The Ostrich Farm.

Yesterday afternoon a large party of J gentlemen, at the invitation of Mr J. T* i Matson, paid a visit of inspection to that j gentleman's ostrich, farm, at Isleworth, on I the Hare wood road. The party, conveyed \ in a four-in-hand drag, was pot long in . reaching its destination. The condition of ■ the magnificent birds elicited many ex- i pressions of warm admiration and astonish- , ment, their appearance proving incontes- ; tibly that they are perfectly acclimatised, . and that the time has now arrived for j proving their commercial value. The birds are not all at laleworth, a number of young ones — hoggets, Mr Matson calls them — being at 1113 estate in Papanui road, where are also a pair of the old birds. The whole flock is the progeny of three imported ostriches, and the initial difficulties having been now so successfully surmounted, the rate of increase should be in a geometrical ratio. The party of visitors, after leaving Isleworth, was driven to Mr Matson's residence, and was shown a splendid collection of feathers, the produce of the : birds. Seeing that thefeathers arealwnyain ' demand, there is no cause tor astonishment at the birds being valued at J2125 a pair, at which price the annual crop of featherß represents a very high interest. Indeed, well-authenticated figures show that in Africa tbe profits of ostrich farming are exceedingly good, and judging from all that was seen yesterday the birds should thrive even better, and give larger returns in New Zealand than in Africa. The party, ou coming bac"k to Christchurch. adjourned to "Warner's Hotel, whera the toast of " Success to Mr Matson and the ostriches" was proposed by Mr Staveley and duly honoured. Mr Matson very briefly responded, and the party then separated, highly pleased with the afternoon's outing.