BROKEN-SPIRITED BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 5 April 1926, Page 6

BROKEN-SPIRITED BOYS.

STRENUOUS LIFE OP FARMING

SOME MOVING TO THE TOWNS'"

(By Telegraph.—Ovrn Correspondent..}

DANNEVIRKE, this day.

Numbers of the boys who have come out from Home to work on farms in New Zealand have given up their country work broken-spirited and unhappily disillusioned about the nature of farm work in this country. Convincing evidence of the unrest that exists among these boy emigrants after spending a year or so on isolated farms, or in the service of bad employers was given at the recent meeting of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.

Much discussion took place upon the relative merits of the various -schemes that had been brought into operation, and it was stated that some of the boys had lost love for their work and -wanted to get away from it. The alternative was city life with clerical work, and there was no doubt that some were being attracted to the towns, as a result of months of disappointment with the isolation and drudgery of farming.

Under the strenuous conditions they had met with some of the boys had been found lacking in the qualifications of farmers, and no amount of training or experience would overcome that initial draw"back. Others had wanted a change, and found it less attractive than they had supposed, while others again had been accustomed to spendthrift habits that would make it a practical impossibility for them to acquire farms of their own when their training was completed.

Traffic on the trams during Easter has been fairly heavy, and particularly on Saturday and to-day. Several thousands were transported 'to and from the racecourse. Cars running to the Zoo were particularly well patronised, many country people visiting this favourite Auckland resort. For a holiday period the railway traflie has not come up to expectations. Since Thursday evening, when the big rush took place, the number of people travelling has decreased considerably. Last night's expresses to Wellington were not filled, and the inward ordinary and Limited this morning contained many empty seats. Up to the present the weather has remained fine. A light shower fell over the city at about 11 o'clock this morning.

Apparently it is always either a feast or a famine in Central Australia so far as water is concerned. There were tremendous rains in that area in the last week of March, following on a prolonged dry spell; in one locality—Tadmorden— it was stated that no rain had fallen for nearly three years. However, according to a statement made in the House a few days ago by Mr. Hill. Minister of Hail'ways. the recent rain has more than balanced the drought, brinaing the worst floods since 188.5 between Quorr. and Oodnadatta. The Minister reported the submergence of the railway in several places, as well as numerous washouts, probab'y compelling a cessation of traffic for a fortnight before repairs could be effected.

While sailing yacht? have more than once voyaged across the Tasman from New Zealand to Australia, it is not a trip that is usually essayed by power launches. Unusual interest is therefore attached to the departure from Wellington on Saturday last of the 45ft ten-ton Psyche for Sydney. The Psyche has a 3.0-horse-power enjr'ne, giving a speed of eight knots, and when iisin? her sails is able to add a knot or two per hour more. She is expected to make the run across in about ten flays, but a margin of five days more lias been allowed for in case of meeting with head weather. Captain Townsend, of Auckland, is in command. the crew being three Wellin?tonians, Messrs. A. Scott, 11. Quinlan, and Thompson, the latter being the engineer.

Heavy cartage of spalls and metal for harbour works and road formation purposes has about worn down the thoroughfare in Ladies' Mile, Remuera, until it looks like one of the old time cobble roads. On race days a large number of motor-cars assemble on the hill near the double jump, and remarks were not complimentary on Saturday as to the care by the City Council of'one of the oldest roads in the district. The road received a covering of scoria not long ago, but apparently nothing less than blue metal will stand the present heavy wear and tear.