PROGRESS IN CANTERBURY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 319, 10 April 1875, Page 3

PROGRESS IN CANTERBURY.

We extract the following results from the speech of the, Superintendent in opening the present session' of the Provincial Council:— - ! AGRICULTURE. Nearly 50,000 acres .have been, laid down, while the growth' of other crops than .grain and grass has been more than doubled in the past year, thus largely increasing the producing power of the country, and showing a marked advance in the conduct of farming operations. On the whole, an additional area of not less than 90,000 acres has been brought "under cultivation during the past year. RAILWAYS.. About 53 additional miles of railway have been opened for traffic during the las.t nine months. The length of the line opened on the Ist July, 1874, was about 60 miles. At the present time there are nearly 113 miles, so that it will be seen the length' of the line opened" for traffic has been nearly doubled during nine months. Within the course of a few months it will be still further increased by the opening of an additional 96 miles, which, added to the length now opf.n, will make a total of nearly 200 miles, more than about three times the mileage open in hist July. lam glad to be able to announce that arrangements are being made by means of a temporary bridge over the Rangitata for carrying the traffic to the south side of the river within four months from this time. EDUCATIONAL. The number, of children: attending the district schools in the province during the quarter ending the 30th September, 1873, was 7,695, while the number attending during the quarter ending the 30th September, 1874, was 10,136, showing an increase of 2,441.