beer. Good samples are on hand of blue peas and white Sold. Tho Early Emperor shows evenness of growth, smoothness of skin, nice oolor, and has apparently been threshed without breaking. Becker's chemical balance is a marvel of nice measurement, weighing, as it does, to the ten thousandth part of a gramme ; registering to a thousandth part, and after that measuring by u?o of steelyards, an even balanoe is gained only when the pointer swings equally on either side, for so delicate is the mechanism, that a ceasing of oscillation would imply "eticking." The works are protected by glass, atmospheric dust being exoluded. Air-draughts would disturb tho machine's calculations, and tho manual work is done outside the glass, as oven the heat of the hand creates a draught. It ia hoped soon to generate elsctrio light at the school by means of wind oa motive power. Two hundred miles' of wind a day are tho average en the grounds. In the laboratory gasoline is used, the fiamen being wire-netted. Over a furnace is an iron plate covered with sand, in which a number of vessels can be simultaneously boiled or kept at other uniform heat. Glass vessels standing in tho sand are exposed to but slight risk of fracture. Tho number oE bedrooms now provided for students is fifty-five, of which several aro a recent addition.

The party at luncheon, numbering nearly fifty gentlemen, included—Mr W, ifi. Ivey, director, in the chp.ir ; Mr W. Montgomery, M.H.8., chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury CoHege, in the vioe-chair; Mr J. G. Ruddenklau, Mayor of Ohristohuroh; Sir G. M. O'Borko, the Speaker of tho Lower House; tho Hon. Messrs Scotland and Williamson, M.LC.'s; Messrs Boetham, Hursthouse, Hobbi, Loves tarn, Dudson, O 'Callaghan, Ivess, All wright, Petrie, Sutton, Hurst, Watt, Whyte, J. Stevens and Major Harriu, M.H.R.'s ; the Bevs. C. Eraser, J. Elmulie and C. Xurrell ; Mr Wm. Kevell, 8.M.; Mr Dungan, chairman of tho Westland County Council; Professors Barkus, Kirk, Bickerton, Von Huast, Cook and Hutton ; Moss:rs Kenrick, B. W. Foreday, H. B. Webb, H. .r. Tancred, F. Strouts, P. G. Stedman, Vcssy Hamilton, J. N. Toaswill, Jas. Bell, and Councillor Hiorns.

The Bov. Mr ITraser having recited grace after luncheon, the Chairman guvo the toaat of "Her Msjcsty the Quean," which was loyally honored. The Bev. Mr Fraser proposed the health " The Members c£ Parliament," who were present as guests, and coupled with the toast the name of the Speaker. [Cheers]. Sir M. O'Borke, on the nther members' and his own behalf, cordially thanked those who had tendered them so hearty a reception. It was a matter fcr congratulation that an opportunity had been afforded of inspecting so noblo a pilo of buildinjjj as the school, and it was evor dedrable that all should look upon the various institutions in each province with feelings of pleasure, unlinged by envy or jealousy. He desired to see an impetus given to educational development through all parts of the colony generally. When he wanted advice as to how other institutions might be worked up to the samo dogreo of \ proficiency as obtained in Chriatohurch, Mr Montgomery had always given his opinion freely as to the beat means for attaining the objeot in view. [Hear, hear."] He (Sir Maurice) would oonclude by proposing a vote of thanks to their worthy host. [Applause |. Mr Ivey, while rising with diffidence, oouli not but remind the company that they might gee for themselves that the institution was a credit to New Zealand. The institution had not an equal in the southern hemisphere, and but few equals in the northern. He wau'.d admit there were deficiencies; but opinions oonilioted, tome of the public advocating the procuring of such implements and stock as might be useful for young farmers ; and some wanting good stock. For his part, he thought it would be a foolish mistake for inexperienced persons to learn milking by trying their hand on oows that had cost £2OO or £3OO apieoe. Nearly all the work was carried on by apprentices, from whose earlier efforts first-rate farming and ploughing were

. I not to be expeoted, A considerable amount of 'organization and other work had been aohieved ; but, now that the place was being got into working order teports of work done would no doubt be regularly submitted, and every publicity would be afforded to the public, as he had always wished should be the case. [Cheers.] Mr Montgomery, who was then called for, spoke in eulogistic term 9 of Mr. Ivey, as a gentleman possessing both practical and scientific knowledge. Only two years had elapsed since the first student entered the building. Surely it was not necessary to pull plants up by the root to see if they were growing. Mr O'Callaghan had moved for a return showing results, and no doubt it would be seen how the time had not been spent idly, but had been devoted to experiments and other useful work. When the Board appointed a gentleman to take charge, it was not their business to direot him to sow turnips or shear sheep. Money and opportunities wore given him, and the Board confidently expected that good results would be arrived at. [Cheers.] He (Mr Montgomery) e,nd his fellow workers in the cause of education wished that every educational advantage possessed here were extended to every part of Now Zealand. He should like to see Government take steps to provide Auckland with a College, endowed to the extent of £4OOO or £SOOO a year. Education did more for a country than did her roads, bridges, or railways. Herein lay the secret of the power exeroised by the State of Massachusetts, by reason of her culture. He was delighted to Boe so many members present, and hoped to find it acknowledged that tho people of Canterbury did wish for the advancement of the whole of New Zealand, and not of a part only. [Applause.] Mr O'Callaghan, &s member for the district, also desired to weloome the guests. He, equally with the farmers in that part, looked with pride on the School of Agrioulture, and ho had beon actuated by a desire to augmont its advantages, and not in any way hamper it. But for his fiii-s the results hitherto I gained would hi»o been loßt, stowed away in < pigeon holes. He had desired to obtain in- | formation in pamphlet form and had failed, and he merely wished to have information made public, as he had no sympathy with ' closed doors or an exolusion of the voice of 1 the people. He looked forward to the hope of seeing the institution's affairs some day managed by an elected board of governors. Mr Hursthouse proposed the health of Mr ' Montgomery, and t-jok oooasion to refer to ] the praotical good wrought by pcientific ] knowledge. The day of the squatter and , large aoreages was passing away, and the day , of the plough succeeding. Products would soon have to be quadrupled in order to save - the country, and he believed that agricultural pursuits would prove the stronghold of New Zealand. i Mr Montgomery, in responding, said that students were admitted from all parts of i New Zealand, moro in faot from outside than t from within Canterbury. And so tho aim of the school was to become a national—a New Zealand—institution. [Hear, hear.] The provisions and appointments reflected much credit on the caterer, Mr George Collieon. At three o'clock the speoial left Spring's Track for the metropolis. .