EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 10

EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.

VISITS OF INSPECTION. AUCKLAND, January 16, Among the arrivals from the south this week were Mr J. D. Ritchie, Secretary fonAgriculture, and Mr G. Clifton, Chief Stock Inspector. Interviewed by a press representative to* day, Mr Ritchie stated that the" chiei! object of his visit was to make a. tour of inspection of the various exprimental sta*. tions ;n the north. He left for Biokerataffet in the Kaipara this afternoon, accompanied by Mr Clifton. Bickerstaffo was recently acquired by th€| Government for closer settlement purposes, but 1500 acres were retained by the Government for experimental purposes. Th«f various 'experimental stations in the pro* vince will be visited in turn', and on Mom day week the Minister of Lands and Agriculture (Mr M'Nab) will join tlie- par,ts» at Ruakurai The Minister and* Chief Seere* tary will- then leave, by the overland route £o Wellington. "Auckland is the most favoured province! ' in the Dominion,"laid Mr Ritchie/ " You have more Government experimental worig going on in the north than io> all tha other; provinces put together, and there can, ha no possible complaint* that, the Government is not doing, its duty. It -is recognised thatf there is a very large scope for development! in the north, and the department is doing? its best to assist the various industries and! districts."