THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18302, 9 February 1925, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

amberley. The monthly meeting of tho lev Town Board was held on Thujsd- > Mr W. Boyoe, chairman, presiding over a full attendance of iiwmoo • With reference to the proposed devi tion of water at Hadlers corner, was decided to request the Kowai County Council to forward jV their solicitor's opinion. -The y was instructed to obtain the J® 3s from Messrs Garrick and Co. in connexion with the land to be used for tho night soil proposal. A report was received from the Health Inspector a to a caso of a notifiable character, A communication was received from tn Inspector of Awards as to definition or shopkeepers who are allowed to remain open on the statutory half-holiday. Permission to erect a building "wo® granted to Messrs Frew Bros., also to erect scaffolding subject to safety proceedings. As the outcome of a communication from the Minister of Internal Affairs as to the issuing or licenses for drivers of motor-cars, etc., it was decided that the Town Board would receive no support from the Highways Board, and in consequence the maintenance and control of the main North road which runs through Amberley would be handed over to the Kowai County Council as a county road. It was decided that all rates unpaid after February 10th be subject to a penalty of 10 per cent. The continuous use of the footpaths by cyclists was to be made the subject of a report to the constable. The annual report and balance-sheet of the Domain was received and signed by 'tho chairman. OMIHI. Mr John Wyllie, of Omihi, had a fine yield of fin Australian Tuscan tyj>e wheat, namely Currawa, viewing oo bushels to the acre and weighing oolb to the bushel. Mr Wylbo has grown this wheat now for thi ee seasons and two years ago established a rsew 1 Zealand rocord as to weight, viz., GGilb to the bushel. It is a particularly large berry, being thin skinned and is thus a real milling variety. The straw is of a very soft nature and when first grown did not giive much promise or wind resistance. It is evident that Mr Wyllie has it now acclimatised. KAIAPOI. Mr H. Mclntcsli, Mayor of Kaiapoi, has agajn consented to nomination tor Mayoral honours at tho next municipal election. . Mr R. Johnston, secretary of the Kaiapoi R.S.A., who is leaving the district, was entertained by the members of the Association on. 1' ridav evening at a farewell gathering. The president (Mr M. F. O. Donoghue) presented the guest of the evening with a tobacco pouch and pipe. ■ . BELFAST. The Belfast School Committee held the monthly meeting on Wednesday last. Present: Mr W. P. . Spencer, chairman, Mesdames E. .Harris and W. P. Spencer, Messrs W. Price, R. Graham, W. Gilmore and A. E. Lawn. It was decided to install electric lighting in all rooms at the main school and a heater point at each school. The school picnic was postponed indefinitely. The chairman reported receiving an extra £lO grant from the Education Boarcf. Messrs Prico and Morton were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month.

AKAROA. At the last meeting of the Citizens' Committee controlling the local Boy Scouts, the Mayor, Mr Geo. Armstrong, presided . over a fair attendance. The Scoutmaster, lie.v. A. H. Purchas, submitted . a verv satisfactory report of the doings ; of the Scouts during the past month. Nearly a week had been spent in Samp at Gough's Bay, and besides reaping the physical benefits of the simple, open-air life, the boys had gained a good deal of useful information. The cordial thanks of the Committee were extended to' Mr T, Masefield .for the use of his grounds, and for supplying comforts and necessaries, to Messrs F. Keegan, Gordon Kearney and the Akaroa fixpress Company, for the free transport of camp impedimenta, and to Mr I*. G. Riches for instructing the older boys in first aid and ambulance drill., It was reported that there was a full complement on the roll, both of Scouts and Cubs, and that all the boys were evincing keen interest in their work. The Scoutmaster briefly outlined proposed activities for the current year, and offered to assist in the entertainment of the sailors from H.M.S. Dunedin, when the warship was in port, with a display by the Troop.

RAKAIA. Tlie urgent need of Rakaia. for a new school will bo again brought under tho notice of Sir James Parr. ihe Rev. A. S. Morrison, chairman of the llalvaia School Committee, telegraphed to. Sir Hcaton Rhodes asking him to request Sir James Parr to visit Rakaia and meet a deputation, regarding a new School. Sir Heaton replied that lie had referred the request to the Minister, who was unable to visit Itakaia, as he was returning to Wellington on Monday. Sir Heaton Jthodiss stated that Sir James Parr would be in Christchurch again in three weeks' time, when he would bo urgol to /visit Rakaia.

METHVEN. The weather has been very indifferent here for the past few days. Rain fell steadily from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Friday, when the sky cleared somewhat and conditions became more pleasant. Owing to the prevalence of infantile paralysis in the South Island, the Boy Scouts' meetings have been postponed indefinitely. On Thursday afternoon the Plunket Nurse was in attendance at the A. and P. Rooms, and had a very busy time interviewing mothers and children. Tlie usual meeting of members of the Mothers' Union was held in the Parish Hall on Thursday afternoon, but owing to unfavourable weather there was only a fair attendance. Mrs R. Tooley presided, and during the afternoon gave the first of a series of lectures on "Tlie "Women of the Bible." Two new members were enrolled, the ceremony being conducted by Rev. F. A. Tooley. -A good quantity of sewing was brought in and packed ready for sending to the Orphanages.. Mrs I?.. Tooley announced that the annual meeting has been fixed for Thursday. March sth next. Farmers are being seriously inconvenienced by the frequent stoppages of work through rain and shortage of farm labour is also making the work ia the harvest field a slow process. In view of the prevailing epidemic of infantile paralysis a visit was paid to Methven on Thursday by the County Council's Health Inspector. Several residents have received notice to clear rubbish from premises, but on the whole tho township is clean.

MAYFIELD. ' The induction of the ' Rev. Paul Beresford to the cure of the Parish of Mt. Somers will take place to-morrow evening, at the Mt. Somers Churdh. Farmers are frequently heard to express the opinion that agriculture can i now be regarded a3 no more than a gamble. Risk and uncertainty harass the' fanner at every point and the old conditions that seemed to invest _ the industry "with permanence and stability a.re passing away. Almost every year

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new pests come on to the scene and there is no phase of calling that can be said to be immune from danger of some sort or other. Local conditions this season present strange contrasts. On certain farms that are expected from year to year to average good returns the crops have proved meagre and disappointing, due largely to rust, smut, and the caterpillar. Elsewhere on light land the yields have been extraordinarily heavy. A Lismore farmer last year spent 35s on binder twine; this was sufficient to meet the needs of a poor harvest with a resultant and acute shortage of winter feed, a circumstance common to almost all. This; year the same farmer has spent £3O on twine and at the close of seven 'weeks of strenuous toil the harvesting is still unfinished. Oats grow in stalks 7ft in length, well headed, requiring stacks '47 by 27 feet in size. The sheafs in the main are clean and almost free from blemish. Fluctuations'of tSiis sort . are now regarded as an inseparable condition to farming, and though it i 3 believed the seasons may adjust themselves and bring a more equable rainfall the multiplication of pests is a danger that may reach the very gravest proportions. -