LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10826, 22 January 1927, Page 6

LOOKING BACK.

TWENTY-FlVt YEARS AGO. (From the “Guardian,” Jan. 22, 1902.) School at Hekeao. —The North Canterbury Board of Education is inviting tenders for the erection of a new school at Hekeao. The Dairying Industry.—A meeting of farmers and others interested in the dairying industry in the County was held in the Flemington School yesterday. There was an attendance of about 40, including Air Kinsella (Government Dairy Commissioner), Air John Rennie (Doyleston), and Air John Barney (Leeston). Air John Studholme, junior, was voted to the chair. The chairmhn explained that Air Bond, who was at present managing the Flemington Cheese Factory, had decided to close down unless he could get a guarantee of at least 250 cows. Air Bond explained the position, and stated that if he could get a sufficient number of cows ho would, put in a butter plant. Air Kinsella, who was then called upon to address the meeting, regretted the present state -of affairs that such an important industry should be allowed to fall through in such an excellent district. Farmers were continually cropping and taking everything from the soil without putting any plant food back. Continuing, be stated that the farmer must, in the near future, turn his attention to tbe cow as part of bis money-making machine. Air Rennie here suggested the advisability of turning the family into a company eoncern, making children shareholders. Air Kinsella further stated that whereas a wheat-grower got only £o 10s an acre for his crops, a dairy farmer could get up to £lO. He emphasised the fact that AH Bond’s factory was entirely unsuitable for the manufacture of butter. Tlie meeting carried on till a late hour, but nothing definite v. aarrived at. South African War. —The Boers surprised YVillowdon, west of Alafeking, but only two fatalities are reported. A number of New Zealand troopers' have returned' to Auckland .by tbq Aotea.