THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17655, 6 January 1923, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Farmers. At the Ashburton experimental farm of the Department of Agriculture a field day was held yesterday in connexion, more especially, with fodder plants and cereals. The Light Horse Committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association meets next Wednesday to deal fiually "with matters connected with the disqualification of ceitain ponies which competed at the Metropolitan Show last November. The General Committee of the Association holds its first meeting of the year the same afternoon. Respecting the merino, half-bred, and Corriedale competitions in connexion with, the Canterbury A. and P. Association's last Metropolitan the merino wool has now been scoured, and it is hoped to have it and the wools in the other competitions judged prior to the next wool sale, to !>e held in Christchurch towards the ■ end of the present month. If this can be arranged, the results of the competitions will be available almost immediately after the judging. A notable drive of a mob of cattle has been made from the Marlborough Sounds to Banks Peninsula. The mob comprised cattle of two-year-ola and upwards from Mr E. Hay's Titirangi station in the Sounds to Pigeon BayMr Hay's station hands took out the cattle a week's journey to Okaramaro, near Havclock, in Pelc.rus Sound, and from the latter point Messrs Robinson and Kirk wood, known drovers, brought them on a five weeks' yrek to Pigeon Bay. The route was through the Wairau Gorge, ■ Tarnd&le estate over the Island Saddle into the Clarence, and over Jollie's Pass to Hanmer, and on to Pigeon Bay. The drovers started out with 233 lu-ad and after the long trip landed 230 head nt Pigeon Bay in splendid order and with very little sign of the Jong travel or knocking about. In past years Mr Hay shipped the cattle from Titirangi estate wharf, to Pigeon Bay, but this year lie decided to bring them by road as described above. Experiments in the Riverina district in New South Wales have demonstrated the practicability of carrying on harvesting by night as well >a,s by day (writes our Sidney correspondent). The first farmer to make a trial was Mr 11. K. Bradtke, of Albury, who early in the season, at an outlay of £76, had a pair of electric lamps fitted to a header for the purpose of taking off his wheat crop after dark. Another lamp wasi placed over the bag tiller. The electric light was found to bo thoroughly satisfactory. The trial consisted of day and 1 night operations for five and a half days. In this time the liead'er got through 120 acres. "Without the night work eight days would have been required. A number of other fanners all over the country have followed Mr Bradtke's lead, and in all cases the results seem to have been so satisfactory that it is safe to eay that next season the bulk of the harvesting on the large farms will he carried out as a continuous operation. During the past two seasons a considerable amount of ploughing, it may be mentioned, has been got through at night time in New South Wales, particularly in the Southern Riverina district. HANMER SPRINGS. The last of a series of games between Christmas visitors and residents, and the soldier patients and staff of the Queen Mary Hospital, produced a very exciting finish. Of the two gameß already played, each side had one to its credit, with a close finish on each occasion. The hospital iron the toss, and elected to bat, making a total of 117 runs, Howlison 28, Hanbury 20, and Cook 24, being top scorers. For the visitors, E. Lewis opened, and stayed till the eighth wicket for a faultless 38. No batsman was comfortable till McKay joined him, and their partnership produced 70 runs before Lewis wasv bowled. Excitement ran high, as only one run separated the two scores for ttye ninth wicket. Jones was splendidly thrown out by Hood, and the innings closed for 117 runs. The rubber thus ended in a game each and a draw. RANGIORA. In the Flying Fifty Handicap Tournament, held on Thursday evening, J. Smith defeated R. Davidson in the final. , On Tuesday a picnic party journeyed from Rangiora to Governor's Bay, being the guests of Mr and Mrs J. B. Compton (who were many years residents of Rangiora). The party enjoyed the walk over the hills from the tram terminus, several members of which had not been over the track for 30 years, and were surprised at the improvement for the benefit of the public. The bay presented a loveLy picture, and no doubt many more parties will make the journey. NORTH LOBTJRN. On Wednesday last the children attending the North Loburn School, with their parents and friends, were conveyed in drags to the Waikuku beach for their annual picnic. Fortunately, the day was fine, and a most enjoyable time was spent, playing on the sands, bathing, etc. After tea, which was dispensed in the Domain Board's sheds at the beach, a tired and happy party left for home.about five o'clock. The following' are the results of the proficiency examinations held at Ashley on December 2<Ji)d: —Proficiency: R. King, M. Miller, E. Percy. Competency: M- Hiatt. KIRWEE. The rainfall for December was 3.37 in. Rain fell on twelve days, the maximum being 1.05 in on the 13th. The fall for the corresponding month of 1921 was l.loin; 1920, l.DSin; 1919, 2.23 in; 1918, 1.07 in; and 1917, 4.27 in. The total fall registered for the year ending December 31st was 23.92 in, whilst for 1921 the total was 27.81 in; 1920, 29.94 in; 1919, 20.74 in; and 1918, 26in. Although the rainfall was lower than that of the preceding four years, it was more evenly distributed, and good rains fell in September, November, and December, just when they were most needed. Nearly half an inch of rain has already been, recorded for January. A fair amount of early oatß have been cut, and some is already in stack. Some of the wheat crops are beginning to change colour, but it will be some

time befove this cereal will be ready for the reaper. The Kirwee Amateur Athletic Club held its final meeting ou Thursday evening until after harvest. The following were the results:—loo Yards Handicap (13): B. Wilson (Hyds') 3, N. Kelly (3vds) 2, H. Adams' (3vdst 3. 120 Yards Hurdles Handicap '(5): B. Wilson (3yds behind) 1. C. Johnston (3yds behind) 2, A. Ljuag (3yds behind) 3. Long jump handican (oi: G. Batstone (12iu), 17ft 9«in, *1: X. Kelly (12in), 17ft sin, 2; ~8. Wilson (3ft), 17ft 4in, 3. SOUTHB RIDGE. The monthly meeting of the Southbridge Town Board was held on Thursday night. Present: Commissioners P. Deiorgey (chairman), R. Parkin, A. Tong, J. H. Hampton, M. Hantz, W. J. Woods, A. J. Beamsley, and the clerk, Mr C. IX Thompson. The cluiimum of the Works Committee reported thru work had been going on in the clearing of the streets, the debris being lised ass surfacing on Station street. The culvert at Crozier street needed attending to, and he would liko to see tho work done, although it might be difficult to get the shingle caried now th-at the harvesting wK cm. The matter was left, to the Works Committee, The waterraces contractor reported that the cleaning of tho races would be completed this week. Ho complained that in certain cases private o-.viwrs had not cleared the gorse and overhanging growth away. It was decided to give offenders final notice, and if this was not complied with, tho Board would put a mart on to do the work. Mr Ton;;; said he thought that the Town Hall might be improved by taking out the two small rooms at- tho front, thereby enlarging tho body of the hail, and providing accommodation for another fifty people. The snipper-room could be extended to the tills length, of the hall, thua providing cloak rooms. SEDGEMERE. A very successful social was held in the Sedgemere Hall. Although the night was very wet, a large number of people turned out to enjoy themselves. Mrs Lambie provided the" music, and Mr A. J. Stretz acted as M.CT Mr W. Marsh sang "Abee My Boy," and in response to an encore sang "In the Valley of the Moon." Both items were heartily appreciated by all. Shortly after supper Mr I. McGill, vice-president of the Ellesmere Aquatic Club, presented trophies to Mr W. Marsh, one for winning the cigarette race and one for the boat race, and a trophy to Mr Overtoil for •winning the diving competition, also a gold medal to Mr W. Lambie, for the most points in the motor boat races for the season 1922, the latter presented by Messrs Nelson Bros., of Dbyleston. Dancing was kept up till the early hours of the morning. Mr T. H. Overton, whilst on his way to the mouth of the Selwyn in his motor-boat, had the misfortune to break the steering gear, and consequently was unable to compete in any of the motor-boat races at Taumutu <*? i New Year's Day Dr. and Mre Ellison, who hare been living at tho Nuie Islands for the past three years, have been staying with Mrs Taiaroa and Mr R. M. Taiaroa during the last few days. They left yesterday to visit relatives at Dunedin. METHVEN. Great dissatisfaction is felt by the entire residents and business people of Methven at the very irregular and late running of the new mail service between Methven and Ashburton. Every day since this service started it has arrived anywhere from 20 minutes to half-an-hour late, consequently people do not know when to go to the post office for their mails. When tho mails arrived under the old systom by horse vehicle, 'via Rakaia and Highbank, it was seldom or never late. Now, with a motor service, and one of the best roads in Canterbury, punctual running seems out of the question. It is said that if more regular running does not take place, the Department will be approached to either mend or end the contract and revert to the old system in force previous to January Ist last., Heavy rain set in at Methven yesterday at about 2 p.m., and fell in torrents for the greater part of the afternoon. The official gauge in Methven registered 47 points for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. yesterday. Several farmers who are hay-malcing or cutting early crops of oats are having an anxious time, as the weather could scarcely be much "worse for this class of work. Practically every day since the New Year rain has fallen, and even now there is not much sign of a favourable change taking place. Potatoes are very late this year at' Methven, scarcely any are ready for digging. It is difficult to account for this, as there have been no late frosts of any consequence. Householders are compelled to draw their supplies from Christchurch or Ashburton.