THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16408, 31 December 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES.

HARVEST PROSPECTS i:< ASHBUETON COUNTY.

A steady, light raiu fell at Asliburton during the greater part of Sunday, and there were further light showers up till ten o'clock yesterday morning. Only 0.31 in was registered at 9 a.m., but the rain which, did fall will very materially assist iu increasing the yield of the cereal crops, coming as it did just at a critical period, mora especially in. regard to tho wheat crops, which arc just now looking particularly promising. ' All through many parts of the Methycn district there is a promise of yields which should be considerably above' those which were harvested last year, while through the Highbank, Corwar, and

Barrhill districts a lot of exceptionally good crops are to be seen. There is a promise of good yields also in many parts of the Lyndhurst, Lauriston, Mi t chain, and Somerton districts. Away down through the Dorie and Kyle districts the appearance of some of the crops is disappointing,' which one well-known grain-grower attributes to the scarcity of labour during the period of the war, the land not getting the attention and working "necessary to secure the most satisfactory results. There are a lot of good wheat crops to be seen through the Lagmhor, Ashburton Forks, and across through the Westerfield districts, while the prospects of good yields being obtained up through the Upper s Hinds district are of the brightest. In many parts of the Ashburton district the heads on the wheat are a bit on the small side, but, stimulated with the rain which has just fallen, there is plenty of time for development before the grain ripens off* .

The oat crops generally are looking well except in cases where they were fed off too bare- and too late iu the spring. The Algerian oats, which usually give'heavy yields* are in rriany instances a great disappointment this season, and the general return from this variety' will not be nearly so good as in many previous seasons. There is an abundance of feed for stock in most of the grass paddocks, and one very striking feature this season has been the remarkable growth and the blossoming of white clover. There should be no shortage of labour for the general grain harvest which is now fast approaching, and if rust and blight do not make their appearance a good average yield may be looked forward to with a considerable degree of confidence. KAIKOURA A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. The committee of the Kaikoura A. and P. Association met on.. Saturday afternoon. Mr T. Harle (president) was in tho chair. The following committees were set up:— Finance —Messrs "W. H. Leeder, TLano, and H. Stanlako. Ground—Messrs J. Doyle (convener), J. Peoples, jun., J. 11. Walter, L. Burney, W. It. feeder, J. Eaton, F. Smith, J. Johnstone, G. Garrott, T. Boyd. A. Boyd, H. Chisnall, E. Parsons, and H. Stanlake. • Stock—Messrs A. J. Murray (convener). T. Bovd, G. Stevenson, E. Parsons, G. IX Smith, J. Peoples, jun., T. Lane, H. Stanlake. Producc —Messrs It. T. Pope , (convonorl, T. Davidson, J. Johnstone,' F. H. Flower, \V. Cooke, "YV. R. Leeder, and the Rev. W. McAra. Competitions—Messrs F. Smith, (convener>, C. Harris. F. Monk, G. Stevenson, L. Burnov, H. Stanlake, J. Eaton, and J. Doyle. Protest —Tho President (Mr T. Harle), Messrs Jas. Boyd, and A. J. Murray. Results' Stewards —Messrs H. Chisnall, J. "Walter, and G. Stevenson. Moastiring Steward—Mr AV. E. Richardson. The Schedule Committee considered the schedule, and will report to next mooting It was decided to hold the Show on March 14th. AMURI A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the committee of tho Amuri A. and P. Association was held on Saturday night. Present —Messrs "A. J. Sunckell (president), Messrs Boaven, Brown, Xhinbar, Lee, Little, Northcote, Pettigrew, Smith, aud the secretary. A vote of sympathy with the widow and family of the lato Mr L. Threlkeld was passed in silence, members stand- j Corrcsnondcnce wpr received from j Messrs T. Chapman. B. Seth-Smith, G. 0. Rutherford, A. J. Sunckell, and H. i T. Kni"bt, accepting office, and from , Messrs °G, "VY. Forbes, .M.P., M. ' BethelL arid D. L. Ruthprford. accepting office, and enclosing donations. It TV OS decided that the annual show dmiild be hold on or ?ibout April 3rd, 1919 - ' •- • ' c A sub-committee, consisting of 31essrs Dunbar. Pott'grew, and Sunckell. was set up to revise the schedule.' and the so-rctnry was instructed to get the schedule printed and distributed as soon as possible.

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Quite recently four men shearing at Mr T. Mulligan's shed, Barford Estate, Lismore, shore 812 large sheep in one day. Tho tallies were: B. Kenny 240" J. Premier 207, C. Hughes 184. and J. Davison 17G. The Oamaru correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times" writes that the wintry blast experienced on Saturday week "appears to have caused a pretty heavv death rate amongst shorn sheep in tfie back country. On some stations the deaths ran into hundreds. It was the worst weather experienced

at shearing time for many years, and it seems fortunate that, from peveral causes, shearing is somewhat backward thia. season. Had it been otherwise tlio toll of deaths would hare been much heavier. WAIAU. A meeting of directors of the Waiau Farmers' Saleyards Company was held on Saturday night. Present —Messrs J..Little {chairman). H. T. Boaven, K. P. H. Burbury, F. O'Malley, and P. R. "Dunbar, secretary. It was decided that the first- sale of the season should bo held in January and February, respectively, other dates to be arranged later. OXFORD. The Oxford No-License League met last week, when there was a good attendance of members. Matters in connexion with the forthcoming licensing poll were dealt with. The following were appointed to revise the rolls, and to superintend the enrolment of voters: Hurunui electorate, Messrs G. Rydo, A. A. Fantham. E. Wells, and j. C. Constable: Kaiapoi electorate, Messrs P. H. Thompson. E. Jones. D. J. Hawke, and T. Baxter, the first-named in each group to act as convenor. KAIKOURA. A movement is on foot lion* in mnko Saturday instead of Wednesday ihe Statutory half-holiday.