THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17134, 2 May 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for' Farmers. The opinion is widely held in producing circles that next season will see . considerable extension of doiry-farmi it, operations. A gentleman closely connected with dairy farming and tine marketing of produce, speaking to a * v .? l " lington "Post" reporter, expressed The view that the drop in wool and mean values was bound to force the conversion to dairying of much land that _ _haa hitherto been kept for sheep raising. Last year the owner of sum land Kno v : that he had the potential value in ins property if ho cared to sell, nM no did not trouble about subdividing 101 dairying.- 2vow it will not be such an easy matter to sell for sheep raising, and the lowered value of wool and meat, will force the owner to get tilje most from the land if he is to meet his liabilities. Butter a.nd cheese still maintain high values, and though the market is uncertain, Ihere appears to be littlo possibility, of any serious drop in cheese. The number of leturned soldiers placed on the land would also have an effect in increasing the production of butter and cheese. Another fact which could not be overlooked was the effect of the'labour position 111 deciding the clpss of production. Dairving calls for more labour than other branches of farming, and while labour was so difficult to obtain, the man whoso land was not especially suitable for the purpose preferred to • continue in a branch of production which would enable him to be rid of the labour problem except at certain seasons of the year. T'he position now appears to bo Changing. Mr Robert Eastie, a well-known settler in the Mangawai (Auckland) district, makes a practice of "planting' earthworms on the high lands of Ins property, and considers that he iias achieved wonderful results from their work in the fertilising of the land. He showed the Kauri Gum Commission how tho worms operate in bringing tho soil to the surface, gradually increasing the productive capacity or the clay land, and how' the rams •wash their -"casts" to the lower levels with ever-increasing improvement of the pastures. BROMLEY. On -Saturday evening a social was held in tho Bromley schoolf.oom in honour 6f the school winning the Mclarlane Shield. Mr G. K- Burton, chairman ot the''lieathcOte- County Council, occupied tlhe chair, and an excellent programme was presented by Mesdames Meridith. Booeock, Gallop,'Jenkins, and Misses Vogel and Pole, Messrs Gallop, Harrington, Lester, J.todda, and Copmhs. Messrs Burton, Garter, Dry den, Briggs, and Scarff spoke of the good the school was doing for the district, and thanked Mr Pole for his valuable assistance. In roply, Mr Polo said ho was tryiiig to do his best for the children, and if the district benelited, so muc'h the better. He thanked all those who had so generously helped him in' his work, specially mentioning the School Committee, Messrs Briggfi Burton, and Carter. A' very fine supper, provided by the district ladies, and presided over oy Mesdames Christian, Melhuisti, Pole,' King, Dryden, and Moore, was partaken of. In conclusion,: Mr Dryden, cShainnan of the School' Committee, thanked the ; performers, naying that theqirogramme was the best" ho had heard in Bromley, and specially thanked Miss I. Pole for her accompanying. He also hoped that the audience would remember the! school-socials during the winter, and patronise them well, as it was impossible to carry oit the school work on the money granted by the Education Department. WEEDONS. • / • / | The anniversary services were conducted on Sunday by the Uev. H. Ryan, Of Marlborough, who has succeeded the Rev. J. Harris in the Spnngston cu< cuit. On Tuesday, the tea was held, tables being presided over by Mesdames Pavison, Harvey, Smith, and Misses Hight. Chambers) Rolston, Larcombe (2). A heafty.welcnme wascxtended to tho Iter. a»d Mrs Ryan by Mr Chambers. Musical and other items were contributed by Miss L. Chamberlair:, I.* Mutton, Messfa Harris,-Mitchell, Itime, J. and! M. Chambers, and A. Dingwall, Mesdamps Ryan, Mitchell, and Ttfiss Chambers being nccompanista. OBEBNPABK. The Greenpark Methodist Church was filled, by a representative gathering on tho occasion of a farewell and presentation to Mr and Mrs J. Silvester, who have severed their connexion with the church and Sunday school, •as they have removed to Halswoll. Mr Thos. Qiiftyle, on behalf of the members of the dhurch and other friends, presented to Mr Silvester an .easy chair, and to Mrs Silvester a silver teapot and set of stainless cutlery. He eulogised their servipes during a lifetime'# residence in tho; district, and their many years' labour as teachers in the Sunday school, end Mr Silvester's self-sacrificing work as*a local preacher. Messrs Gumour, MdrgalS,' Hubbard, and AV. Bray also expressed high appreciation of the gueßts of tihe evening. Musical and elocutionary items were given by Messrs Morgan, Chapman, and Williamson, Ray Macartney, Mrs Harris, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Chapman, Miss, Hilda Chapman, and Miss Harris. Miss.Peryman acted as accompanist.. AKASOA. At the annual mieeting of tho Akaroa. Rifle Club, Mr Geo. Armstrong presided over a, good attendance. The annual report referred in detail to the work of the year. The Rhodes Challenge .Cup, presented to tho dub by Colonel Sir Heaton Rhodes, M.8.,' had been won for the second time ill succession by Rifleman P. Westenra. During tlie Defence Department liad taken over the range, and sundry improvements had been carried out. Thanks wertj accorded the president, Mr Geo.,Armstrong, tnd Mr H. Harrington for donations and trophies. The balance-sheet; dhowed a credit of £22 12s Bd. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President,' Mr Geo Armstrong: club captain, Rev. J. W. Hayward; ion. secretary and treasurer, Mr H. R. Hay ward; committee, Messrs H. Harrington, C. Irines, P. Westenra. G. Whelch, A. Hel£>s, and Felix Brocherie. It was decided to- open thai season on May sth. The dates of firing for the Rhodes Challenge Cup were fixed for June 2nd, 9th, and 16th.