A GOOD WORD FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2535, 9 October 1888, Page 3

A GOOD WORD FOR NEW ZEALAND.

In an articlo on the Held and garden products at the Exhibition, the Argus says : — "Taking the samples of the field and garden produce of the New Zealand court as evidence of the whole, the first feeling in the mind of a Victorian is one of surprise that a country which has apparently brought agriculture to such a creditably high stage of development should suffer almost continuous depression. As far as samples can be made to bear witness in favour of a country, ihnm of the New Zealand court ought to do so; and where actual field products are wanting, portraits of agricultural instil ntions and agricultural scenes give proof of the thoroughness and magnitude of the operations of tbo New Zealand farmers. The portraits of the School «f Agriculture at Lincoln, for example, suggest in appearance such a building as the Melbourne University, rather than the weatherboard structure erected at Dookie. In " Wheatfields at Paeroa, South Canterbury," is shown a spectacle rarely neon elsewhere in Australia, viz., a dozen reapers and binders moving in train across a wheat, field which appears to cover a beautiful undulating country, entirely unlike the level of South Australia. The wheat in the fields seems high and heavy in the head ; but higher and heavier still are Bamples of corn in the car ranged on the walls of the court. There is, for example, a sample of Tuscan wheat cut from the field, which averaged sixty-six bushels to the acre—a yield to make a Victorian wheat grower envious. Mr M. Holmes, of Dunediu, is, judged by his display in the court, to be one of the larirest of the New Zealand agriculturists, his exhibits including the fine samples of wheat already mentioned. Messrs J. and T. Meek, of Oainaro, have also sent over some really fine cereals. Other cxhUe.tor.who figure creditably in this particular department are Messrs Chamberlain Bros., of Masterton, Fulton and Southwell, of Nipier, Manning and Co., of Christchurch, the New Zealand and Australi m Land Company, of Dam din, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, of Invercargill, and Evans and Co., of Timarn. Long before Victoria had given anything like marked attention to dairying and dairy cattle, the excellence of the milk cattle of New Zealand, and more especially the Ayrshires was admitted ; and many of them have of late years been sent to the leading shows in Australia. The export of dairy produce from New Zealand has more than doubled within the last three years. The TaranaUi Butter Packing Company of New Plymouth, which has establtshed an export trade with Fiji, South America, Honolulu, China and elsewhere, shows butter us packed for such markets in tins, very much like those used by Americans for canned fruits. There are altogether nearly a score of dairying companies represented by their produce in the New Zealand collection. Upon one point a New Zealand exhibitor claims credit as against all others in tho Exhibition, viz., for a display of winter apples, which were grown at Pukekohe, Auckland.