RABBIT BOARD MEETS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 6

RABBIT BOARD MEETS

BANKS PENINSULA DISTRICT

INSPECTION TO BE MADE

The district superintendent of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture wrote to the Banks Peninsula Rabbit Board on Tuesday notifying that after a conversation with the chairman (Mr T. Masefield) Mr Grant, chief inspector for Canterbury, would start an inspection of the board’s district on March 13, and it would be appreciated if the board would help in any way to facilitate this work. It was decided that the board give Mr Grant every facility to inspect the whole of its district. In answer to a reference in Inspector Trolove’s report that Mr Brown, of Kaituna, opposed the board’s killing policy, the chairman said he had seen Mr Brown on the previous day and explained the board’s policy. Mr J3rown had said to him that he considered the board’s policy common sense.

The Ellesmere Drainage Board advised that it had made an opening in the fence to cart stone and had properly replaced the fence. The fence had been opened at another place, but this was not done by the board. It was decided to make inquiries about who had opened the fence without a permit. The secretary (Mr Byrne) reported that the debit balance was £157 4s lOd, and rates outstanding £414 Os 4d. Accounts amounting to £142 4s 7d were passed for payment. The secretary reported the killings of rabbits for the 11 months of the current year amounted to 1245 rabbits by the two inspectors and two rabbiters. Last year’s figures were not available, but for 1936-37 the killings were 1060, and for 1935-36, 984 rabbits. Mr A. E. Williams reported he had received complaints from residents at Okain’s Bay that no inspector or rabbi ter had been in that district for a long time. The difficulty of inspectors and rabbiters obtaining accommodation in some parts of the district was discussed, and it was suggested by Mr Craw that the men should have their own camping outfits. The killings for the month were reported as follows:—lnspector A. Hoskin, 15 bucks-, 12 does, 10 young, total 37; Inspector H. F. Trolove, 8 bucks, 12 does 11 young, total 31; Rabbiter R Wallis, 30 bucks. 31 does, 3 young, total 64; Kabbiter M. C. Barclay, 45 bucks, 43 does, 15 young, total 103.

PERSONAL NOTES

RANGIORA Appreciation of the interest taken by Mr S. Ayers in the District School, regret at his death, and sympathy with his relatives were expressed by members of the Rangiora District School Committee at their meeting on "Wednesday evening. HORORATA Mrs and Miss R. De Burren, of Wanganui, are spending a holiday with Mr and Mrs A. McKenzie, West End, Mr W. Oakley, who has been attending the rifle shooting meeting at Trentham, will return home this week. WEST MELTON Mrs Hutton, Timaru, is spending a holiday in West Melton, and is the guest of Mr and Mrs J. H. Harvey. Mr Ridley, agricultural instructor, visited the West Melton School recently. FEBRUARY WEATHER EXCEPTIONALLY DRY PERIOD AT KIMBERLEY The weather at Kimberley for February was exceptionally dry with hot "day temperatures. Rain fell on three days for a total of 54 points, compared with 1.41 inches falling on five days in 1938, and 3.04 inches on 12 days for 1937. The maximum fall for one day was February 6, when 49 points fell. The average rainfall for February during the last seven years is 2.558 inches. The total rainfall for the two months ended February 28 was .1.61 inches, against 5.13 inches for the same period last year and 5.64 inches for 1937. The dry weather during the last two months has given the countryside a very dry and brown appearance, and the prospects for winter feed are not too bright.

LOW WHEAT YIELDS AT KIMBERLEY

Harvesting in the Kimberley district is now completed, and the yields in most cases are the lowest reported for many years. The yields range from 17 bushels to 32 bushels to the acre, and only a very few paddocks have threshed more than 32 bushels to the acre. The dry weather has also seriously affected the potato crops, and it is anticipated that the yields will also be low.

HORORATA PUBLIC LIBRARY

SATISFACTORY BALANCESHEET PRESENTED

Mr F. N. Wright presided at the annual meeting of the Hororata Public Lftycaty.

The balance-sheet was considered highly satisfactory. The following officers were elected:— Mesdames F. S. Barrett, C. Duckworth, and E. Fleming, Messrs F. N. Wright, K. G. Comley, J. R. Thorne, and H. Prestidge; secretary and librarian, Mrs E. Fleming. The secretary reported that 1938 had been very satisfactory. The sum of £l6 had been spent on new books, and the balance-sheet showed a credit of £9.

The secretary said the country library service books were in great demand, and the committee decided to join the service for another year.

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ MEETING

Mr S. R. Oldridge presided at a combined meeting of the Hororata and Malvern Returned Soldiers’ Associations and women’s auxiliaries held at Hororata. A comprehensive programme of novelty events was arranged for the field day to be held at Hororata bn Saturday. It was/said that in view of the support already given, the committee was confident. that the fixture would be an outstanding success.

HORTICULTURAL SHOW AWARD

At the West Melton District Horticultural Socety’s show, Mrs W. Haye’s prize for a collection of 12 kinds of outdoor-grown flowers, not more than six varieties of each, to be shown in a vase, was won by Mrs J. Jones.

PRESENTATION MADE AT KIMBERLEY

At i conclusion of the Sunday School service at Kimberley a presentation was made to Mr P. J. Beaman, who has resigned after teaching at the Sunday school for a number of years.

Miss M. Donald, for the pupils, presented Mr Beaman with a pocket wallet in recognition of his services as teacher. Miss Beulah Jenkins will take up the duties of teacher.

The young King Farouk of Egypt has sent a collection of Egyptian coins to the 12-year-old son of Sergeant Dyer of Scotland Yard, who attended His Majesty in London.