THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15567, 17 April 1916, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. 5 JOTTINGS FOB FARMERS. I ' - There has been a great increase in ' the number of rabbits in tho country - during the past two years (writes "Agricola," South Island correspondent of the "Fanners' Union Advocate"). ; The river-beds are full of the pest, and " tho bunnies rapidly spread to the adj joining farms, particularly if there is any shelter available. Jt is a very long , time since rabbits were so plentitul. In ( j fact, on the farm lands, it is probable ; that thero wer 0 never so many before. ; , Somo farmers, it is feared, arc not taking proper steps to deal with the ( pest, though the inspectors have been f fairly active of late. A good deal may be done by shooting, dogging', and trapping, but tho really effective destroyer ; is poisoned pollard. . •'There will be very few oats or wheat ' grown in Southland next year," is the I , opinion expressed by one of Southland's I ) largest and most progressive farmers to ' ! Uie Otantau ''Standard." The number t of young men'leaving for the front is • : the reason assigned. Getting suitable farm labour is proving increasingly difficult; tho departure of farmers' sons ■ 1 is leaving blanks which cannot be fill- ' cd, and "-o cultivation for cereals will ; largely decrea.se. Added to this, tho disappointing experience of" the present season bas sickened a number of growers. To have their hopes of a3s per bushel harvest dashed to the ground • and to find a difficulty in selling oats ao oven 2s, has put a stopper on any inclination to grow grain. The onlooker reasons that oats producing of) bushels ner'/acre at 2s a bushel' must be largely found-money to the f armor who actually produces them, but tho latter says, on the other hand, that lie is actually out of pocket in selling j oats at 2s. The great consolation in the meantime is that the multitude is assured of cheap, wholesome, porridge. ; At a time "when nrices of all foodstuffs are soaring skywards, cheap porridge is a real boon, and in producing it-tho farmer is a true patriot. HAWARDEN i A fete and picnic was held at Mason's Flat recently to raise funds for the ; Queen Carnival. The proceeds for the < day amounted' to £40, which will be ; used for tho support of the Waipara. ! < County Queen (Mrs H. T. Lance). ] Donations were received as follows: — j G. Rutherford, fivo fat wethers; W. j Anderson, one fat sheep; W. "White, ( on© lamb ; W. Galletly, one lamb ; All- i derson Bros., one lamb -T. Murray, ono \ pig; "VV. Cream, one pig; J. O'Carroll, j two turkeys; G. Yates, ono swingle- j tree; .R. Watson, two Buff Leghorn < roosters, and quinces; A. H. Dalzell, j one roovter; J. Cowie, one pair ducks; \ I'. "Wright, one sack oats; "VV. Ander- < son, ono sack wheat; C. Mason, one i sack barley and two cords firewood; f F. Mason, one sack wheat ; T. A. Shields, two sacks wheat and apples; c Reese and Sons, three bags oat s and t two cases fruit: TV. Traill, three cases j apples; Mrs R. Wright, five pounds j tea; M. Shaw, one goose and potatoes; f J. Spence, one case apples; A. Cowie, f one dressed -wether. All the above pro- c duce was disposed of at good prices, j Credit is due to Mr W. Anderson, who j organised the function, and to Mr j Fcek for his services as auctioneer. AMBERLEY. n A general committee meeting of the ' Ambcrley Breeders' Association was J held at Amberley on Thursday evening, ' Mr J. ]>. Wyllic, president, occupying' t tho chair. There was a good attendance of members present. The president * reported that in connexion with tho special stock train, a deficit of £5 10s was shown, and he had paid the amount to tho Railway Department personally, a Tho secretary presented tho annual 3 balance-sheet, and it was decided to "C voto flO Gs (id to tho Patriotic Fund, 1< and this amount, added to refunded k prize money of £9 13s 6d, would re- . present a grant of £20. Those re- ' C turning prize money were Messrs Win. b Nicholls £4 ]9s od, John Wvllie £2 list Cd, W. H. Hale £2, and J. Bros nan t 10s. Mr G. D. Greenwood, as chairman' of the Hills Executive, thanked tho president and members. for their donation. a SOUTHBROOK. '( At the last meeting of the South- I brook School Committee (Mr C. R. P 'J'hwaites in the chair), the headmaster ' t reported a roll number of 145, and an j t average attendance of 129. Tho re- I P signation of Miss Jessie McLean from c the teaching staff, through illness, "was j 1 received with regret, and the commit- j d tec expressed the wish that she should • C re-apply fpr the position when restored '' to health. Miss Dalzell, who had been j relieving teacher, had also been obliged a to leave owing to illness, and 31isa Fahey had taken her place. ° The annual meeting of the South- | li brook Methodist congregation, held on 1 f Thursday evening, took the form of a r tea and coffee supper, with musical I programme. Tho Rev. J. R. Clark occu- t pied tho chair. Items were given by Mesdames J. T. Withers and W. Huston. Misses Avers (2), R. Ross, J. b Adanjson, I. Laskey. Messrs H. Taylor, r ' H. Jackson, and L. Coombs. The d church choir also>_ contributed- anthems, n Mr C. R. Thwaites accompanying on a tho organ. Totes of thanka were passed to those who had worked to | make the anniversary so successful,. t< Special reference was also made to tho services of Mesdames A. Young and A. t] Smith, who, owing to difficulty in getting a church caretaker, had undertaken the work for several- months j gratuitously. It was announced that |al

the now minister, the Rev. J. Guy, would occupy the pulpit on Sunday. ' SOUTHBRIDGE. At tlie monthly meeting of the Southbridge Town Board, Mr T. McDowell ivrotc with regard to two 40ft motor culverts tho Board proposed to have constructed, and offered *to undertake the work. It was pointed out that Mr McDowell had not tendered in accordinco with the specifications, but had made specifications to suit himself. It vas decided to do the. work by day abour. The clerk presented an estinate of the income and expenditure or tho current year, and it wag deeded to strike a general rate of lid in ;he £. A proposal to increase the rate o lid was defeated. A letter from the Lllesmero County Council on the subeet of recruiting was read, and the . ontents wero discussed. The chair- J nan and Messrs Piper and Curran vere appointed to attend a conference if tho Recruiting Committees at Loeson. Messrs Harvey and Dyce reerred to an application from tho St. fames'® Red Cross Guild for the use if tho Town Hall for monthly socials, he Guild undertaking to pay the lightQfr fees and caretaker's charge. It was (ointcd out that the Board had been ;iving the use of the hall at half rates or some considerable time, this being qual to 13s 9d per night, which was list sufficient to- pay expenses. Tho Joard decidcd that it could not further educe tho charge. A small lino of .net Jambs recently old on account of Messrs Baxter Bros., f "Moville Farm," Southbridce, realsed 27s fid a Head. Messrs B ax tor Bros, avo sold their farm to Messrs MrvLachm Bros., of Leeston, and leave shortly o rcsido at Tf Parita, where they have nquired .3 sheep farm of over two housand acres. LEESTON. Before leaving Leeston to take up . position at Cust, North Canterbury, Ir B. Brown, of Messrs Johnston and Jo.'s staff, was presented bv his fcl-jw-employees with a handsome carved ami hallstand. A tablet to the memory of tlie late !haplain-Major Grant, one time I'resyterian minister at. Leeston, is shortly 0 be unveiled at the Leeston Prcsbycrian Church. ASH BURTON. Some months ago Messrs J. Tucker nd W. Hammond, collected in Ashurton the sum of £23 for the Soldiers' 'obacco Fund. Tho amount was sent lonio to the Overseas Club. With each arcel of tobacco and cigarcttos the ' Overseas Club supplied a postcard with ho address of the donor. Mr Tucker's ift found it s way to one of his own mployecs, Private M. James. Mr uckcr received a postcard on Satinay from him, acknowledging the gift, ►ther Ashburton boys who acknow>dged gifts of tobacco were Corporal j !. Sutton, Privates F. and W. Sutton, nd J. P. Betts. The chairman of the .Ashburton Borugh School Committee, Mr "\V. G. Hiler, has received a communication •om the Education Board, enclosing a eport of an inspection of the school by j n spec tor Kershaw. The report states j hat the condition of the school is far 1 ■om satisfactory. It was badly infested | ith borer, there wa s much rotten tim- | er in the walls, the atmosphere of the j >oms was nrusty, due more or less to ecay and dampness, andy he recomlended that the Education Board bo sked to erect a new building. Mr TV. Nosworthy, M.P., has _ revive a telegram from the Prime Minis;r. stating that the_ Hon. "W. Fraser ill visit Ashburton in connexion with ie celebration of Anzac Day. CREENDALE. The season hero is somewhat mornial. A few weeks ago many of

the fruit trees had quite a lot of blossom showing, in some cases nearly as much as was carried in the spring, and now apples aro to bo seen plenty of which are as large as a marble. In one or two cases plums have also set; this no doubt will act as a setback to any chance of a good crop next season. *