THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15894, 7 May 1917, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

j. NEWS AND NOTES. i | PENINSULA SALEYARDS j COMPANY. | The monthly meeting of the directors Jof the Peninsula Saleyards Company ! was held at Duvauchello last Friday. | Present —Messrs R. Latter (in the (chair), T. W. Wilkms, It. Stewart, T\. j W. Williams, and C. W. Leete (secre- ' tary). | The secretary reported that the J* 11 " 1 } ! fees collected for the April sale had j been £2C 4s Gd, which constituted a i record tor the Duvauchelle saleyards. Close on 700 head of cattle had been yarded that day. Letters were Teceivcd from Messrs Pyno and Co. and the Farmers Co- | op. Association, pointing out that the | present hour of commencing sale busi- | ness made it dark very often m tho J autumn and win tar before stock were i got away. After some discussion it j was unanimously resolved that, m fui tnro, all sales should start at 11 a.m. | The sub-«>mmitteo deputed to en- | quire into th© yarding accommodation submitted its report. After hearing I and discussing it, the meeting decided j (a) to divide tho middle race of 10 pens into 20; (b) to erect 16 more pens alongside the sheep pens; (c) to call for tenders for both works. COUNTRY WORKERS. DEMANDS OF THE A.F.U. At tho Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union Conference, which has just concluded at Wellington, the following rat-os of wages for rural workers, excepting shearers, wore agreed upon: Waggoners, £3 per week and found. Ploughmen (4 horses), £3 10s per week and found. Ploughmen (6 horses), £2 15s per week and found. Head ploughmen, 5s extra. Cowman, £2 per week and found. Cooks (male and female, for 5 men), £2 10s per week and found. Cookg (male and female, over 5 men), £3 per week and found. Casual hands, 10s por day and found. Gorsc-grubbers, ditchcrs. and woodcutters. 10s per day and found. When working in wet places, gum boots to be fouud by employers. Fencers, 15s per day and found. Rabbit poisoners, 10 s per day and found. Where married couples are engaged, tho men to receive above wages; tho wife, if engaged as cook, to receive wages as set down above. If tho wifo is engaged in other domestic duties sho is to receive £1 os per week and fonnd. HARVEST HANDS. Harvester hands other than reaper and binder drivers and stack builders, Is 6d per hour. Stack builders, 2s per hour. Reaper and binder drivers, £4 10a per week. Feeders, per 100 bags and found. Sheaf 2s Gel per 100 bags and found. Straw hands, 2s 9d per 100 hags and found. THRESHING MILL HANDS. Feeder, 2s per hour and found. Other men, Is Od per hour and found. When employees have to find themselves, 8s per day to be added to tho above rates. ABERDEEN-ANGUS CATTLE. A BUYER DISCUSSES NEW ZEALAND STOCK. Mr John Moir, & well-known buyer of cattle, who has been . visiting the Dominion at intervals for some years purchasing stock for Queensland, is at present in Hastings, and. in an interview with a "Napier Telegraph'' reporter, said that the consignment of Aberdeen-Angus cafctlc got together by him for shipment to Queensland leaves here at an'early date. This is by far the best shipment of the breed that has yet left New Zealand, some of the heifers being of outstanding merit. Mr Moif says it i s jnst as hard to get the breeders to part with their females in New Zealand as it is in any other country, but such men as Mr Bernard Chambers and Mr H. B. Williams, who own practically tho 'two best studs in New Zealand, have made sacrifices in the interests of the breed, in "this respect as well as from a pecuniary standpoint. "There is no doubt that the extensive exportation of Aberdeen-Angus to Queensland has resulted in the'very much higher prices that are now in vogue iu New Zealand, and it is hard to think that the people who benefit most by it arc those who have no interest in the breed, fi-rther than that of pounds, shillings, and pence. "Still, the more good cattle that are exported the easier will it be to sell the weedy ones locally, and this > s the greatest danger that faces the breed. I would rejoice to see similar legislation applied to cattle that is contemplated for Clydesdales. "If this is too drastic something ought to lie done in "the.way of preventing inferior animals from being sold as studs, and thus perpetuating their species per means of stud book registration. If the stud book authorities were to insist on all animals being up to a certain standard of merit before they could bo entered in their volumes, and a stringent rule put into force whereby no breeder could sell an animal thus registered under a hundred guineas, very probably the Aber-deen-Angus breed would uc on the road to success."

JOTTINGS FOli FAUMERS A country settler writes to the, "Hawern. Star": —"Surely it is time something v.'as done, in relation to the all too frequent disappearance of stock from various Taranaki districts. Quite recently on® man lost forty fat cows, another forW weaner steers, two others ten fat and ten store sheep respectively ; orvo settl.'r lately lost five bulb, and so on, for these are only a few instances." Among the pupils attending the wool class at Waimate, is a girl lo to 1(3 years of age. There are 31 youths and men in the class, yet so keen is sbo on her work, and so apt. that so far c-h'?. is much in advance of the other arst-Tear pupils. Her n-iai-rv bo followed -with advantage to them-soH't'-'j by .~o7fKi -jt' tile you/i;* m this district >.*).«;•::%> homes arc "on th-i land" (aaya t-iio "Tctauka leader"). The practical knowledge they wotiKi c-i"! •••oald not fail to bo valuable tothsm.

Victorian farmers are suffering great inconvenience and are threatened serious losses through the failuTo _or the Railway Department to provide an adequate supply of tarpaulins to cover of superphosphates and other fertilisers, which are rendered useless by contact with moisture whilst in the trucks. Jn defence of the Rawday Department, the Minister states that the shortage is entirely due to war conditions. When war broko out maity cf the Department's contracts wero cancelled and the prohibition Ky Great Britain of the export of canvas ;:a«l added io the difficulties. llie .lAepArmie.ni has been able to pet some including a quantity from. Jr.par,, and ao present about 600 tarpaulins are turned out- each month at tho factory at Newport.

Present indications point to a serious shortage of shearers next season. Up to date, somo hundreds have en-

listed, and, according to Mr C. GraVadler general secretary of the A.P.U., between 000 and (JOO njen have been picked up in the different iballcts. Many of these are men who arc termed farm labourers in the Gazette, by reason of the fact that they were engaged as pastoral -workers when the National Register was compiled. Comparatively few have applied for exemption, and the problem of the shortage of shearers is likolv to be much more acute than it was last season (says tho Wellington "Post")* Australia the same trouble is being experienced owing to enlistments and the increase in. tho flocks. The question of th© supply of Australian shearers will depend to a large extent on the decisions arrived at by the New Zealand, conference between the sheepowners and shearers' representatives) which takes place on 30th inst.

One.result of the measures that are being taken in tho United Kingdom to increase the'.production of foodstuffs is th© development of the farm tractor, lens of thousands of acres of British park and cpmnion land aro heing broken up for cropping with the aid of light and haudy motor tractors. An Agricultural Machinery Branch of the British Munitions Department lias cooperated with the Board of Agriculture and the Food Controller in the promotion of the manufactu*! of agricultural implements in the United Kingdom, and reports tihat have reached hip Majesty's Trade Commissioner (Mr J}- "V\. Dalton 1 ) indicate that there is ,i -" to be a demand for tho new trs»tors in Xotv Zealand. They are light and handy machines, with great pulling capacity, and they can be- used for hauling ploughs, harrows, reap ere, etc.. with economy and ease. One small tractor has ploughed "25 acres in 20 .hours, and this without, expert handling. The demand for the new machines is great in Britain at the present time, but it appears that the manufacturers will be able' to supply orders from abroad presently. Britain's own needs, at a time when all the available land had to he brought under cultivation quickly, with a minimum de'i ian j ol skilled labour, have produced the sort of machine that should suit the New Zealand- farmer.

.CULVEILDEST. On Friday evening Mr .Jas. Davis, who has been chauffcur on the Culver-den-Hanmer motor-cars for tho last twelve months, and Mho has now accepted a position with a Christehureh firm, iv;us entertained by a number of the residents of Culve.rden prior to his . Mr F. G, Crampton presided, and in presenting 3lr Davis with, n silver and oak biscuit barrel and butter-dish, and a silver-mounted shav,llC inirror, expressed high appreciation of their guest's many sterling qualities, and ■wished Mr and Mrs Davis happiness and prosperity in their new home. Uho toasts of "The ICing," proposed bv Mr Crampton. and "Mr and Mrs Davis," proposed by Air W. H. Jones, were duly honoured. 'Musical items were contributed bv Messrs Brvan, Scarfe, Halliday, CofTey, Fisher, Griffiths, Hill, Davis, and Holt. ranglora.

At the meeting of the H angi-ora Borough Council, it was derided to increase the Mayor's honorarium from to £30. It was also decided to channel th© path in King street North, •and to notify owners of hedges encroaching on footpaths to have them cut back. The .Lighting Committee was requested to report on the best means of lighting the town clock. Regarding Good street-, the Council decided to meet on Friday afternoon to dccide whether action should be taken to reduce or otherwise improve the street. KAIAPOI. Last week gas consumers had notice that, carbide being exhausted, the gas would be cut off., The Lighting Committee however, discovered some lumpy carbide, which was broken up in a stone crusher, and gas is still being supplied, which is of great convenience to those who have been delayed in getting the electric light installed. The deroand for the latter has been more than the local electrical firms can cope with. DUVAUCHEILLE. A largo gathering of Peninsula residents assembled at the Public Hall, Duvauchelle, to do honour to Mr and Mi's Beilby Barker and their daughter, who are leaving the district. Mr T. W. Wilkins acted as chairman, and during an interval in the programme, made presentations to the departing guests expressive of the very high esteem in which they were held. In the course of bis speecn th© chairman briefly referred to Air Barker's public work, to his .honourable character, as a neighbour and friend, and to Mrs Barker's enthusiastic work in connexion with th© local branch of the lied Cross Society. On behalf of numbers of friends he extended to Mr and Mrs Barker hearty good wishes for their prosperity. The rest of the evening was pleasantly spent with music and dancing. *«.r barker has disposed of liis dairy herd and the lease of his farm, and intends taking up fruit-growing in Papanui. BORIE. In the Ardamine Hall, at I>orie, on Friday night, a socia],was held in aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund. Instead of money, the entrance price was fixed as a gift for a soldier, and the collection comprised milk, jam, chocolate, cigarettes, etc. Dances were interspersed with musical items. There were about sixty people present, and Mr H. Thompson acted as chairman, with Miss Jones as secretary. Two drawing guessing competitions were held, the winner being Miss S. Harrison and Mr L. Harrison. Songs were sung bv Misses Kingsbury and S. Harrison, and recitations given by Misses Kingsbury and 1 !?. Whiting, and Messrs D. G. McKie and A. Whiting. The dance music was supplied by Mrs W. Harrison and Mi.ss Kingsbury. TtAKA LA. The second Band of Hope meeting of the season was held in the Methodist Church on Friday night. It was instruction night, and the oresident of the W.C.T.T;. gave the children a most interesting lesson on food and drink. Mr H. Hopwood presided, and stated that the next meeting would be held in a much bigger hall. The following contributed to the programme:—Mrs Ross, Misses C. Shannon, R. Ross, K. Stewart, 'E. Trevella, and Jack Breach. The roll-call showed a good attendance of members. ASHBURTO.V. At the meeting of the Ashburton County Council on Friday, Mr F. Pritcliard, who has been employed in the Council's office for 22 years, tendered his resignation, which was accepted v.ith regret. 'Mr Pritchard joins the of the Ashburton Permanent Building Society. A meeting of the Tinwald Patriotic Committee was held on Friday evening. when Mr T. Wilson presided. The chairman- gave a resume of the work performed by the committee sinco its inception, and stated t-hat under tho conditions of election its term of office expired when conscription came into force. Considerable discussion took place on the advisability of continuing the farewells to men leaving the district for tho front, and it wa3 decided that the matter be held in abeyance until Thursday next, when it will be further discussed at a. representative gathering of the Patriotic and Red Cross Societies of Tinwaid. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £20 Vs 'Jd. Votes of thanks were accorded the Executive Coni.T-itvoe and the I led Cross ladies of Tinwaid.

At the monthly meeting' of tee Ashburton County Council, deputations wero received from residents in the Mount isomers, Mays&!d,_and Anaina districts, asking the Council to take feteps to have those districts linked up by telephone, so that farmers and other could have tho advan-

Itage of direct communication with outside centres. The petitioners and others interested were prepared to boar . the cost, and if the Council would erect the main line, those who wished to be co'.ui-v'lrd would make their own arrar.f®to hare the wires laid to their respective residences. The Council viewed the requests in a favourable light, and a committee was set up to go into the whole matter and report at' the next meeting of the Council. It was decided to proceed at as early a date a s possible with the erection of a telephone lino from , Mothven to Blackford for the benefit of sortie settlors away up the Ratauv Gorge. The annual meeting cf the Upper Ashburton Road Board was held on Friday afternoon, when Mr C'. J. Harper (chairman) presided. The ami nr.! report showed that tho year commence ! with a credit balance of £1176 4s Gd. During the year the Board li3d spent £2267 -is Id. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-shoet. Mr Harper stated that tho Board had n substantial credit balance, which was due to work having been held up owing to shortage of contractors. Work w;is still being carried on by the Board's permanent teams. For "the beneiit. of the"* Allenton residents, he mentioned that the new Health Inspector had reported that- better drainage was required. which would probably mean that concrete channels would have to be put down. The Board would also have to arrange for the removal of niglitsoil. and cesspits would have to he abolished. The report "nd balancesheet were adopted. A vote of thanks was accorded the members of the Board for the manner in which they had carried out their duties during thp past year. On Saturday morniug, while. Messrs G. TV Smith and H. T. Smith, of Springston, were motoring, the ear skidded, and capsized, throwing both men out, bur, fortunately, they escaped j without receiving serious injury. Their brother, Mr W ; T. Smith, brought them into Ashburton. where they received medical attention. Whilst motoring back to Mount Somers. the brother had | a similar experience. It is reported that his car, a heavy six-seater, skidded on the wet road, and alter turning threo complete somersaults, finally righted itself. The hood was up, and Mr Smith escaped serious injury, A lamp was broken off, and the bonnet badly dented.

inglis Miller, while playing football at the Ashburton High School on Friday, broke his thumb. TEMUKA. Much sympathy will be felt for tho Sisters of St. Joseph's in tho loss they have sustained by tho death of their Superior in New Zealand, Sister Raymond. which occurred on Friday in Auckland. Sister Raymond opened the Convent in Temuka about thirty years ago, and was for many years Superior here. She was much loved by the parishioners and children of St. Joseph's Parish. GERALDINE DISTRICT. The unsettled weather conditions ot the last few weeks have been changed for a series of bright sunny (Jays, followed by more or less frosty nights; and as a reminder of the coming winter Mount Peel and tho higher peaks or tho ranges are again covercd with a light coating of snow, Naturally, the growth of all vegetation has received a check, but, fortunately, this has come about a month later tlian was expectccl, and in tho meantime tho unusual mildness of April has allowed a fair supply of sheep feed to appear upon the grass lands. In this way pastoral affairs are now in a mncn more favourable position, and instead of beginning the winter with a great scarcity of feed, the paddoclvs almost everywhere aro looking fresh and wel] covered. From the hill runs the news on the whole is very satisfactory, mustering and dipping operations have gone forward without hindrance, and, generally speaking, the stock are in first-class order. In a few: weeks' time most of the flocks will have been brought down from the high ground to their winter quarters.

In the Geraldine and Woodbury and Orari Bridge districts, there is now a fair outlook for the winter, and the teams are fully occupied in tile wheatlands. Tho ground is in excellent working order, and apparenttv tho acreage under -wheat will he little, if any, less than at last harvest. ' The young crops of oats are making a steady growth, and promise well, though they arc not quite so forward as at this time last year. The dia-mond-backed moth is still causing harm among the root , crops,, and the supply of turnips is likely to be short, though fortunately, in many cases, the rain came in time to prevent a total failure. A journey through the Mackenzie qountry showed little dfifferenco between the general outlook at the prosept moment and in summr time; great, gauni hills and ochre tussocks everywhere; and though the ground is now damp, and tile undergrowth would not crumble into dust as it did in January, there was not much more sign of the change of seasons. Sunday brought the alteration, a cold rain and sleet, followed by the first snows of winter, and next by successive nights of biting frost. In the bright sunshine of Monday, the prospect of snowy mountains and "deep blue lakes made a" most beautiful picture.

Mustering operations on and about Glcnmore, The Mistake, and Godley Peaks, and elsewhere, have been in full progress, and still continue. Good musters have been obtained, and it is reported gcnerallj- that the stockbrought down is in excellent condition. Complaints are heard of the great damage caused to the turnip and ■winter feed crops by, the hordes of paradise ducks, which in the last fewyears have increased beyond hounds. It had been |expccted by the runholders that an open shooting season would havo allowed them to thin the numbers of paradise ducks, and so moderate their mischief. It is reported that salmon have been seen in tho lakes and at the heads of the "Waitaki, Ohau, and Tekapo rivers. Near Silverstream. and Fairlie, and along the northward road by Cattle Valley, both pastoral and agricultural affairs appear fairly satisfactory. Sheep feed is plentiful almost everywhere, farm -work is well ahead, and the crops of autumn-sown oats arc making good progress; so also are the rabbits, -which are now to be seen very numerously along the roadsides. Towards Beautiful Valley a quick improvement from the conditions of summer-tinic is very noticeable, ploughing and sowing works are going on busily, and on the whole the winter is beginning in better circumstances than could have been hoped at the end of March.

OJERALDIKE. A fire occurred at Beautiful Valley on Saturday morning, when the residence of 3lr W. Reid was burnt to the ground. Mrs Roi<l was awakened by the baby, and found the whole place on fire. Mr and Mrs Pioid, their two children. Mrs Talbot (Mrs lieid's mother), and her brother (Lieutenant Talbot), who had been invalided home, were the occupants of the house at the time, and they just escaped in their night-clothes, nothing being saved. After their escape they made their way to the motor-shed, and Mr Ecid motored them to Mrs Me•Naugh ton's, where they were received with every kindness. The house was insured in the Victoria office, bnt the contents were not insured.