THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17296, 7 November 1921, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers. \ . ~ Eleven pedigree goats bred in liferent parts of England arrived at Auckland by the Matakana last "weekThe goats, consisting of one malo and ten females, are for the Now Zealand Government. They will be landed at Wellington. "I have seen verv many cows in Holland as fat as butter, with as muda grass as they can do with, yet it takes them all their time to reach the standard in butter-fat," said Mr C. •£• Westropp, an English visitor to tne Manawatu Show at Palmerston Nortn.. Suffolk sheep are apparently a good investment for the lamb breeder. Air A. Matthews mentioned at the breeders meeting at Palmerston North last week that in one instance an average or IoU to 132 per cent, had been obtained. With shefp as prolific as that and the present demand for lamb, they should be a valuable animal to breed. That the New Zealand farmer is not the only one who is going through hard times is evidenced from a communication that has just been received in JNapier from Australia. It points out that when money was plentiful the price ot wheat land went up and was bought at £lB to £2O with the expectancy that the wheat prices would keep up. .I" has not been the case, however, and onlv 4s M per bushel is being reserved for the wheat, whereas 10s per bushel is required to make it payIt is rumoured (saye the Poverty Bay "Herald") that an important proposal has been submitted to the shareholders in the Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company's steamer Admiral Codrington, which vessel is at present held up in England owing to the congestion in tJhe do?ks and cold stores. The proposal, it is understood, is to despatch the Avonmouth consignment of meat to a cold store company at Manchester, to retail the produce direct to the consumers. This, of course, does not affect the London consignments consigned to the various London firms. „ Shardiolders holding meat in the vessel have been requested to reply xtrgently on the subject. In giving evidence before the Arbitration Court, in the freezing works employees' dispute, Mr J. S. Jessop, chairman of directors of the Wairoa Farmers' Freezing Company, stated that in his opinion the high wages paid to unskilled labour in the freezing industry and allied trades was a very great factor in causing the present unemployment. There was a largo surplus of unskilled labour, whereas during recent years very few youths have | been learning any skilled trade. It was perfectly natural that a boy would not become an apprentice when hej could immediately earn more for at large portion of the year as an unskilled'labourer than !he could eventually do after serving a term of five years' apprenticeship. "With the return of the country to anything like) normal conditions we would be immediately faced with a shortage of skilled labour, more particularly in those industries which directly affect the farmers. Mr Jessop further stated that the restriction "in the number of learners on the slaughtering board must eventually have a very serious effect. The number of learners suggested by the unions in their counterproposals would not be sufficient to compensate for the number of slaughtermen who annually leave, the industry. At present, it was necessarv every year to bring over from Australia a large number of slaughtermen. The earnings of these men in the aggregate make a very substantial total, and this money should rightly be paid to New Zealandera who are ready, and willing' to under-' take the work. ;, _ A rumour was abroad in the.North Island last week,that an offer of 245, per head for one million lambs for export had been communicated to this country. The source from which the .offer came was not ascertainable, and in any case, in view of the opening rates noted elsewhere for lamb, was made, if at all, before the Home market tumbled. However, that such a. market was available is encouraging. A noted visitor at present to the Dominion in the stud stock world is Mr W. G. , C. Britten,. secretary of the English Hereford Stud Book Society. He is engaged on a twelve months' tour of the Hereford importing countries of the world, in the interests of the Society, and has already visited and inspected many herds in Canada, the United States, Mexico, most of the States of Australia, and •iB spending about a month in New Zealand, after which he travels to - South and British East Africa, where three months will be occupied. He has been in the North Island for the past fortnight, and judged the Hereford cattle at the Manawatu Show, expressing himself as highly pleased with the quality of the stock, particularly the young Herefords, that came before him. His original programme did not provide for a visit to the South Island, but deputations from Southland, where there are some Hereford, herds, effected a variation in his itinerary ,and he pasesd through Christchurch on Saturday morning for the South, where he will inspect the oldest-established herd of Herefords in the Dominion—Mr A. S. Holmes's Waimahaka herd—and be taken for a two-day run oyer the Southland Province. He returns on Tuesday night to the North Island, and sails for South Africa on the 17th. A visitor to the Manawatu Show last week states that the country in the Lower Manawatu is looking extremely well, grass being abundant and stock in exceptionally good condition. Dairy factory supplies, as a consequence, are much in advance of last season, and are compensating to some extent for the receding prices. The old-establish-ed farmers are weathering the storm generally comfortably enough, but in districts where land values sky-rocketed, and where every £ made during the good times was used to incur another £5 liability, a number of farmers have have found themselves in difficulties. Our Nelson correspondent telegraphs: —The lucerne campaign in Nelson is proceeding steadily. For the committee, Professor Easterfield, director of the Cawthron Institute of Scientific Re-. search, and Mr Trigg, soil chemist- to the Institute, have compiled a booklet on lucerne growing in the Nelson district. This is now in the hi}nds of the printer. It will be a most valuable aid to those contemplating lucerne growing. The Institute's soil survey of the district has been most useful ■ in this respect. An appendix contains an outline of soil distribution in the Nelson district. For this purpose the district is divided into five sections, which are all described. Then follows a table showing the suitability of Nelson soil for lucerne culture. Another table shows soils which are naturally unsuitable, and another soil of doubtful or intermediate value. There is ajso a table of lime requirements of Nelson soils, and lastly a table of manurial mixtures suitable for lucerne on the different soils of the Nelson district. ' The two Shorthorn bulls,. Collynie Proud Knight and Prince Paul, imported from Scotland by Mr Leonard White, Balrazie, Rakaia, have arrived in Lyttelton on board the Piako, and are to be sent to Quail Island for quarantine this morning. Mr Geo. Dingwell, who selected the hulls and brought them out. states that the vessel experienced a very rough passage, especially in the Atlantic, where, during a gale, the side of the loose-box in which the older bull, Proud Knight, was accommodated on deck, was smashed hr a heavy sea.

The bull, fortunately, was unharmed, and is looking in fair condition, considering the rough trip. The younger animal, Prince Paul, is in splendid condition, and one breeder, who with the owner viewed him on Saturday, stated that if it were possible to place him in the Metropolitan. Show this week, he would cause something of a sensation. Among prizes won by thiß animal in Scotland was the Emilio R. Casaree Junior Challenge Cup, valued at £SO, for the best Shorthorn calved on or before April Ist, that had passed tho tuberculin test. This cup was won at the Highland Show at Stirling, and in addition the bull gained second prise m the open class. Collynie Proud Knight is believed to be "the first of the pure Duthie strain to be imported into the Dominion. HANMER SPRINGS, j The following are the meteorological records for October, taken at the State Forest Station, those for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses :—Rainfall 7.16 inches (3.64 inches); heaviest tall one day, 1.13 inches on 7th (1.05 inches); days with rain, 21 (12); maximum temperature. 73 degrees on 28th (77 degrees); minimum temperature, 32 degrees (25 degreesj ; nights with frost, 11 (7); sunshine, hours; most sunshine on one day, 10 hours 15 minutes on 30th inst. At the Thursday night social at Queen Mary Hospital, a waltzing competition, open to soldier patients and members of the staff, was held. Matrons Rennell (the Sanatorium) and Brown (Hospital) acted as judges. There was a fair number of competitors, and prizes were awarded to Miss Nesbitt and Mr Larsen. KAIKOTJRA. A social under the supervision of Mr and Mrs J. Beaton, Oaro, was held at the Drill Hall on Friday night, when there was a crowded attendance, the receipts amounting to over £2l, which is to he devoted to bazaar funds. Novel features in connexion with the social were Poi Poi dances in native costume, canoe and action songs, cake-walks, and various Native dances. The Natives put a deal of vim into their performances, and their items were greatly applauded. The social was one of the most successful and enjoyable held here for 'some time. Since the shed at the wharf was destroyed by fire some two years ago, matters have not been satisfactory at the wharf. It was origninlly decided to extend tho nccommodntion by reclamation and fiiling-in work, to allow of a larger shed being erected, but owing to the high cost of materials and the financial stringency, the work was delayed. At Friday's meeting of the Council, three sites were discussed, and eventually it was decided to erect a shed on the old site, the shed to be of a nature suitable for present requirements, taking into consideration provision for future extension when circumstances are favourable. Plans and specifications will be prepared and the work put in hand at the earliest possible date. RANGIORA, The choir of St. John's Church, Kangiora, wore surplices for the first time yesterday. There were 20 women 6urpliced and with mortar-boards, and: 16 boys and six men wore surplices ana cassocks. MALVERN. The annual meeting of the Malvern A. and P. Association was held last week, Mr R. S. Gunn (president) presiding over a gathering of 30 members. . Motions of sympathy were passed with Mr and Mrs W. J. Atkinson, Mrs Rae and family, and Mrs Townshend and family. Offers or special, prizes by the Canterbury Jockey Club and the Milking Shorthorn Association were accepted with thanks. The balance-sheet showed a credit balanceof £sl, which, in view of the season, was considered , very satisfactory. Mr J. W. Wright was elected a member of the Association. The election of officers resulted'.. Patron, the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C.; president, Mr G. Butler; vice-president, Mr H. treasurer, Mr F. A. SUcock; auditors, Messrs G. H. Judd and G. F Wright; committee, Messrs I. F. Wright, F. Jenkins, R. S. Gunn, H. Atkinson. J. Jebson, W. Watson A. W. Adams, L. T. Wright W. J. Jenkins, H. C. Townshend, J. R. Cußen, -E! King, E A. Adams, A. Hawkins. F." Watson, A. Clarke, H. Page, and D. Buhner. SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT. There was a record attendance at the fortnightly meeting of the Coleridgq Oddfellows' Lodge. Three new members were proposed. It was agreed to hold a churdh parade at St. Luke's Anglican Church on the morning of the 13th inst. The fortnightly meeting of the at. John Ambulance Association was held, on Thursday evening. There were 18 members present. Mrs S. A. Wat-kins, of the Avonside Division, continued her lectures, taking as her subject, "The Circulation of the Blood and the treatmerit of Hemorrhages," and illustrating the latter by means of bandaging. The monthly meeting of the Glentunnel School Committee took plate on Thursday night. Present: Mrs T. HMcLaughlbn, Messrs J. T. Todd (chairman), ■ W. J. Teale (secretary), and D. Kane (headmaster). Mr L. J. W. Thwaites reported that the roll number had remained at 87 since last report. Owing to the continued wet weather during October, the average attendance was' 72, or S3 per cent., which was a low average for the school. Mr Moodie (Agricultural Inspector) had visited the school recently. It is his intention to re-introduce nursery work, pmd he has already sent forward seme apple stocks for the purpose. Several 1 letters have recently parsed between the Committeo and the Board with reference to painting and repairing the boliool and master's nouse, and although a number of boards have rotted away, the much-needed work has been.postponed; on account of the unsatisfactory financial position. As the property is deteriorating, and looks extremely shabby, the School Committee intends to. reopen the. subject in the autumn. Tho .inspector's report was received, and was considered very satisfactory. A vote of thanks and confidence in the staff was passed- As a result of the recent, spring flower show, the school prize fund will benefit by the stun oli £l2. Mr Thwaites was asked to convey to the children the thanks of the committeo for their assistance at the show. The Committee suggested thet holding of a children's concert before the end of the year, and the matter w>-is left in the hands of tlhe teaching staff. Notice was received from the Education Board of the withdrawal of one teacher from the school owing to the low attendance. Tne committee and the district view the departure of Miss McGregor witJh sincere regret. Guy Fawkcs Day was celebrated in the time-honoured way on Saturday. From an early hour squads of boys in, weird costumes and masked or blackened faces called on the residents and sang their songs, fhey were collecting for a cricket outfit for the school. The month of November has opened with more settled weather conditions. Per the first four days nor'-westers prevailed, but Saturday was an ideal day. SOUTHBRIDGE. In the absence of the chairman (Mr J. C. Free), Mr H. J. Sutton presided over the monthly meeting of the Southbridge Town Board. The «on. Sir Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence, in acknowledging receipt of an application from the Board for a captured enemy field-gun, to form part of thej Southbridge war memorial, raid he regretted that the Board had not writteq earlier, as he had made the distribution of captured guns some time last year. The distribution was done by central committees in the various military districts.. He would forward the Board's application to headqnartera, and ask j tlhat a gun be supplied if there were

any unclaimed after tho general distribution. It was decided to reply,-point-ing out that the Board had lodged an. application at the time .Sir James .Allen was Minister of Defence, and a considerable period before the trophies were distributed. The Chief Inspector of fixplosives notified the Board that i'i (had been gazetted a licensing authority under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Amendment Act. ' The reports, of the Hall and Works Committees were considered and adopted. It was agreed that the swimming bath should be pre?ared, for the opening of the season, t was decided, to call applications for the position of caretaker of the Town Hall and grounds, and to havo tfiie stage and scenery renovated. . LYNDHUKST. Favoured with,, ideal weather, tho Lyndhurst Lawn Tenuis Club opened its second season on Wednesday, when there was an attendance of over 70, including players and friends. The season was declared open by Mr F. Hardey. Afternoon tea was dispensed by the. ladies. The court was occupied until evening, when an alfresco tea brought an enjoyable afternoon to' a olose. SHEFFIELD. A well-attended meeting of farmers and others interested in the improvement of the present railway facilities at the Sheffield and Waddington stations was held at Sheffield on Thursday evening,- when the matter of the intention of the Railway Department to remove the stationmaster, and to reduce Sheffield to a flag stfition was most adversely criticised, as were also the- present general arrangements on the Midland branch, which were stated to be goir.g from bad to worse. After the matter had been fully discussed, the following resolutions were unanimously carried: (1) "That this meeting regrets the necessity of the Railway Department in having to reduce Sheffield to a flag station through the falling off of traffic, «nd is of an opinion that n, central station serving both Waddington. and Sheffield would be most advisable in the best interests of both townships, the surrounding districts, and the Railway Department." (2) "That a committee be formed of re-; presantatives of both townships for the purpose of deciding upon the most suitable site for the proposed station, and that tho district engineer be asked to meet the committee at a date most suitable to him." The following committee were appointed: Messrs Austin, Jehson, Hawke. Jenkins, Miller, and Judd (convener). ASHBUETON. The opening of the Ashburton-St. Andrew's Lawn Tennis Club's season, and the opening of 'the new pavilion took place on Saturday afternoon in the presence of close on 200 members and their friends. Brief speeches were made by Messrs Clark, C. R. Ga'.braith, and W. Oakley, and the ceremony of officially opening tho doors of the new pavilion was performed by Mrs Oakley, after which the members and visitors wero entertained at afternoon tea. The courts were in perfect order, and some good pud enjoyable play was witnessed during the afternoon.