1 Jan., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 5 
(ucensland Agricultural College. 
MINISTERIAL VISIT. 
THE WORK OF THE COLLEGE. 
TO BE MADE SELF-SUPPORTING. 
(Abridged from the Courier.) 
Tue Minister for Lands and Agriculture (Hon. J. V. Chataway), accompanied by 
a number of members of both Houses of Parliament, paid a visit to the Queens- 
land Agricultural College on the 10th December. Among the company were— 
Hon. D..H. Dalrymple (Minister for Public Instruction), Hons. A. H. Barlow, 
J. C. Heussler, R. Buleock, P. Perkins, J. Thorneloe Smith, J. Deane, W. F. 
Lambert, M.M.L.C., Hon. A. 8. Cowley (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly), 
Messrs. Story, W. J. Ryott-Maughan, Stodart, Daniels, W. Castling, R. H. 
Smith, G. Thorn, J. Newell, A. J. Stephenson, M. Battersby, R. King, J. 
MeMaster, TT. Bridges, M.M.L.A., Rey. G. Woolnough, R. King (Under 
Secretary to the Treasury), J. Gordon (Chief Inspector of Stock), J. F. Thallon 
(Deputy Railway Commissioner), F. X. Heeney (Under Secretary to the 
Lands Department), P. McLean (Under Secretary to the Department of 
Agriculture), W. J. Mahony, J. Wilkinson, Major Boyd (Secretary to the 
College). The party left the Central Station by special train shortly after.9 
o’clock, and on arriving at the station adjacent to the College they were met 
by the Principal (Mr. J. Mahon), and driven in various vehicles to the 
institution. ‘The interval between then and lunch was pleasantly and 
instructively occupied in inspecting the cultivation, the College herd, the 
dairy, and the College buildings. Thosé of the visitors who had not been to 
Gatton before were agreeably surprised at what they saw—at the extent of 
the cultivation, the healthy and forward appearance of the crops, the order and 
system observed everywhere, and the excellence of the appliances and the 
buildings provided for the College work. In one of the fields ploughing 
was in progress, and the temptation to some of the visitors to take 
a hand in it was too strong to be resisted. ‘The less energetic of the 
company had the pleasure of witnessing an improvised ploughing match, in 
which Mr. McMaster and Mr. 2. H. Smith, MM.L.A., were the chief com- 
petitors. Both Mr. McMaster and Mr. Smith showed that, so far as ploughing 
was concerned, their hands had not forgotten their cunning. They were not 
heard, however, to express any regret that ploughing did not now form one of 
the ordinary occupations of their daily life. After this short stoppage the 
party visited the strawberry garden, and regaled themselves with such fruit as 
they could find. ‘The strawberries proved not to be very large, but of pleasant 
flavour.* While driving along, the excellent appearance of the maize was the 
subject of common remark. Other crops also bore witness to the care and 
attention bestowed upon them. ‘The visitors had not the advantage of seeing 
the students at work, for, though a few of them were in the fields, the majority 
of them were indoors when they arrived. Such of the students as were 
encountered were courteously helpful wherever they could be. Some trace of 
feeling with regard to the sensational events of some little time ago was 
perceptible in their conversation. One or two of them seemed to think that 
outside the students generally were regarded as very sad fellows, and they 
seemed to be smarting under some sense of injustice. There was nothing, 
however, in their demeanour or behaviour to suggest that they were otherwise 
* The strawberry season was oyer in November,-Hd, Q, A... 
