General News.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19221, 30 January 1928, Page 8

General News.

The Pioneer Sports Club arranged to hold three motor-cycle championship races at North Beach on Saturday afternoon, but the meeting had to be abandoned as the beach was too rough. "While the occupants were absent on Friday evening the dwelling-house of C. A. Weir, Kairanga road, was broken into and jewellery, a suit, and an overcoat were taken, states a Palmerston North Press Association message.

A number of whirlwinds- were seen in the Springdale district, Auckland, last week. One traveller saw 27 in three-quarters of an hour, both on the road and in the fields. One in a dusty paddock reached spectacular proportions and had a bas« as wide as a large house. It tapered to a perfect cone at the top. It lasted for nearly a minute before breaking up into a dust cloud.

The shortage of feed, occasioned by the long spell of dry weather in other districts, has given a lift on the road to wealth to some Hauraki Plains farmers, who are finding a ready market for pressed hay. Feed is plentiful in most parts of the plains, and when a Ngatea farmer advertised fodder for sale he was almost overwhelmed with offers. The Auckland purchaser is sending a hay pressing plant to harvest the crop. Mr J. Loudon (president of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society) has received advice that the Dominion selectors in Wellington have chosen three works from Dunedirj for the Imperial Institute Gallery of Art exhibition to be held at South' Kensington, London, from April to June, 1928. Ten worEs were sent from Dunedin to Wellington, representing seven artists, and three were chosen, a landscape water colour by Miss Kathleen Salmond, a landscape water colour by Mabel Hill (Mrs Mclndoe), and a figure picture in oils by Mr T. H. Jenkin. Addressing the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute at Wellington, Dr. A. W. Hill, Director of Kew Gardens, remarked upon the work and investigations being carried on in botanical research in New Zealand, and said he did not know whether the subject was being explored by young men in the Dominion. He would like la see. young men stimulated to carry on the work of botany in New Zealand, and to realise what an extraordinary amount of good was produced from scientific investigation. He said he knew it was largely a question of £ s. d., but he hoped some young men were being trained to carry on the good work of Dr. L. Cockayne. Negotiations for the supply of about 500 pair of quail for restocking the Poverty Bay district have been entered into by the East Coast Acclimatisation Society, but so far ft Is not certain whether it will be possible to obtain the birds. The quail are to be got from Norfolk Island, where they are not protected, and Ehe Society is awaiting permission from the Government to purchase them. Of late, quail have become very scarce in the district. One hundred pheasants have been ordered from Auckland by the Society, and these will be delivered at Gisborne and released at the end of next month or early in March. Poverty Bay breeders of pheasants have been successful this summer, and the Society expects to get at least 150 birds from them.

One of the most disturbing features of the landscape at the present time, in the opinion of many farmers, is the prevalence of blue borage, which is more in evidence this season than ever before (says the "Marlborough Express"). This plant appears to be spreading at a dangerous rate, and its blue flowers have painted whole paddocks, roadsides, and riverbeds. Borage, from a distance, adds a pleasing colour note to the countryside viewed in a purely aesthetic light; but it is safe to say that the farming community very soon will be glad to dispense with this, as they will prefer the weed's room to its blue beauty. At one time, borage was found only in scattered patches, but it has now taken possession of big areas in most parts of the province. A leading pastoralist remarked that he was becoming deeply concerned over the spread of borage, as it certainly was not wanted on the low country, at anv rate. In the high country, where stock often had no option but to eat it, it was regarded as a useful fodder plant; but on the lower levels it could not he eaten ott except by hopelessly overstocking. Blue borage is not yet on the schedule of noxious weeds in'either Marlborough or Awatere, but the time is rapidlv approaching, when, in consequence of its amazing increase, measures will have to be adopted to outlaw it. Reading the full rJage report on sta*lon 3YA, appearing in Saturday's Sun * it is clear that the Listenerin' is boing fully catered for. Farming interests are receiving full market reports, both stock and produce, as well as the all important weather forecasts so valuable at harvest time. The world-famous "Bremer Tully" 6 and 8 valve receiver will ensure your clear reception of this desirable advice. vYnte J. I. Smail. Christchurch. —« Mix your own paint. Ingredients for 1 gallon, 71b. Genuine English White Lead 4s 6d, and k gallon linseed Oil 3s, total cost 7s 6d per gallon. Mason Struthers and Co., Ltd. —6

Now that the stubble ploughing is at hand, before buying others be sure you see our latest pattern tractor plough, with improved Murray lift, front and rear wheel steerage, and rear lever lift. The best of all, guaranteed for fifty years. Any trial given. Murray lifts for any make of existing three or fourfurrow plough, £25 7s cash, railage paid. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam street, Christchurch. —b'