MESSRS GRANT AND FOSTER ON SOUTH CANTERBURY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2373, 25 October 1880, Page 4

MESSRS GRANT AND FOSTER ON SOUTH CANTERBURY.

We have received from Messrs P.W. Hutton & co., a copy of Messrs Grant and Foster’s report on the Agricultural condition and prospects of New Zea« land. The authors give a most interesting and valuable sketch of their travels through the Colony, and to those who are looking out for a future homestead, the information contained in their handbook, will be found most valuable. A considerable portion of their report relates to the North Island, The following extract relates to this district; — At Timaru we met the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the members of which showed us every kindness, and seemed desirous to prove their faith in the country by enabling us to see every part of it. Near Timaru is a very large establishment for boiling down sheep. Our first visit, on February 7th, was across the “ Levels,” which as a matter of fact, are high rolling wolds, through the’ village of Pleasant Point, up the valley of the Tengawai to Mackenzie’s Gave, so-called after a sheep-stealer of by-gone days. Thence we drove through a valley between high and steep, thongh tolerably fertile hills dotted with cabbage trees, round by Mounts “ Horrible” and “ Misery,” why so called we cannot say, and back over rolling downs to Timaru. As we approached the town, the Canterbury plains, stretching away before ns to the blue strip of sea beyond, and the wide expanse of grain, gleaming like gold in tne rays of the setting sun, made a picture not soon to be forgotten, Everywhere especially on and near the “ Levels,” we saw splendid crops of all kinds of cereals. Oafs were a very heavy crop, and as they depend for consumption entirely on the local markets, the price.promised to be very low ; Is or Is 3d a bushel was all they expected to make. One gentleman told us that he fed sheep on his oats, as the most profitable way of using them. Near the “Cave” the country was mountainous rather than hilly 1 ', but the surface soil was good, and the subsoil usually limestone and many parts were under cultivation which looked to English eyes to steep for the purpose. They were, however, in all places covered with excellent pasture for Merino sheep. The district of Pareora lying further south in the dirction of Wnimate is a fine agricultural tract of land ; most of it is employed in the growth of cereals,all kinds of which are looking very well. Towards the west we went up as far as the lower range of mountains; the land is variable in quality, but some of it is very good and forms lino pauturago. Beyond this again, to the south west, is the valley of the Hakateramea, the soil of which is in general good, though the land is for the most part very broken and rough. There is a good deal of country m the vicinity l that ■will grow wheat well, and the remainder forms good sheep runs.