THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15158, 23 December 1914, Page 10

THE COUNTRY.

) NEWS AND NOTES

JOTTINGS FOR FARMER?

' Mr Primrose McConnell. in an article in tho "Journal of Agriculture" on the farmer and his methods, remarks: — ■'Taking general farming ability into consideration, the best of the British farmers undoubtedly stand head and shoulders almve all others, and in livestock breeding in particular they are the experts of experts. The true British farmer is the product of many generations of practical experience and keen observation. ... It is the general opinion that the British farmer works with "out-of-dato implements, and in some districts such is tne case; but on the average, farm of the best class tho i most machinery may b<> ' seen. As a matter of fact, implements are now being introduced to New Zealand which were in use in many parts !of North Britain twenty or thirty • years ago. It should be remembered i that an implement which suits the ennj ditions of une country may be entirely I ununited to another." j For some time past Mr Young, M.P. j for Waikato, has been in communi- • ration with -he Prime Minister respect - , ing the powers of tli«> New Zealan 1 Casein Board to control tho process of I.souring milk for purposes other tliau i tlie manufacture of casein, which might I ! bo v.sed by butter and cheese niainil'ao- § j turers within the Oominion. Mr § j Mas-ey has now replied as follows: — I : "As regards the patent taken out Iby the New ZeaLuul Casein Board for i tho process of sourinu; in connexion I with '.he manufacture of casein, th' , ! JVpartuiont went- into the matter at tho time the patent was applied for. •It rt-counisci that the process had been employed for a considerable time in connexion with butter and eheovemnldng, and I am informed that tho j legal position is that the patentees' rights cannot be enforced if it can lie nroved that the patented process was known and used cither in New Zea- ' hind or elsewhere before the grant of I i the patent.

j Since the- recent rain the crops on ; Rniapoi Island and in the neighboiir- ! hood have vastly improved. Th»> wheat j iuis become more sturdy, and although I Ihe straw is short, the ears are forming J we!!._ Out 1: also short in straw are bo;.ginning to head out well, and them is ; a decided improvement already uoticei able. There are .some fair hay crops, I .'aid these tho rains of the past two or i throe d;iys do not seem to hare affected whiTt? the crops have been cut. The crt>i>s for grass-setd aro doing well. Potato crops have been freshened and advanced by the steady showers, and the warm soil will cause the tubers now to make steady growth. Some of the crop was cut by the frost on tho morning of Saturday, December 19th. One or two most promising crops of butter beans and kidney beans which were almost ready f> flower suffered by tho same frost, and do not appear as it' they will for a time recover their growth. The crops of small fruits have been generally y,ood, and there in a prospect of an abundant raspberry crop now beginning to ripen. TAI TAPT7. ' A lonp; and trying succession of nor'\vt>st galos was succeeded on Sunday night by steady rain. On Monday at i , a.m. .83iiv had fallen, giving a muchneeded supply of moisture to parched lands. Again on Monday at about, 5 p.m. dark heavy clouds presaged a vio-

lent thunderstorm, accompanied a sharp hail storm, not violent enough, however, to do ninel; harm. Tho rain will prove of immense benwjt to crops, pastures, and gardens, which for some time had suffered badly from the effects of dry, parching winds. LINCOLN. In regard to the piano fund for the Lincoln Women's Pioneer Club, the cash subscriptions wero £'S 4s 10a. Miss Marks'*? box of fancy things, postcards, and sweet peas realises! LI 4s -d. and Mrs A. Uailotty's dolls' names choosing scheme at <xl a name, realised £- 'Is" making a total of £11 10*. The .. Highland doll was won by Mrs Williamson, of Port. Chalmers, and the , Scout doll was won by Mrs AVinsor, i Somerne'.d street, Spreydon. GREEXPARK. A few weeks ago an altar cross was I placed in St. Mark's Anglican Church, ' Ctreenpark, in memory of the late Mr 1 John Hurst, one of the most enthusiasi tie and generous founders of this ! church. Later subscriptions to the samo : fund having como to hand, the vestry j decided to instal a bell and belfry. Oα J Sunday last special services were held. I Tho JRev. 11. Williams, of Opawa. a ; former pastor of the parish, preached an eloquent sermon from the text, j ''Lift up your hearts." The Rev. F. H. Redgrave, the present vicar, conducted the service ami dedicated the boll. Ap~ propriato hymns were Ming. M. S'arr presiding at the organ, Mr K. I Trewern sang an anthem. The church ,' was filled to overflowing. The bell, J erected by Messrs Pearson Brothers - . ! was procured from Messrs Andersons. It weighs one hundredweight, and has a pood tone. Monday morning broke with a most copious rainfall that delighted *.io hearts of all. The weather cleared at j about eleven o'clock, but n heavy tliun- j derstorm, with vivid lightning! broke, j over the district about 4 p.m. For a | few moments hailstones as large as sparrows' e g«s fell, but apart from battering the leaves of mangels, etc., no serious damage seems to have boon experienced. The weather yesterday morning was also very wintry. KATAPOI. The examination of needlework at the j Kaiapoi Borough School was made on Monday by Mrs T. R. Leithead and Mrs J. W. Crawshaw, who have undertaken the inspection for about ten years past. This afternoon in the general prize-giv-I ing the awards for sewing, etc.. will bo announced. j AMBERLEY. On Monday evening the members of tlio Amberley Methodist Choir entertained Mr A. T. Blackwell, who is leaving Amberley. Mr Blackwell was the recipient of a handsomely-bound hymn book In a brief speech". Mr Costain referred to the loss of a good worker, and hoped Mr Blackwell would have a successful future. Mr Blackwell suitably responded. IMXMER SPRING?. Th« weather at Haumer Springs has been very unfavourable for shearing during tho past week, 1.30 in of rain falling during Sunday night and .12in during Monday night. A heavy shower of hail fell on the plains on Monday night, and on Tuesday morning themountains surrounding Hanmer Springs were covered with snow. Owing to tho heavy rains, tho road between Cuhrerden and tho Upper Waiau Ferry is in a bad stato for traffic, several motors having been stuck in the ruts lately. SPJIIXGSTON.

On Sunday the anniversary services were hold in connexion with the Springston Methodist Church. iServires w<?ro conducted by thb Itev. B. Lawry in tho morning and tho Roy. W. J. Williams

in tlie evening; Both ministers tnok as their text, "Behold, 1 bring you glad tidings of groat joy. which .shall bo unto all the people." This text was taken as it is one 'nindrnd years this Christmas sineo tho lk«v. Samuel luarsden preached tho first serihon in New Zealand from tho same text. On Christmas X>ay the anniversary will be further celebrated by a public tea and meeting. GLEXTUXNEL. There, was a welcome change from the strong nor'-westors which hare railed tor some time, in the district on Sunday. The wind changed to the south-west, «nd about midnight rain began to fall, and continued for some hours. .Monday was fine, but about four in the afternoon another storm came up and brought heavy rain and hail. There was nlso a fal! of enow which coated tho ranges and the hills round the township. Tlie rain continued for about six hours, and with the previous fall, will do an immense- amount o£, good. Tho rape, and turnip crops will receive a fresh lease- of life, and tho pastures and grain crops will also bo considerably benefited.