A VISIT SOUTH.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 213, 23 November 1897, Page 2

A VISIT SOUTH.

A WAIKATO SETTLER'S IMPRES- ' SIONS. Mr C. Day, of Tamahero, returned home on Saturday from Hawcra and Christchurch, which he bid visited for the purpose of acting as judge at the Agricultural Shows, held recently at those places. One of our representatives took the opportunity to interview him, with the object of getting from him some of bis impression of the country and the Shows. In reply to questions, Mr Day said the country about Hawcra was magnificent, but that it had its drawback. In the first place, proximity to the sea coast and consequent exposure to the heavy gales, had killed near.'y all the shelter plantations. The district labours under the disadvantage that tub. rculosis and " wasting '' arc very prevalent. Cattle could be seen grazing in paddocks with feed up to thiir knees, but which were nevertheless nothing but skin and bone. The cure for this disease has not yet been discovered. One settler he met bad recently lost 28 head. He bad been informed that the Inspector had ordered 1000 head of cat'le to be destroyed because of tuberculosis. As to the show, be considered dairy cattle disappointing, but lie bad seen better animals which wore not shown. The Shorthorns were very good, but there was a very poor show of Jerseys. Asked as to the dairy industry, Mr Day said the factories seemed to be better managed than iu the Waikato. The Riverdale cheese and butter factory, which is worked on cooperative lines, paid last year S per rent, on the capital invested, and paid the farmeis 3fd for their milk. This factory has 24 suppliers and four- men are employed in its management. CHRISTCHURCH Sit W. The show was a splendid one. There was a magnificent show of horses, both in the draught and other classes. The fat cattle were disappointing, and in this respect Canterbury cannot compare with Waikato. There was a splendid exhibition of sheep, and the entries were very numerous, there were 70 exhibits. Freezing has brought Leicesters to the front.

The Jersey cattle, of which there were 17 entries, were with few exceptions, a treat to look at.

There was a fine show of pigs, the breeds which seemed most in favour were Berkshire, Yorkshire and Tainworth. The half-bred Tamworths are most in favour ; the bacon curers give from .fd to Ad per It), more for them than any other offeied Mr Day has purchased a Tamworth boar, which is expected to arrive in the Waikato this week.