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quent showers during the year. The driest months are from 

 Christmas to the end of February. The average size of selections 

 on Crown lands is from 100 to 200 acres. Nearly all the settlers 

 are British subjects. The chief advantages of the Nelson district 

 are soil, climate, and rainfall. The class of implements in 

 general use is the most modern. Anything but the most up to 

 date machinery and appliances have been discarded, and more of 

 this class have been obtained during the last 12 months than in 

 any previous year. What is being done in stock raising ? The 

 answer to this question is that shorthorn grades are being crossed 

 with improved herds, such as Herefords and Devons, polled Angus, 

 shorthorns and Jerseys. The sheep of the district are being im- 

 proved by the introduction of imported strains of Lincolns and 

 Shropshires ; and pigs by some of the best blood of Tamworths 

 and Berkshires. There is opportunity for a larger scope of work 

 in planting vineyards, orchards, and in clearing the land. Is not 

 dairying being neglected ? Yes ; partly because of the low prices of 

 butter and the want of milkers. Men will not milk or engage as 

 milking hands, and the women have discarded the milk pail 

 altogether. They regard milking as too much drudgery ; too 

 great a tie ; early and late, Sunday, as well as other days, 

 cows have to be attended to with the precision of clock- 

 work if dairying is to be a success. While wages are so 

 high and other labor so plentiful, men are too independent to stick 

 regularly to milking, and nothing but better prices will encourage 

 people to dairy. There must also be a reinforced labor supply, 

 so there may be a possibility of obtaining milkers. Vegetables 

 could be more extensively grown if labor was cheaper and more 

 plentiful. You cannot beat the despised Chinese gardener in grow- 

 ing vegetables. It is no use growing products if the labor is to cost 

 more than the article produced, and this is now often the case. It is 

 not the fault of the country that there is not more cultivation, but 

 the scarcity of labor, its dearness, and often its want of skill. One 

 of the best crops in our district, and one of the most profitable and 

 readily saleable, is that of the potato, for the growth of which there is 

 any quantity of Government land available at various distances from 

 the railway line. The seller can get *] ios. per ton, and he is usually 

 paid on delivery. There is so much Government land obtainable 

 that private land is not much enquired for, which may be given as a 

 general answer to your interrogatory : "Are there any private lands 

 available for the production of root crops ; if so, state price and terms." 

 Frosts are prevalent and destructive in our neighbourhood ; these 

 occur from May to October. As a rule, our district is not adapted 

 for close settlement, that is, 10 or 20 acre men. But we believe 

 around Bridgetown a large number of families could successfully 

 settle. A small area of land well cultivated will produce more and 

 pay better than 100 acres slovenly cultivated. Hereabout many men 

 settle on a piece of land, and if they have any time they can spare 



