THE COUNTRY

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16654, 15 October 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY

NEWS AND NOTES

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

The monthly meeting of the Board of I Governors of Canterbury Agricultural | | College was held at Lincoln yesterday. Present H. A. Knight (chairman). T. Blackley, J. Deans, R. .H. . Lochhead, B. Tripp, and tho director, j Mr R. E. Alexander. _ , i It was deeit!c-d to receive with regret the resignation of Mr "W. F. M. Bucklev as a member of the Board. . j "The director •was appointed returning j officer for the annual elections. ? £ .It "was dccided to hold "Farmers Day" at the College on December 16th. FARM REPORT. The farm report stated that as a result of the comparatively mild winter and spring, stock and crops lookedvery promising. Work was also very forward, and the outlook was brighter than for many years. Tinrainfall, wliich -was inuoh 'below normal at the beginning of June; had been sufficient to bring the fall up to normal. The land -was now well saturated with- ■ out being wet at any point. None ot the crops suffered from flooding, and both autumn and spring crops lookefl healthy. Since last report, 24 acres spring wheat, 29 acres barley (five of , which was sown with seed imported by the Government"). 20 acres oats, and_ 84 < acres grass had been sown. In late years spring grass had nofc been sown, out the damp spring encouraged th« sowing this year. Tho land for mangels (12 acres), kale (24 acres), rape (50 acres), iK-as (16 acres), and potatoes (4 acres) was ready for seeding. The stock were -ill healthy, although both cows and ewes were thinner than coula be -wished, but this could hardly have been avoided after the scarcity of feed in the aiitumn. When the prospects or feed last autumn were considered, it was satisfactory to know that tho stock came through the winter with the minimum of loss. The recent curtailment of railway facilities reduced sales or stud stock, especially bulls, which wero nearly all on hand' still. The lambing season on the whole was good, but the percentage of lambs dropped was low, proving clearly that tho dry autumn reduced the vigour of the ewes and, consequently, the crop of 'lambs. _ The. percentages given below were slightly misleading in regard to Southdowns, Shrop-shii-es7 and Borders. Each of these breeds dropped about 10 per cent, more livo lambs, but a wandering dog killed just on 40 of them. So far, in spite of all means being tried, it had been found impossible to trace tho brute. 1° lambing percentages -were: Ronmey 118, Borders 110, English Leicester*? 107, Shropshircs 90, and Southdowns 86. AMBEHLEY. A meeting of the Amberloy Breeders' Association was held oil tho president (Mr F. P. Coleman) bejng in. the chair. A special prize from the Canterbury Jockey Club was received for horses most suitablo for mounted rifle work, to be owned and ridden by members of the New Zealand Defence Force. Mr "W. A. Kelcher was empowered to engage tho Rangiora Brass Band for show day. Messrs C. A. Neale, A. Cameron, and W. A. Paterson wore elected members of the Association. „ KAIAPOI. A meeting of the Kaiayoi branch of the Canterbury Progress League wtfs held in the Borough Council Chambers last night. The president, Mr Ci. -H Blackwell, presided; The Harbour Improvement Committee, in urging the League to give every, support to the Waimakariri harbour echeme, reported that a surrey of the river was being obtained, 'and at' tlib request? of the Board, Mr H. F. Toogood, civil engineer, was preparing an estimate of the cost of the scheme. Slight alterations, in the construction of the training wall were being oonsidered, and it .was hoped that this would reduce the cost. With reference to the proposed diversion of the riyer, as suggested by tho Rivers Commission, tho committee thought this was unnecessary, as the proposed wall at the river outlet would give the same result. The Government. proposals in connexion with the housing question were discussed. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the Kaiapoi Borough Council, when amending the building by-laws, that all future buildings erected in the main street, other than dwellings, be erected in' brick, and that in the event of tho erection of a temporary structure only' a two years' tenure be granted. The Council is also to be urged to deal with the_ excessivo speed and noiee of motor vehicles passing through the borough. WADDINGTON. ' At tho anniversary services in connexion with the "Waadington Methodist Sunday . school, the . Rev. Beckett, of Sydenham, officiated. A special feature was the singing of the children, who had been trained by Mrs Miller. Special reference was made to the illness of the minister, Mr Lajbourne, who was unable to be present. On Monday evening a tea and public meeting were held, at which a number. of dialogues and recitations were given by the children, who had been coached by Mrs Hilton. Opportunity was taken to present Miss' Aokin3 with au eiderdown quilt, as a token, of the goodwill of the people towards her, and an autograph album-was presented to Miss A. McMillan, who h«s taught for a number of years in tho Sunday school. It was intimated that a new minister, Mr Batty, was coming to take charge, of Waddington. AKAROA. Constable J. H. Brooks, who has been transferred 4 to Pembroke ■ after three years' service in Akaroa, left for tho South -with his family yesterday morning. On the eve of his departure he was the recipient of sundry tokens of esteem and goodwill from tho Rifle Club and the Oddfellows' Lodge, while, on behalf of some of the citizens, Mr H. J. Barnham presented Mrs Brooks with a Duulton tea set as an appreciation of her hushaud's services to the town. MOUNT SOMERS. At a meeting of the Mount Somers Anglican vestry on Saturday, Mr E. O. Wood was appointed district warden to fill the vacancy caused "by Mr J. Peter's departure from the district. The Education Department, having made a grant to the Canterbury Education Board for the erection of a new school at Mount Somers, a contract for its erection has been let to Messrs Smith Bros., Ashburton. The new school* which will consist of two rooms, replaces ; the old school, which consisted of one .room. oimn. At the congregational meeting of the ■ Presbyterian Church of Omihi and Scari gill, the Rev. John Watt presided, and • apologised for the ab6enc© of tho Rev. Mr Kirkland. The following concert , programme was carried • out: —Pianoforte duets, the Misses Doak and Mrs i and Miss Waugh ; songs, the Rev. John Watt, Mr W. Waugh, and Mrs Hari rison; recitations, Mrs Jones and Mr • Robert Wilkie. Mr Watt read the various reports for the year, which showed that it was the best year, financially, since the home mission station was established. Mr Watt asked for special votes of thanks to the various Sunday school teachers, to the organ- ' ists. and to Mr and Mrs. Doak for un- > failing hospitality. These were carried bv acclamation, and Mr Doak, in reply, called for a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Watt, who had faithfully ministered in fair weather and foul. "Tho following committees were set upScargill: Messrs Lochead and Jonas; Omihi:

Messrs Donk.TTyllie. and "VTaugli; TVaipara, Messrs Angus Cameron And Glennie. Supper was provided by tho ladies.