Agricultural College.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4212, 1 July 1882, Page 2

Agricultural College.

At the afternoon sitting of the House, in answer to Mr Duncan relative to the establishment of an Agricultural College for Otago, Mr Dick said the Government were watching with interest the-results of the one situated in Canterbury, which at present did not show much inducement to start another.

Sir George Grey said the establishmeat of such a College was a most impor* tant question, especially to the North Island, and he would ask the Government now, as it might be his only chance, to place something on the Supplementary Estimactes for sueh 1 a purpose. He thought when Nature had given a climate for the growth of such a variety of things, means should be given to the population to inquire into what Nature had adapted the climate. That part of the colony possessed a climate trhich peculiarly fitted it "for .the prdduction of almost all semitrophical plants. It produced various plants regarding the cultivation of which, and preparation for the market,, the. English, Jfrish, and Scotch population really know nothing. But there are mixed up with •our population people from the,south of France, from Italy, Spain, and other parts of the south of Europe, who know how to cultivate these things. The soil and climate were particularly suitable for the the growth of many valuable plants which flourish in the south of Europe. Olives could be grown most successfully in Aucklaud; so also could granges, and figs grew as luxuriantly as could be desired. Currants might also be grown in large quantities. Wine could be produced in abundance, and yet no one was able to give a full account of ail these things.; He might also mention hops, arrowroot, camphor, and the production of silk. Last year at Afahurangi, Mr Kennedy, from a quarter of an acre of land, produced hops which, when sold, after paying expenses of sending to market, brought £42 10s. He had beard that the Government were about introducing ferrets, but if they confined their- attention to the breeding of ostriches it would be much more to their credit. Ferrets, he said, would become a curse to the country. No mother would be able to leave her infant outside for a minute lest ferrets would first eat out the eyes antJthen suck the life W*od from the infants. would [ these beasts become that they would jump at a man's throat if attempted to be beaten back. The Tagmanian oat waa another animal he had heard .was going to be introduced. He hoped; how« ever, that it would never come to pass. . Mr Hutst supported Sir George Grey's remarks, and hoped the Government would see their way to establish in the North an agricultural school. Perfumery was an industry which might be largely carried on in the north of the Island., A native tree (the cabbage tree) yielded a perfume, and he believed it only wanted an expert to extract a perfume of the greatest commercial value.