YOUNG FARMERS’ TOUR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 2

YOUNG FARMERS’ TOUR.

TRIP THROUGH CANTERBURY. FLOODS ENCOUNTERED. Members of the Manawatu District Young .banners’ Clubs who are now touring in the South Island were unfortunate in encountering the heavy floods recently experienced in _ AlihCanterbury, but are having an interesting trip, according to advice received in Palmerston .-North to-day. In all places they have visited they have been hospitably -entertained. After a run of about three-quarters of an hour from Christchurch by buo, on Thursday, they saw the first signs of the heavy floods which preceded their arrival, the Selwyn River, which at the main road crossing usually rum underground, carrying, a good deal of surplus water. The land was showing unmistakable signs nt a long dry spell earlier, and presented a very dismal, sight. The immensely long stretches of straight road were in direct contrast to highways in the Manawatu district; Several features of the country which impressed the party were the extreme stoniness of the soil, and the apparent difficulty of ploughing it and working in for crops, and the many plantations of trees, gums and pines appearing to predominate. In several hours of. travelling hardly any stock were seen, indicating the amount oi cropping that takes place in this area, although very little land was undei the plough, the, earlier dry conditions apparently having precluded work of this nature. An interesting sight, new to most members of the party, was the three bridges over the Rakaia River, the two new road and rail bridges and the old combined bridge, each over a mile long. Gorse fences appeared to a marked degree to take the place of fences and the size of the paddocks was something to whicn the party was not accustomed. ■' An officer of the Department of Agriculture met the party at Ashburton and later conducted members over Mr AV. It. Hammond’s farm at Winelimore which is being irrigated by the ditch and dyke system. This practice of irrigation is expected to change! completely conditions of farming l in Canterbury. The main scheme is a huge one, the water being conveyed a distance of 45 miles from its source, and it is expected that finally from 4.000,000 to 5,000,000 acres will be irrigated. From Metlrven onwards floods were experienced all the way. At Timaru the party visited woollen mills and a brewery last Friday, and in the afternoon saw the Levels irrigation scheme. They were +he guests at night at the annual hall of the Pleasant Point Young Farmers’ Club.