THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

notes and news, benefits of co-operation. FARMERS ADOPTING THE SYSTEM. Tho (|iio.-tioii of the federation of farmers' co-operative associations "was alluded to by several sneakers at. the annual meeting of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Co. at Wellington on Tuesday. Sir James G. Wilson eaid the eo-op-crafivc system was going to of great service to New Zealand. They were now on the eve of the federation of the farmers' co-operative societies of New Zealand, and he thought it was going io be a very great movement indeed. There were some initial difficulties to lie got over, but he had no doubt they "would be .got over, and that in a few years the federation of those associations of farmers would hare the greatest. effect- in New Zealand. He saw no reason why the farmers should not take a much larger part in the commercial world. .Mr TO. W. Relpli. manager of tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, Christchurch. said he believed the initial difficulties in inaugurating the scheme would be dealt, with before the New Year. It was hoped, by the medium of this scheme, that the farming community would lie able to secure to themselves certain advantages, which they could not hope to get under existing conditions. There were many matters on which the farmers had hitherto heeu unable, to obtain redrew, which he felt wire they could secure by concerted action. One wa s the freight question. He was .sure the scheme was a good one. Perhaps they would not. be able to do much with it until after the war, but meanwhile the farmers should prepare for that time, and be ready to start in real earnest a,s soon as normal conditions were restored. AKAROA BUTTER COMPANY. A meeting of the directors of the Akaroa Butter Factory -vns held on Tuesday night. Present—Messrs A. J. Turner (in the chair). Goo. Checkley, F. Brocherie. P. Cunningham. H. C. Dierck, R. Whitehead and AY. W. Williams. -f Mr W. Judd, manager, reported that the weekly output was now exceeding two tons, and that the sunrly of cream was, despite the continued dry weather, being well maintained. It was decided to pay Is 3UI per lb for butter-fat supplied during November. The question'' of obtaining another boiler was held over pending enquiries as to the cost. A long discussion tonic olaco with resnect to the proposal that the factory should undertake the manufacture of ice for sale. The manager stated that the cost would be for the necessary plant alone, as the running oxoenses would bo practically nil. ice being recAgrnVed as a by-product in factories. There was certain to be a ready sale for the ice at / s per r-wt ; one resident of the town haviug already notified his intention to take -lewt weekly. As the season was now so far advanced, the directors decided defpr consideration of tho matter until the factory closed down next autumn. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. The Oliura '"'Advocate'' records a most remarkable feat performed by a. horse in a stable, at Matierc a few days ago. A fair-sized back was placed in one of the stalls in Phillips's stable. In front, and over fift- from tho ground, is a small window. 2ft 9in in height and 20in width. Into this the animal clambered, and one of the neighbours, being attracted bv tho noise, was astonished to see a horse hanging by its hindquarters oiltside the building." The animal was eventually released by cutting away a portion of the. woodwork. An example of human indecision was given on Tuesday at Hoadley r s Auction Rooms, at Napier, during the progress of the Dartmoor Estate sale. The sale room was full of l;\ml owners and laud speculators, yet the whole, of the estate with tho exception of a few sec-tious was successfully bid for by one person. Immediately alter the sale the successful buyer was approached and by successive advances offered £720 extra on one of his purchases of f» 240 acre block. With this and other offers the land buyer could have made some thousands of pounds on his bargain. He refused all offers, however.

Volume XII. of tho "New Zealand Flock Book" (iSouth Island), compiled by the secretary, Mr 0. B. Pom be r ton, has just been issued. Since the previous volume was published the following changes in the numbers of flocks have taken place : —Threo Lincoln flocks have been sold or dispersed, and three more registered; English Leiceotcr s 10 and 2, Border Leicesters 11 and 8, Roniney Marsh 9 and 15, Southdowns 3 and 4, Shropshires 4 and 3. Two more merino flocks have been registered, also two more Ryelands. A section is now devoted to Corriedales that have been inbred for not less than fifteen years, and twenty flocks are now registered. Provision is also made for halfbred flocks, and one is entered. These are apart, from the Corriedale and halfbred flocks in the appendix. A large number of individual rams of different breeds have also been registered.

MrF. Milner, 51.A., Rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School, during the presentation of certificates on Wednesday, -mentioned that the absence of a number of boys was accounted for by tho fact that no less than 70 per cent, of the boarders of tho school were away in the country, helping the settlors with shearing operations. Also quite a number of tho day scholars were absent from the same cause. The announcement w;vs greeted with considerable applause (says the "Xorth Otago Times"), and no doubt now that the holidays of the primary schools are approaching. mt.ny of the pupils of these will rise to the occasion. Tt may not bo necossary next yesr, hut such a commendable' spirit cannot go unrecognised by the eonimunitv Tt is hoped that such a laudable example will be followed throughout the Dominion.

"It would .surprise farmers to know what the local auctioneering firms are making as profit from commissions on sales." remarked Mr W. L. Butler at u meeting ef farmers in Gisborno last •week (says the "Times")- "I have gone into the matter a little.'' he continued, "and on a low basis I estimate that no less a sum that £20,000 was made out of the farmers at last year's figures. I would like one of the* firms to challenge that statement, as I can prove it- up to the hilt. Why, £1250 was mado at s cattle fair in two days." He added that his calculations were made on a moderate basis, and included sheep and cattle. "Why in face of that the farmers cannot come forward and say it must stop passes my comprehension," he remarked. "I"must say that they arc absolutely blind to their own interests. The more I look at it the more I am convinced that the farmers in Poverty Bay are losing their great opportunity. The farmers are iisleep. and something must be done to an-akon them from their lethargy.'*

AMBERLEY. At the half-yearly nicotine of the Ambcrley Lodge of Ihuiids. P.A. Bro. W ■ Dwan presided over a fair attendance of members. D.P. Bro. E. Monk, Kaiapoi, and P.D.P ; Bro. Baynoii, Oh oka Lodges, paid an official visit. The half-yearly" balance-shect Mid auditor's report were adopted. Sick pay amounting to £'02 Is 8d was paid out. during the half-year. The following officers were installed by D.P. Bro. E. Monk, assisted by P.D.P. Bro. Baynon :—Arch ,Druid, P.A. Tiro. W. Dwan; Y.A., Bro. C. Harris; A.D. i Bards. Bros. Geo and O'Brien : secre- j tarv. Bro. A. Bailey; treasurer. Bro. J. ' H. Watson: P.G.,' Bro. G. "Winskili; 0.G., Bro. H. Mockett: M.S.. Sister Duncan: auditor, Bro. AY. Geo; Grand Lodge representative, Bro. A. Bailey. KAIAPOI. A fancy fair, promoted by Mrs Reay's Patriotic concert party, lias been arranged for to-morrow in the Domain. There will bo competitions for decorated motor cars and cycles, also a babv show, and tea and confections will be provided. The proceeds go to the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool Funds. LINCOLN. The half-yearly meeting of the Stir of Anglesea Lodge. No. G, U.A.0.D., was held on Tuesday evening, A.D. Bid. Jas. Taylor presiding. The bal-ance-sheet was received and adopted, fihowing the finances of the lodge to be in a soufid position. The following officers were elected: —A.D., Bros. F. Simpson ; V.A., Bro. J. Mackintosh; secretary. Bro. H. Fuller: minute sccrctary, Bro. .J. H. Restall; treasurer, Bro. H. Exon: 1.G., Bro. J. T. Pratt: A.D.B.'s. Bros. Bartram and Marshall; V.A.B. 7 '?. Bros. Kirk and J. Taylor; 0.G., Bro. J. Barter: Grand Lodge representative, Bro. J. ft. Rcstall. The officers-were duly installed by D.P. Bro. John Taylor. Complimentary references were made to the A.D.. Bro. Jas. Taylor and V.A. Bard. Bro. Kirk, trho have enlisted, and will be leaving for camp very shortly. Arrangements were made to "hold S concert in connexion with' the lodge in the second week in January, all the proceeds to go to the local R«d Cross funds. AKAROA. The Board of Managers of the Akaroa Technical School met on Tuesday night. Present —Messrs J. D. Bruce (in the chair), G. Chccklev, Geo. Armstrong A. R. Munro. -J. S. Dodds and Dr. Cantroll. The chairman reported that the classes for the yoar had now closcd. the last one to complete its course being the

junior woodwork class, which, under Mr L. Hayloek, had been very well attended, and had dono really good work. Tlio adult classes had met with only meagre support; those for men had, in factj fallen through altogether, a result only to be expected, seeing that nearly all tlio single '''cligrbles" wero away on active service. It was decided that next year the classes would be started early in the autumn, so that the bulk of the work could be covered before the dairy farmers' busy season was well under way. ASHBUirrON. Although the weather in the Ashburton County has been exceptionally dry for some time, there has been some line strikes of turnip?, even on the light land. Mangels are also looking well, but rain is urgently needed to keep them growing. Very light rain feil in Ashhurton'on "Wednesday night. 12 points being registered at the Domain weather station. Yesterday was dull and threatening. but beyond a few heat spot 3 no rain fell. The annual exhibition of the work done by the pupils attending the A«hlmrton Convent School was opened for inspection by the public "yesterday afternoon. The display was a very creditable one, and bore evidence of careful tuition "by the Sisters, cind ability on the p;vrt of the pupils. The exhibits consisted of plain and fancy needlework, oil paintings, water colour studies, ana brush drawings. The subjects were chiefly drawn from Nature, and included several landscapes. The bulk of the exhibits were done by the day and boaTd pupils, while an exhibition of cardboard modelling, done by the kindergarten pupils, was included. An exhibit of chip carving was also shown. In the evening the pupils gave a most enjoyable concert in the St. Stephen's Anglican Schoolroom, which was crowded to the doors. The proceeds of the concert will be devoted to the Patriotic Funds. A meeting of the committee appointed to conduct the ejvcial Christmas appeal for the starving children of Belgium was held in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Room, Ashburton, vesterday, when the chairman (Mr *H. F. Xicoll) presided. The chairman reported that the Postal Department had consented to transmit up to 4000 circulars free of postage; also that the special envelopes for distribution were due to arrive in Ashburton at any moment, and would be posted ri"-ht away. The committee will endeavour to get an envelope into every homo in tlio county, with instructions that all must bo returned to the secretary (Mr

J. B. Christian) bv the 30th inst. Til® offer of the lied Cross Society to assist in collecting the envelopes was accepted. The Ashburton County, Borough, Hampstead, and Tinwald rolls have been placed at the committee's disposal to ensure each ratepayer getting one. At the breaking-up ceremony of _tlio Ashburton High School yesterday tttcrnoon, Mr AV. F. "Watters, headmaster, expressed pleasure at seeing among the visitors Sergeant Percy Doherty,. •inold pupil of the school, who has returned to New Zealand for a commission. It is understood that Mrs John rorrostcr. Mus. Bar.-., of Ashburton, has coni]>oscd the music of &' carol which will be sung in one of the Ashburton ohttrches at Christmas. The pupils attending the Ashburton High School, together with many <sf. 'the old pupils, celebrated the breakup of the school in the Assembly Room on Wednesday evening. Tho_ proceedings, which opened with the singing of the school song, took the form of games and competitions, interspersed with musical items by the old pupils. Supper was served and a dance held.