NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTION AT THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 489, 7 January 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTION AT THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

1 {Sy.'biP.ij Mail.) Visitors to the Irraiid Intm-national Exhibition, in common iviiii ourselves, cannot fail to he favorably impressed hv the magnificent <Jisj*l;iy of agricultural produce which app"ars in the New Zealand (Jonrt. I’ropuly the verion.s collections of cereals are placed in such a way tint conclusions regarding their quality may b; easily formed hy those who inspect. The gr -alest care has been taken sothateach dislilet’s produce ma\ r not be overlooked. and that can; has its reward in the knowledge that tin- agricultural section of the Court has been extensively patronised . The Executive Commissioner's ( Dr Hector’s) Handbook of New Zealand informs us that about 12,000.000 acres ol tin; soil of his colony is well adapted for agriculturists, and hy a table, which gives a classification of the lands according to their geological subsoil, lie iurnishes a fair idea of the qualities of the various soils; and, in pi oof of the statement that by the proper selection of soil, and with a system of agriculture modified to suit the great variety of climate which prevails, every variety of cereal and root-crops may he successfully raised ; lie furnishes the average yield of wheat as being about 23 bushels, of oats as 30 bushels, of barley 2b bushels, and potatoes as five tons to each aero placed under these crops. This information is not new to us, thanks to the annual publication of the statistical returns, for we have long known that, in point of agriculture. New Zealand occupies the premier position the Australasian group ; hut the exhibits; of barley, oats, wiieat, and seed materially enhance our respect for New Zealand soil, for they prove incontestably that, with quantity there is quality of a high order. The latest statisiicsof cultivation inform ns that in New Zealand there are 203,353 acres of land broken up, hut not under crop; 817,810 acres under crop, exclusive of grasses; and 1,230, lot) acres, which have been ploughed, under grasses. These figures prove that the soil has been appreciated hy the colonists, and when taken in connection with the, population (414.412 persons) reflect great credit on the work of the cultivators, whose operations have extended over a period of less than two score years. The progress of agriculture, as compared with that of other colonies of the group, has been very rapid, and the fact that New Zealand last year ex-ported agricultural produce of the value of about £530,000 leads to the anticipation that she is destined to take an important station as a food-supplier to countries less favored by climate and soil. There are several large collections of cereals in the Court, and the greater

'part of these are contained in handsome show-cases. In the matter of taste, Messrs Cunningham and Co., of Christchurch, deserve special notice, their case, which is compo'sed of some of the most beautiful of New Zealand woods, being in itself a noteworthy exhibit. The contents are worthy of inspection. Large samples of velvet chaff, Tuscan, Hunter’s white and pearl wheat, are shown, fine well-grown clean grains, which vary in weight from bulbs to ‘6Bl bs per bushel. A sample of fiathead barley is of excellent quality, and the chevalier is of great size and good color, tiome redstraw white wheat and red-chaff wheat are much admired, and the dafs’(Danish and Tartarian) are remarkable for their quality. Mr E. H. Banks, of Christchurch, has a nice assortment of pearl heai'ly oats, and malting barley; and Mr. J. Arkoll, Mr Dodson, and Fell Brothers and Co., have some excellent samples of malt which should readily find a market. Several districts send malt, and it would appear that a large trade is reasonably expected ; for such an article as that shown in the Palace should successfully gain ground, even in the face ol English competition. Mr McGill, of Otago, has a neat case full of good wheat and oa'ts; and Royse, Stead, ami Co., of Dunedin, place a fine collection of cereals from several growers of 'Oamaru. Messrs J. and J. Meek also show for Oamaru, and have a fine lot of cereals, which like the exhibits of tbe Company, are samples of very heavy crops. Tbe Wheat in some cases is stated as being from 50 bushels -per acre-,and the barley ranges as high 70 bushels—yields which are very creditable Lothe loams of Oamaru. There are some very nice'samples‘of hops from Nelson, which seem luirly well cared, and doubtless, when experience is gained by the growers, hops will become a good pioJuct. As might be expected, the flour displayed is of good quality, and several millers compete. Peas, beans, and seeds 'appear in abundance, tbe samples in nearly every case being commendable. Sauces and preserved meats occupy considerable space, ami some wines arc shown. But or these, as well as the beers, of which there are several samples, we can hut speak from hearsay, and it is said that the ale ami purler of New Zealand are likely to please the judges. The catalogue informs ns that the brewers of New Zealand for the greater part use home-grown malt and hops, borne mix with the yields of California and England, while o heis use the local produce alone. Thus the judges of beer, who, strange to say, like other judges, have not commenced, their work, may form a very fair idea ol the merit of New Zealand’s power to meet the wants of brewers at home ami abroad.

The bams, bacon, and cheese placed on behail of Now Zealand hi the basement look very well. The hums arc‘very well cm, and should prove saleable. , Of the curing we cannot speak, but, judging from exteriors, the carers of New Zealand understand their ‘business. The Court throughout should prove interesting to the agriculturist of this Colony, uml we recommend all farmers who visit the Garden Palace to spend at least a portion of their time among the limits of New‘Zealand's soil.

Til UK LIB Eli AL GOVE 11N M E N T. (From the Melbourne Argus.) Instances are cropping up in New Zoalaml of the wonderful talent for blundering possessed by Sir Gc'orge Grey. It is very evident to us in Victoria, that the peculiar gifts wh'icli fit. a man for uttering voluble and excited rhetoric in 'slump speeches of two hours long lire not ■precisely the qualities which fit him for administering the practical affairs of a ‘country/ Sumo months ago Sir George Grey was profoundly affected by reading the accounts of'distress in England, and in a moment of effusive philanthrdphy he telegraphed to Sir Michael Hi'cks-Bcach that G,OOO able-bodied emigrants could at once find permanent and profitable 'employment in New Zealand in addition to the large numbers of which the colony was paying the passages. The AgentGeneral was communicated with at the same time, and directed to inform the Imperial Government as to the classes most in demand, and told that if the Imperial Government declined the offer he was (o increase by 2,000 the 'number ordered for the year. The correspondence recently published shows the issue of this notable piece of philanthropy. The Colonial Office decided that it could do nothing in the matter, and determined to seek to give effect to the benevolent wishes ol the New Zealand Premier by referring his telegram to the Local Government Board, for transmission to the boards of poor-law guardians. Ariiongst these it seems to have created a stir, and to have presented a comfortable means of disposing of their surplus poor. Numbers of applications for passages from highly undesirable colonists poured in on Sir Julius Vngel, and the scheme broke down before it could receive any practical effect. By this time Sir George Grey’s charitable impulse had cooled down, and he lolegraped to the Agent-General to cancel hfs former message, and instead to “ship 1000 immigrants to arrive winter month's-” The blundering folly of this absurd order needs no pointing out, aiid the whole affair puts Sir George Grey’s aptitude for mundane business in a curious light. Sir Bryan O’Loghlcn’s manipulation ot the public telegrams was brought under notice in the Assembly at 11 o’clock

yesterday evening, and though the House was thin, the subject at once led to a fierce debate. Mr Carte'- called attention to the matter first mi the vole lor telegrams, which shows a large increase, but he obtained no salisaetory’ reply. Mr Murray .Smith, however, insisted

upon a definite reply to the question whether or not Sir Bryan O’Logit leu had been in the habit of systematically giving public telegrams paid for by the public funds, to the Ministerial Press, and refusing them to the Opposition papeis. Sir Bryan O’Loghlen, thus pressed, rose, and made a full confession. He said the Argus was unpatriotic and untruthful, and that he “ wanted’' it in the Government Gazette , and refused to give it telegrams, and preferred to supply the Government messages to the Press which more or less supported the Government. Two or tloeu telegrams of great importance he gave to the Press generally, but tbe other messages, which were numerous, he gave to the Ministerial journals exclusively, ami he would do so again. Mr Murray Smith said lhut the Attorney-General had admitted a practice which recalled the worst forms of political corruption in the worst times of Parliamentary history. He could hardly credit his ears when he heard the hon. gentleman defend a practice of supplying telegrams to favoured journals, which was nothing more nor less than the offeiing of naked bribes to induce papeis to support the Government of the day. Mr Berry confessed that he was not in favor of the plan of giving public information to one paper, but be contended that the example had been set by Sir James McCulloch, an assertion which was strenuously denied by Mr Ramsay, wdio was the only representative of the late McCulloch Government present. Mr Ramsay was Postmaster-General of the ex-Miuistry, ami lie says that it is within bis knowledge that every public telegram went to the whole of the public Press. Mr Carter and Mr Zox joined in the discussion. The first words of Mr Francis were—“ The Attorney-General Ims acknowledged that lie made a dishonest use of public funds,” and they were received by Ministers with a howl. There was a struggle on the point whether the sentence was disorderly or not, and finally Mr Eram-is gave way. The hon member proceeded to declare that no Government he had been connected with had ever been a party to such transactions, and to intimate that he was strongly tempted to stonewall the Estimates for the Chief Secretary’s department until lull jiartienlars of the embassy expenditure Were obtained. This statement led to renewed uproar. When Mr Erancis concluded, progress was hastily reported in much confusion, and the House adjourned soon alter 12 o’clock.

AN IRISHMAN’S WILL. In the name of God, Amen ! I, Timothy Delona, of Barrydovvmlerry, in the county of Clare, fanner; being sick and wake in my legs, but of sound head ami Warm heart; Glory he to God ! —do make the first and last will, the ould ami new testament, first 1 give my soul to God, when it pleases Him to take it. so no thanks to me, for 1 can’t help it then, and my body to be buried in the ground of Barrydowmterry Chapel, where all my kith an’ kin that have gone befoie an’ those that live, after, belonging to me, are buried, pace to their ashes, and may the sod rest lightly over their bones. Bury me near my godfather, Felix O’Flaherty, betwixt and between him and my father and mother, Who lie separate altogether, at the other *ide of the chapel yard. 1 lave the Lit ol ground containing ten acres—rare onkl Irish acres—-to me eldest son Tim, after the death of his ■mother, if she survives him. My daughter Mary and her husband Paddy O’Ragan are to get tbe white sow that’s going to have twelve black bonds. Teddy, my second boy, that was killed in the war of Amcrikay, might have got his pick of the poultry, but as he is gone, I’ll lave them to his wife who died a wake before him ; I bequeath to all mankind fresh 'air of heaven, all the fishes of the sea they can take ahd all the birds of the air they can shoot, I lave to them the sun, moon, and stars. I lave to Peter Rafferty, a pint of fulpeteen, I ca'h’t finish, and may God be merciful to him .—;Danbury News .