JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume V, Issue 13598, 6 December 1909, Page 5

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, *\f P has given notice to ask the Minister tor Agriculture whether he will this year place a sum on the Estimates to provide tor the collection of, and experiments with, our native grasses "''th a view to ascertaining their suitability for grazing purposes in different parts ot the Dominion.

. In the Methven district lately shearing has been interrupted a great deal oy rain. Rust is making; its appearance m many of the cereal crops as a result of the heavy rainfall of the last week or so (reports our correspondent). Work C f all kinds it very I scarce in this district at present, and large numbers of men are daily enquiring in the township for employment. The proprietor of the Labour Exchange in M.?thven states that some days as many as eighteen or twenty men call on him asking if there is any work, or if he has any 'vacancies on his books for shearers, rouseabouts, cooks, etc., of which there ore a large number offering. As a reason for the dearth of employment farmers state that they have finished the work of putting m their crops, and are turning many of their teams out on grass. Another factor in the matter of dearth of labour is that several small shearing machine plants are engaged in the district, «nd they cSrry their own men.* Consequently there is not so much work for the blade shearers,-who have heretofore found employment by travelling from farm to farm cutting off the golden fleece."

At the breaking Ashburton Technical classes some very superior fleeces of wool were exhibited, from the Corriedale flook.: 'of Mr -J. Stringfellow, Chertsev; the Border Leicester flock of Mr' W. Anderson,Fairton; the English Leicester flock of Messrs Mawson Bros., Stormlea. Methven ; and the Southdown flock o£ Mr J A Croy, Overdale. Rakaia.; Mr B. J. Alarquet, the wool-classing- instructor, ■"' has selected these fleeces on behalf of th- New Zealand -rovernment's Agricultural Department, and they will eventually be sent to the Dutch Government Agricultural Department. It is worthy of remark that one of "She pupilsj who passed the wool-classing examination ■, and that, too, with 95 marks out of tbe maximum of 100, is one of Ashburton's oldest residents, who has been m business in the town on .bis own account for many years, and who has only quite recently taken to farming as well, on a small scale.

CHEVIOT. A i_ Sp ™ ial "■"^β ß in connection with the Cheviot Presbyterian Church were .conducted on Sunday, November 28th, by the Rev. John Craig. ufif c x,T ere laree attendances at both the services. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, 'Messrs J. Duncan M P and G. W. Forbes, M.p., who Vere present at the pile-driving ceremony at the Waiau bndge, and were spending the Sunday *t Cheviot, attended the services. When the Hon. T. Mackenzie 'was asked if he would like to go for a drive round on the Sunday, he replied tiat he looked upon it ac a personal duty to -attend church wherever ne to be. ■..,.- ---i At the McKenzie School Committee's last meeting correspondence from the Domett School Committee, asking for co-operation in securing a special train later in the summer fn T a picnic for the children to Wainoni Park. The Chairman (Mr Sullivan) explained that he had replied, stating that while the McKenzie was prepared } ?-,*? the extent of "rging parents and children to avail themselves of the opportunity, no guarantee could be given with regard to the expense of a special train. There was £3 odd in hand from the Wainoni entertainments and it was agreed that this amount be handed to the master to purchase books as prizes for proficiency, three prizes tor each class. The balance, if an y to ?o to the School Library Fund. ine Uhristmas holidays will commence on L7th December and continue for six veeks.