TRIP TO MOMOHAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 26 April 1907, Page 3

TRIP TO MOMOHAKI.

THE STATK FARM INSPECTED. OVER TWO HUNDRED VISITORS. Thursday morning, ill:! dale fixed for the Tar.nlaki Agricultural Society's excursion to the Stale Experimental Farm at Momohaki, broke rough and raining, and each member who turned up at the railway station, evidently under the impression that he was more plucky than his fellows, enquired anxiously if anyone else had turned up. Despite the rain, however, about sixty boarded the express at the. town station, and the numbers swelled by contingents who joined the train at. Bell Block. Sentry' Hill (including Wakara party), Jnglewood, Midhirst, Stratford. Eltham and Jlawcra. As a result of] tile energetic endeavors of Mr Deem, stock inspector, the Hawera contingent numbered upwards of fifty. The bulk of the excursionists were accommodated with special carriages. About twenty ladies made the trip, the whole eontiu«ent numbering about 22(1. Arrived iu Momohaki, the ladies and Several others were driven to the farm in conveyances verv thoughtfullv provided by F. Gillanders, tlie overseer. The remainder traversd Hie distance on foot. Luncheon was served immediately on arrival and the visitors were very complinientarv in their refe.i-iuv. to the excellent manner in which they were provided for. Then the party broke up. dispersin" in little knot' to the dill'erent parts of the farm. In a few minutes there were iiitcresleu visitors inspecting the nurseries and fruit-testing -rounds, hot bouses, flower beds; others made direct for the stables to inspect the thoroughbred horses; poultry came in for attention, and the potato crop ' was no' neglected. Sheep men drifted I into the sheep-feeuing experimenta plots. . or aecumpinied the overseei through the experimental turnip fields passing and examining on the way the various stud sheep and cattle. Hedges fences, gaies. races, stables, anil othei ercc.lons Were noted and criticised The "grass garden," n"t in the best o order/of course, at, this time of the S year, the specimens of hedge plant: " and shelter trees were also visited. Ml , GillaiuWs and his stall' were all eour " tesy anil attention, and they did ibei s utmost to impart all information re t|iiested. The visitors seemed to tak great interest in the various depart menis and experiments, and it is saf< ;' to assert that much good will resul : ' from the action of the Agricultural So clety in thus arranging for farmers fc

'see the model farm and its modern methods. I About 3 p.m. Mr Webster, the Society's secretary, sounded it tocsin, and jibe visitors gathered in front of the . ollicc. .Mr Okey, vKe-prcsident o« the | Agricultural Society, iu the absence of tlie president, thanked Mr Gillaiiders. II lie Department, and the stall' for the pains they had taken to make the par.y s j visit pleasant and instructive. He could .assure them that the outing had proved very enjoyable, and mat the visitors ! considered they bad been right royally j treated. Referring to the work of the ; fsirm, .Mr Okey said that if anyone else I lliul s.arted to'farm ill this way'he would .have been termed a faddist. But the time was coming when all of them I would equally have io be faddists. Conditions were changing. They could not now, as in the past, fell a little jbush every year to get new and enlarged pastures. They, would have to 'increase the productiveness of laud now in use. Whilst these experimental i.stations might not be a direct financial Liu-cess, be thought they were invaluable. If was instructive for farmers !to sec tllo results of the experiments •with manures, and these conclusively (proved the, futility of trying to growgood turnips without manure. He called for three cheers for Jlr Gillaiiders and jtlie stall', and they were given lustily. Mr Gillaiiders, in acknowledging Ihe j compliment, said he need hardly voice ibis pleasure at seeing such a large party |of visitors. It was gratifying hide d .to him, and to the Department, to had jlhat file farmers were making use of the Experimental Station. Momohaki had bad its days of obscurity, but now people recognsi'd that the work of the farm was being carried out for their benefit, and the interest was vastly greater than in the earlier stages. He read a telegram -from Mr Clifton, the ollicer in charge of this division, expressing bis regret at being unable to attend, and thanked the visitors, on behalf of the stall', for their words of appreciation. Mr T. Webb, of Stratford, thought a word of praise was due to the Taraiiaki Agricultural Society, who had organised this gathering. lie hoped this would be made an annua] affair, giving farmers an opportunity of seeing up-to-date methods that would otherwise be unknown to them. Cheers were given for the Society, and a special salvo for the secretary.

On behalf of the Society, M? Okey acknowledged tlie remarks* of Mr Webb, and said the Society was anxious to work .for the farmers. Ho felt that there was not enough use made of the Agricultural Department, and advised those present to take full advantage of the facilities afforded, instead of running down the Department. He thanked Mr Deem for having organised the large Hawera party, and Mr Deem, in replying, said that" if lie had thought the farmers would have responded as they had done ho would have arranged a trip long ago. The visitors were then entertained at afternoon tea before leaving to catch the express train for home. On arrival in_ Central and North Taranaki the excursionists were surprised to hear that heavy trains had fallen during the day. At Momohnki the weather was beaut'ifullv fine.