Opening of the Agricultural College. 
Tue official opening of the Gatton Agricuitural College took place om 
Friday. 9th July. At the invitation of the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. 
A.J. Thynne), the ceremony was performed by His Excellency the Governor 
(Lord Lamington). A large party of members of both Houses of the Legis- 
lature and other gentlemen yisited Gatton, and lent countenance to the 
function. Amongst those who travelled by the special train to the College 
‘were:—His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Captain Pelham, 
A.D.C., Hon. A. J. Thynne (Minister for Agriculture), Hons. P. Perkins, 
J.T. Smith, A. C. Gregory, J. Cowlishaw, F’. T. Brentnall, W. Forrest, W. G. 
Power, A. H. Barlow, B.D. Morehead, J. C. Heussler, and G. W. Gray, MM.L.C5 
Hon. R. Philp (Minister for Works), Hon. D. H. Dalrymple (Minister for 
Zducation), Hon. J. R. Dickson (Minister for Railways), and Messrs. Groom, 
Smith, Daniels, Murray, Castling, Stewart, Kidston, Battersby, King, Browne, 
Boles, Newell, Cribb, G. Thorn, A. J. Stephenson, Jackson, Cross, Dibley, and 
Bell, MM.L.A; Mr. P. R. Gordon (Chief Inspector of Stock), Mr. A. H. 
Benson (fruit export), Mr. J. Mahon (dairy expert), Mr. A. J. Boyd (editor 
of the Agricullural Journal), Hon. W. J. M. Larnach (New Zealand), Messrs. 
C. J. Pound, G. Woolnough, F. W. Ward, H. Tryon, C. A. Bernays, and J. G. 
Anderson. 
The party were met on arrival by the Under Secretary for Agriculture 
(Mr. Peter McHean), and Professor Shelton, and under the guidance of these 
gentlemen, made a thorough inspection of the College premises and the lands 
which so far have been worked. In consequence of the long prevalent 
unfavourable season the fields presented a rather parched appearance, and the 
little cultivation that had been attempted could hardly be taken as de eed 
either the value of the methods employed or the potentialities of the land sclecte 
fortheinitial efforts. It was found that 242 acres had been cleared and “grubbed,” 
and a good proportion of that broken up. A crop of 16 acres of maize had 
already been taken off a plot on the river bank, and had yielded sufficient 
ensilage to fill the “silo” shed. Over 300 varieties of experimental wheat had 
been planted, each sort being carefully marked and ticketed. Promising crops 
of vegetables and green stuffs were making headway. Much interest was 
manifested by the visitors in the College dairy herd and the buildings provided 
for the accommodation of the stock. ‘Iwo hours were spent by the guests in 
this way, after which the whole party assembled at luncheon in the dining-hall. 
Subsequently, at the invitation of the Minister, His Excellency the Governor 
and the visitors adjourned to the main lecture-room, where the students were 
_ assembled, and where the opening ceremony was performed. 
Professor Sueiron said: Your Excellency, Mr. Thynne, and Gentlemen,— 
Tt seems proper that I should say a word to you this atternoon concerning the 
work of the last six monthsin connection with the organisation of this College, 
and the various steps by which it has assumed its present position. I trust I 
need not apologise for the evident rawness of the surroundings of these build- 
ings. This will strike you at the very outset, but you and these friends must 
bear in mind that less than a year ago this entire property was but a virgin 
forest. There had not then been a single acre cleared, and not a furrow had 
been turned up to the time of commencing operations in November last. J'rom 
all this it will be clear enough, perhaps, that considerable work has been done in 
a direct and practical way. 1 may be pardoned, I trust, if I offer you a few 
wi 
