NELSQN NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 126, 30 May 1931, Page 6

NELSQN NEWS

LONG DRY SPELL

CATERPILLAR. PLAGUE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) NELSON, 29th May. Tho Nelson district, continues to suffer from the'long spell "of dry weather, afld people in tlio country districts who rely on tanks for their domestic water supply arc on low daily rations. . Many creeks which have been known to flow freely for nearly, half a century have dried up and the rivers are very low. A serious result of the dry weather has been the appearance in. some sections of the Waimea Plain of grass grubs and caterpillars,, which have played havoc with autumn sown crops. In.many cases it has.been found necessary ', to resow tho devastated fields.In many localities the. "grassland has been infected by. large caterpillars. Favoured by tho dry season, they burrow their way through the looso soil, devouring the grass roots as they go. With, the present dry weather, low prices, and insect pests,' the dairy far-mer-is not having a happy time. In tho live months of this year only 8.46 mof raiu Lava fallen, the last three months producing .74in., 2.32 m., and .20in, respectively. The Eonga Valley-Croixelles road, which has ;been under construction for about a year, is, now nearing completion, and has been used for stock droving purposes. There are at present 120 men engaged on the work.' Tho annual meeting of the Nelson V.M.C.A. elected the following Board of Directors:—Messrs. C. B. Fell, R. Black, E. B. Mabin, W. Armstrong, G.. Dalglish, S. G. Davis (old members), F. Varley, S. Oldershaw, C. Caunington, L. White, T. Beilby, F. Lane; and Archdeacon Dart. An inquest into tho death of.Gladys Mcrlo Batchcldr, aged 24 years, of Murchisoiij who -died in, the Nelson Hospital on. Wednesday night from wounds:: to :.the: throat,, was, conducted by ' like Coroner (Mr.1 T. E. Maunsell, S.M.)this morning. After hearing the evidence tho Corouer expressed' sympathy with the deceased's husband. Tho. verdict -was that tho deceased' died from a Wound in the "tliroat and pneumonia ~ developing ; therefrom, t The wound was self-inflicted by deceased, the evidence indicating that, by reason of ill-health she' was in an, abnormal and probably irresponsible mental condition.. ' |'"','' ■■■■■'■