THE COUDNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 3

THE COUDNTRY.

-4 NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS l?OR FARMERS, That a dec-rcasc in the stock of the Dominion must not be allowed was a point emphasised by the Prime Ministci (the Right Hon. \V. F. .Massev) on Monday in the course of a speech a: the opening of the Westfield (Auckland) Freezing Company's new works. Even with the heavy exports last year there was, he said, a slight increase in the sheep flock. He doubted whether there would be this year owing not only to heavy exports but also to drought in some districts. He wanted to impress upon farmers, stock owners, and practical men the fact that they must produce more stock. At the end of the war.there would be a great many men coming back. Positions would have to be found for them, and many would go on the land. The Government would do its best to find suitable laud, but stock ni'ist bo forthcoming for these returned men. At present there was too much-wanngo of stock. The Prime Miriistyr quoted from a return showing that in the provincial district of Tararnki. which might, he said, be taken as a criterion fur other provinces, 00.0G0 calves were slairtntered last year, and 5-3,000 were reared. It was a. mistake to thus kill off the young stock, and the proportion in the figures quoted should have been the other way about. Sneaking on the same subject later, Mi- H. Gill, chairman of directors of the AVhakatane Freezing Works, said that if all the frecairg works in New Zealand were to sneered, and the output of stock was to be maintained, the prcsont wastage must stop. . Huge numbers of yours; f-ittla were put into the freezers. jncl"ding manv heifers, that should be kept for breeding purposes. . KAIAPOI. A false alarm of lire was given yesterday afternoon. In the Oddfellows' Hall, yesterday afternoon, .Mr and Mrs K. Mcintosh entertained a la'•ire number of friends in honour of their silver wedding. In the evening the ;-r.ung folk were entertained at a dance, which proved rnosc enjoyable. KIRWEE. At a meeting of the local Patriotic Committee, Mr I. Lorgelly presided. It ■was decided to arrange with the ladies' committee for a concert to be held in six weeks' time, the proceeds to go towards the Belgium Fund. The secretary was instructed to write thanking Messrs \JT. Sheat, J. J>heat, R. Johnson, and the Farmers' Co-operative Association for the free use of cars on the occasion of the last concert. A further sum of £31 was received for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. A farewell social to Private Georgo Fairbairn, who is on final leave from Trentham, was held in the Agricultural Hall on Monday evening. In spite of the very wet weather;, there was a fair attendance. The Rev. P. Revell, on behalf of the residents, presented the guest with a soldier's' hold-all, and wished him God-speed and a safe return. Messrs 1. Lorgellv, J. W. Belgrave, and C. Page also paid a high tribute to the departing soldier's many good qualities. Private Fairbairn and his father, Mr R. Fairbairn, .suitably responded. During the evening Mr Tiorgelly read some extracts from a letter received from Private C. Hibbitt, of the Third Reinforcements. Privato Hibbitt, who was wounded at the Dardanelles, is at present in Hospital in England, and He speaks in eulogistic terms of the splendid treatment they are receiving. ' The music for the dance was supplied gratuitously bv Mrs Stewart, Mrs Moffatt, Rev. P. Revell, and Mr J. W. Belgrave. AKAROA. A meeting of the Akaroa. Borough Council was held on Wednesday. Pre- j sent: —The Mayor (Mr Geo. Arm-1 strong), and Councillors Noonan, Fvfe, ! Penlington, Munro, Williams, Henning, Cantrell, Haylock, and Leete. Cr. I Cantrell moved the notice of .motion ! standing in his name: "That the resolution approving of the reclamation of a portion of the beach at Hammond's Corner be rescinded." A

lengthy discussion, that waxed warm at times, ensued. Eventually, on the casting vote of the Mayor, the motion was lost. ' Among the- correspondence was a letter from the County Council stating that the Minister of Public "Works had declined to authorise tho extension of the Lake Coleridge electric scheme to the Peninsula. Further, the County Council stated that a deputation would short'v be leaving for AYellington to interview the Minister in the matter, and asked the cooperation of the borough. The Mayor w.'is appointed to join tho delegation. The vestry -of St. Paul's wrote suggesting an improvement to the vicarage and the school grounds. The letter was referred to the Works Committee to renort upon at - next meeting. The Presbyterian Chtirch Committee forwarded plans and specifications of prcnoscvl new schoolroom. — Referred to Works Committee. Some twenty f.ppli~al ions were received for the position <jf borough electrician, and

were submitted to the Lighting Committee for consideration. Tenders were received for the cutting of firewood on the Council's reserves m A~karoa. The tender of P. McGuiro at 7s per cord was accepted. The Finance Committee's report on tho estimated receipts and expenditure for the current year was adopted.

The Presbyterian folk of Akaroahavc had under consideration for some time the building of a suitable room for Sunday school work. The original scheme has, owing to tho continuance of the war, been very considerably modificd. It has been decided to put uo a comfortably-sizecl room with folding partitions that will meet the needs of tho Biblo classes, and will also serve as a social room for 'tho congregation. At a meeting of tho Committee of Managers of the Church, helti on Wednesday evening, tenders wero re wived for the proposed building. The Kc-v. J. W. Hayward and Messrs J. D. Bruce and T. Lewitt were deputed to discuss certain matters in tho lowest tender with the architect, and were also given power to act thereliDOll.

Tbc luontli of May went out with more than a touch of wintry weather. For four clays over last week-end rain fell heavily," and almost continuously. By Monday evening nearly 4 inches had been registered. The subsoil must have received a thorough soakibg by

this time, and as tho temperature was not too low, tho downpour will do an immense ainount of good. Tho creeks are running higher than has been the case for tho last three years; and, with a full pressure of water thus assured, the borough hydro-clectrical plant lio.s been able to dispense with adventitious aids. LAURJSTON. On Tuesday evening a large assomb- 1 lago gathered in the schoolroom to do honour to Messrs Hunter Morris, Jaboz Maidens, Robert Moore, Donald Gunn, and Thomas Hickman, who have volunteered for active service. Mr Thompson Mitchell occupied tho chair, and, in a felicitous speech, presented each of tho gentlemen with a soldier's wallet. Supper was then served, and dancing indulged in to it.ni.sie supplied by Mrs Walter Goodwin and .Miss .Hickman (piano), and Mr W. IS. Hampton (violin). Advantage of the occasion was taken to present Miss Hickman with a brooch, as a slight recognition of her gratuitous services as pianist at the many send-offs. Hearty cheers wero given for those departing for tho front, and for Mrs uhd Miss Hickman. Mr -Hunter Morris was unavoidably absent. * | ASHBURTON. ; The vital statistics for tho Ashburton registration district for the month of May, 1916, arc as follows: —Births, 32; deaths, 13; marriages, !i. The figures for May, 191.5, were:—Births. 2p: deaths, 19; marriages, 8. The fjrst competition in connexion with tho Ashburton Miniature Riflu Club held on Wednesday evening, when the following were, the highest scores:—F. Clark (handicap 2) 69, C. Simpson (1) 68, It. "Shearman (2) f>7, | M. Campbell (2) 67, B. Baker (1) G7, J. E. Allen (5) 67. A farmer residing in the Raknin district informed an Ashburton "Guardian" reporter yesterday that he know of two farmers who had recently lost three horses, each through tho disease known as Australian stringhalt. The disease spreads so rapidly that one of the farmers referred to was compelled ' to shoot the horses shortly after they had contracted the disease. Mr F. Johns, of Bench road. AsTilmrton, has received official notico that his son, Sergeant Harvey Johns, is et.urning bv the Athenie, due to arrive in Lytteiton about Jure 3rd. Sersreant Johns left with the Wellington Reinforcements. and wa-s wounded in tho foot at Gallipoli. After a fine day on Wednesday, very heavy rain pet, in again from tlir. southwest at Ashburton about 10.30 a.m. vesterday. and continued intermittently throughout the rest of the day. TEMUKA. Tho monthly meeting of the Temuka Road Board was held yesterday. Mr Donald Grant was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. The chairman reported a revenue for the month of £180 17s sd. Of last year's rates £3690 had j been received, leaving £36 17s lOd outstanding. After passing accounts totalling £442 9s Bd, the debit balance to the general account would be £1199 10s 3d. It was decided to protest against any proposal for the dismemberment of the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board district. The South Orari River Board notified their willingness to pay one-third >f the cost of the proposed embankment at Penny's Ford, on conditions acceptable to the Road Board. Messrs J. J. Ellis and A. R. Guild were appointed delegates to the eonfercnce, which meets in Timaru on Juno 10th, to consider the small bird nuisance. It was decided to accept the Borough Council's offer of £20 towards the cost of channelling near the borough boundary on the North Main road, and to have the work done as soon as weather permitted. It was decided to inform Mr W. R. McGrath. who applied f or timber for a culvert giving across to his land, that the Board could only share

the cost of culverts when concrete was used. The overseer was authorised to have 18 chains of road on a road leading to the Winchester .Settlement formed. A ballot was taken to determine which members should retiro at the end of the year, and the names of . Messrs Ellis and McCullougli were drawn. On Wednesday evening the. staff of the Temuka Post Office met to sav good-bye to Mr A. Roberts, postmaster, who is leaving'to take up a position in the Wellington Telegraph Office, and Mis Roberts. Mr Roberts was prosen ted with a pocket book and Mrs Ro- , bcrts with a handbag. • . THE ROMXEY. TO THK l.nlTOn OF ' 'THE I'RKSS." Sir, —"llomnev's" experience of Romneys i s evidently confined to one part tii" the world, which may or may not be the ''hub of the universe." To me his letter proves nothing. He has evidently found the class of sheep' suitable to his country, and has sufficient sense to adhere to them. But, does he i magi no that the world-wide name of "Prime Canterbury'' was gained by Hawke's Bay or any other Romney? As to yellow and deformed. I am spcak- • ing of a number of years' connexion with a well-known factory, which did : more to establish and maintain the ! name of prime Canterbury than any other works, and only largely by grading dov.n slab-sided, peak-shouldered animals of the pure Romncr type' was this brought about: As to lightness of wool, let '-Romnev" try to grow 21.11b 'nf wool on a Canterbury Romnev. No doubt the improved Romnev is a better animal, but far from perfect ; then it is declared to be a crossbred. As to MiGardner's second letter, it was merely a reiteration of his first. Probably be could not refute my remarks.—Yours, ! CtC " BREEDER.