DESTRUCTION OF GRASS GRUB

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22345, 8 March 1938, Page 10

DESTRUCTION OF GRASS GRUB

SOUTH CANTERBURY PROPOSAL SCHEME FOR LIGHTING FIRES APPROVED The Temuka Farmers' Union has agreed to give its support to a movement begun by Mr H. B. S. Johnstone, of Otaio, to check the grass grub menace. The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association has taken up Mr Johnstone's suggestion to light fires simultaneously all over South Canterbury so that the beetles would be attracted into the flames and die. "Considerable damage has already been done to grasslands by the grub,'' said Mr G. A. Davey, who was presiding, "and I think we should cooperate with the' organisers of the scheme. It is too late, of course, for this year, but we could do some good work for next year." Mr Davey agreed with a suggestion in a 3>2tter received from the association that a joint committee be formed. Another method of killing the beetles, by attracting them into water with lights, was suggested by Mr A. R. Sotting, who said that fires were inconvenient. Mr Davey said he had killed thousands of beetles one night by putting a candle in a basin of water, but that burning straw-stacks would no doubt do the work just as well. GERALDINE COUNTY ROADS NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT EMPHASISED SEALING UNDERTAKEN »Y COUNCIL The slate of country lOD.ds inGeraldine County was discussed again at a meeting of - the Geraldine County Council yesterday, and the opinion was expressed that the council would have to consider the sealing of the roads carrying heavy traffic, whether they were highways or not. It was decided to seal small lengths of road through the Peel Forest township at McClure's corner and Woodbury road bridge, and at the Clandeboye bridge. Cr F. R. Flatman said that the council would have to make up a schedule of bridges with a view to raising a loan. Everything could not be done out of revenue as in the past. The council had very little loan indebtedness, and it should hold a special meeting to see what could be done with the roads and bridges in the county. The chairman (Mr K. Mackenzie): We cannot go on as we have been doing. We must spend more on our roads. Quite a number of bridges must be built on our highways. One instance is the road to Fairlie, where many of the bridges are narrow and want replacing. By building bridges from loans we will have more revenue to spend cr. roads. Cr. J. Acland: We estimated that apart from the Manse bridge we would want £6250 for bridges. The chairman: We must discuss the question of doing more sealing. There is no doubt that the county will have to do that. Sealing is probably more economical and it is the only way ol giving the travelling public good roads. Cr. Flatman said that he was confident that bitumen was cheapest in the long run, especially in bad patches where holes went down six or eight inches- after rain. Cr. C. Ley: I believe that in future we will have to consider sealing the roads which are carrying heavy traffic, irrespective of whether they are highways' or county roads. GERALDINE COUNTY COUNCIL HOSPITAL LEVY INCREASED At a meeting of the Geraldine County Council yesterday, it was de-j cided to accept with thanks the! Temuka Borough Council's offer to contribute £6OO toward the cost of the proposed Manse bridge at Temuka. The sum will b& paid in equal amounts annually during the term of the loan. Higher costs for the construction of the new Timaru Hospital would mean an increase of £lO7 a year in the levy paid by the Geraldine County, the secretary of the South Canterbury Hospital Board advised. The Levels County Engineer (Mr A. R. Callander) advised that it had been thought advisable to close the saleyards bridge on the TemukaPleasant Point main highway to trac-tion-engine traffic. To accommodate such traffic a ford had been constructed across the Opihi river, immediately downstream from the bridge. The Geraldine ranger (Mr F. W. Grayburn) reported that he had impounded 42 head of cattle and seven horses during February. The Temuka ranger (Mr R. A. Young) impounded 34 cattle, six horses, and six sheep. GERALDINE COUNTY FINANCES MAJOR PORTION OF RATES PAID To date 92 i per cent, of V oles levied in the Geraldine Couik. have been 'paid. This was reported by Cr. F. R. Flatman at a meeting of the Geraldine County Council yesterday. The sum of £12,432 19s has been collected in rates from a total of £13,452 17s 3d. There was a credit at the bank, he said, of £1390. Several rates would be paid before the end of the month and Highways Board subsidies for the quarter would be received before the end oi the financial year. Other receipts would include petrol tax refund and timber royalties. GERALDINE PERSONAL NOTES Mr J. A. Stewart, of the staff of the Union Bank of Australia, Geraldine, has received notice of his transfer. The vacancy at Geraldine will be filled by Mr P. J. Coursey. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of Mr P. C. Vinnell, late Mayor of Timaru, was carried in silence at a meeting of the Geraldine County Council.