COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14524, 28 November 1912, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS AND NOTES.

x . SHEEP RETURNS. (SPEC-iA TO ''TH-. _»BEaS.") WELLINGTON, November 27. The Department of Agriculture has prepared a return of the total breeding ewes in the Dominion, and the estimated percentage of lambs for tho 1912----13 season. In regard to stud sheep, the roturn estimates, the percentage of lambs in the Auckland, Napier. Gisborne. and the Wellington-West Coast districts as 95, and the percentage in the Marlborough, Nelson,' Westland, Canterbury, Eaikoura, ana the Otago districts as 101. The totals under the heading of "stud" in the North Island 1 are:— Lincoln ... ... 28,403 Romney ... 64,984 Border Leicester ... 3,936 ■ English Leicester ... 4,564 Shropshire ... 2,313 Southdown • ... 7,681 Other breeds ... 4,198 And for the South Island:— Leicester ... ... 25,485 English Leicester ... 24,715 Shropshire ... 5,127 Southdown ... 4,461 Other breeds ... 11,211 Tho grand total is :—» Lincoln ... ... 31,451 Romney ... ... 88,968 Border Leicester ... *29,42 l English Leicester ... 29,279 Shropshire ... 7,440 Southdawn ... 12,142 Other breeds ... 15,409 Under tho heading of "flock," the estimated percentage of lambs is 93 in thc North Island, ahd 90 in the South. The North Island total is given as 6,277,381 crossbreds and 'other long- , wools not "studs," whilst the South Island tctal is 693,661 merinos, and 591,877 crossbreds and other lohgwools not "studs," giving a grand total for New Zealand of 11,369,258.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS

The top price for fat lambs at the Addincton stock sale yesterday went to a draft of eighty-two from the Elderslie Estate, Oamaru, these lambs, which were a well-finished lot, realising £1 apiece.

Mr Jas. Lambie, of Lakeside, who recently returned from a trip to the Old Country, spent a good deal of his time in the west of Scotland. Being a farmer, he took much interest in agricultural matters and cattle raising. He found that the Ayrshire breed was coming into favour in tome farts, and in many of the crossbred erds there could be detected a strain of the Ayrshire, though the animals resembled the Shorthorn in build and appearance.

At a recent meeting of auctioneers and freezing works* representatives, it was decided to hold a -alb at Addington on December 24th. At the sale yesterday a petition wa» prepared, and very largely signed by the butchers, protesting against th© proposed date of the sale as being extremely inconvenient for the trade. Tho fat pig buyers state that if the sale is held on the 24th they will not attend at all. It has been suggested that a sale on Friday, the 27th, would meet the case, as if it was started early and pushed through smartly it would give the butchers time to make all their necessary arrangements.

KAIAPOI

When Sir Cuarles Bowen was a member of the House of Representatives,.]

and Minister of Justice, in 1878, he assisted the Kaiapoi Borough Council to obtain an endowment reserve,, of 2000 acres. From this it is computed £13,000 has been received in rents, and without Sir Charles Bowen's assistance the borough might be only making. its accounts balance with a stiff annual rate, whereas it is ono of the least rated boroughs. The reserve as an asset has likewise enabled the Council to raise one or two substantial loans for improvements. Now the season for beach camping and surf bathing is on, attention has been drawn to the stato of part of the Beach road at Kaiapoi, which is in an uneven condition.

BROORSIDE

The anniversary tea meeting and concert in connection with the Brookside Methodist Sunday-school took place in the schoolroom on Friday evening, and was a great success. Tho tea meeting was attended by a, large number of people from all over the district. The Rev. T. A. Joughin presided, and was supported by the llev; J. H. Haslam. A first-class programme was submitted. Songs were fiven by Misses Helen Chamberlain, ohnson and Joughin, tho Rev. Haslam and Messrs J. B. Brown and J. Oliver, piano solo by Miss llhoda Oliver, duets by Mrs Doak and Mr Oliver, the Rev. Haslam and Mr Brown, and tho Revs. Haslam and Joughin, recitations by Mr A. D. Chamberlain. The accompanists were Misses Joughin, Chamberlain and* Oliver. During the evening the prizes were distributed to the children as follows:—First class (girls)—Nellio Russell; second class (girls)—Hanna Davies, Flossie Taylor, Elsie Buckly • third class (girls)—Kathleon Doak, Myra Brooke, Gertrude Davies. Gladys Brooks, Nancy Brooks, Gwen Henderson; second class (boys)— Cecil Hight, Erick Doak and Edward Davies; third class (boys)— Reginald Hight, Wilfred Doak and" Donald Russell.

LEESTON.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Leeston Lodgo of Oddfellows, M.tJ., wa3 held in tho lodge room on Monday, N.G. Bro. A. Brown presiding overa fair attendanco of members. An official visit was received from the district officers, among the number being: —Prov. G.M. Bro. R. Rodgers, Prov. Deputy G.M. Bro. Archibald, Prov. U.S. Bro. Foster, Past Pror. G.M. Bro. Clarke, and also several other visitors from Christchurch lodges. Bro Browne, secretary of tho United Friendly Societies , Benevolent Association, with which tho lodge was recently affiliated, gave an addrese on the worklne and benefits of tho association. After the meeting was closed the visitors were entertained at supper.