THE DARLING DOWNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2187, 11 May 1908, Page 1

THE DARLING DOWNS.

ATTRACTING NEW ZEALAND IEAIIMERiS. During the past twelve' /months the I’.anck on the Darling Downs, South Australia, have been attracting tilts attontion of New Zealand farmers, and 'froin time to time small batches of Now Zealand settlors have gone over to tako up land in the Northern State. Those settlors are now all reported to bo doing well, and to still further bring the quality of tho Queensland Hands under the notice of. Now Zealanders, Captain A. T. Robertson, tho representative of .Messrs Seholeficld, Goodsall, and Weavr, land agents, Toowoomba, is visiting the Dominion so as to bo aiblo to give reliable information as to the quality of tho land offering. Captain Robertson arrived in Gbs-

borno on Saturday-on a short visit, nud during a i ...t with a. “Times” roportor, said unit the Darling Downs comprised tho richest tract of agricultural country in Queensland. The capital! town was Toowoomba, «v .progressive place with a population of about 17,000 people. Tho land, on the Downs has a carrying capacity of imo sheep to the: acre, and 'about 0110 cow to ; seven acres on natural grasses ; but .if was reeortedSfßpjftie oljarying capacity could bo • jjino io three and ,oftor ’as muclras ’five sheep to the acre. The land would also carry two crops of maizo, which was easily ma rkotable at a .good profit, and a crop of luceruo, which could he cut and stacked each year. Tho lamb in-/ dustry on tho Downs was yet in its infancy, being only followed- by thoiv-j farmers who are growing lucerne and perhaps a little barley and oats for feeding purposes. Tho price obtainable for lambs ranged from 10s to 12s,

this being offered by the travelling buyers for the freezing companies on the spot. The dairying industry was also coming into favor; but 'the Queensland farmers wore not so up-to-date or progressive in their methods as New Zealanders. They were but slowly realising the advantages of classifying, grading, and improving their dairy herds and yet, during the summer months, they, make .a profit of from Ids to 20s per cow per month. If the Downs’ farmer cultivated lucerne and other food moducts a much higher .profit could he made. “The formation of the Do'wns,” Mr Robertson said, “is rich black soil, 30ft to 40ft deep, broken hero ami there by small timbered rises. Its elevation is about, 1,900 ft above sea level, and the 'annual rainfall 30 to 34 inches per year, though the rain is not so regular as in New Zealand. The ground will grow practically anything. Good crops of maize 'and pumpkins can be raised together and excellent returns can.be obtained from oats, which are generally eaten down twice before being allowed to go to grain, but the most prolific crop is lucerne. Turnips have not been'extensively tried, .but rape has proved a first-class winter fooil.

“As I have already mentioned.” continued Captain Robertson, “wo plant two crops of maize in the same soason on the same ground. As soon as our first frost is over, we put in a- fast 90 days variety, which should be off by the end of November or eanly in December. The second crop is planted before Christmas, and is generally off before the frost. As a fodder and for ensilage this crop is a great stand-by for the dairyman, and is good to break the land in for tho autumn plantings. “I cannot say tho Downs are altogether -suitable for -wheat growing, as -they are too rich, but- we find Tartarian oats and barley very good growing for winter green food, and Algerian oats for liay or grain. There is an impression here that the Downs suffor greatly from droughts. -It is a false impression, for as -a matter of fact wo have had only one drought during the past twenty years. So many' people confound tlio Darling Downs with Queensland and when they hear of a drought in that State think atl parts -are affected, but it must bo remembered that Queensland is a big country .with a great variety of climates. “So groat are the resources of tho Darling -Downs that any kind of stock can-bo raised, sheep, pigs, ca ttle or horses. Why,” said Captain Robertson, “-Mr C. N. Kidman, tho Australian Cattlo King, has most of his big stations in Queensland and, as is well-known, can yard up as many -as 2000 to 3000 horses at a single sale.” “Who is offering tho land?” asked the reporter.

“The land is all -private property,” explained the visitor, “and -we are able to give a freehold title. The terms are usually one-tenth cash deposit, and ono-tenth every year excepting the first two years when no payments beyond interest- are made. Tho district is well connected by railways, and has a good artesian water supply.” “Do you obtain many farmers from New Zealand?” was asked. “Yes, we are getting -a -good many to go over and wo are getting the right sort, all experienced men.” “Why are they leaving?” “We 11.,” said Captain Robertson, “I am told the chief reason is that land values -are too high in this country, and by the time a man pays interest on his purchase money lie -has very lititle left out of his labor for himself. A good many complain of the graduated- land tax, and the risk of labor troubles here, -which are unknown in Queensland.” “Is there -any fault found with the tenure in New Zealand ?”

“Not that I know of,” said tlio Queenslander. “As long as a farmer gets a -fair return for his -labor, he is generally satisfied. Personally I have -not heard -any compfaints against either the freehold or leasehold- tenure in New Zealand, except that -the -price of ’freehold land is too’high, and, from what I know of the two countries, we can offer him better land, giving better returns on the Downs at from £2 10s ip £3 10s per -acre than lie can get for four times the price here.”

Captain Robertson left again for die South yesterday, hut will return :o Gisborne at -a future date.