OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND FARMERS’ UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 11251, 26 May 1900, Page 2

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND FARMERS’ UNION.

The delegates from iho agricultural societies in Otago and Southlsnd resumed thair meeting lait night in the Board Room of the Otago A. and F. Society’s buildings ; Air lidie (Milton) in the obair. Mr Cameron (Tuapeka West) introduced a discussion on the question of the spread of the Californian thistle on Government reserves on the banks of the Ol'utha River and moved—“ That the Union, draw the attention of the Government to the alarming spread of the thistle on the Government reserves.” Mr Bowmar and other delegates said that tha thutle was a nuisance in other districts besides those watered by the Oiutha.—Mr Milne (Trpanui) said that they were spreading because people Would nob cub them down. He had seen them bound up with sheaves of oats. His plan was to ohip them about three inches deep with a spade and pub in salt and replace the turf, and in that way he kept them under.—Mr Driver had heard that the sowing of cow grass would act as a cheek, and Mr Cameron remarked that rapo would act the same way During the further discussion Air Alilne (Beninsula) said that on his farm the thistle reappeared after he had taken off seven crops in four years,—Air it. Douglas bad never been able to fled the seed, though of course there must be seed, and his opinion was that the spreading was not so much by birds carrying the seed, but from the roots. He recommended to crop the laud early with peas or rape, or something else that would grow densely and exclude the sua from the thistle. This would keep the thistle down, bethought for that season.—The motion was carried without dissent. Mr Cameron led off on the subject of wire netting as a means of oopiug with the rabbits. He had found it of great value, not of course in killing the rabbits, but the owner knew that when he killed any they were his own rabbite. That helped, also, to keen neighbors on good terms. If small Settlers could get netting supplied on the principle of thb advances to settlers it would be a great boon. He moved—“ That the Government be asked to contribute half the oest of rabbit netting between Government reserves and private properties, and that the Government be asked to oomider the advisablonese of supplying netting on some scheme simitar to the advance* to settlers and that it be a legal fonoe.”—Mr Dunn (Milton) seconded the motion, which, after discussion, was carried. Mr Dalziel (Tuayeka West) moved— Tfaat it be a suggestion from this Confer, enoe to the Minister of Railways that 2.000 trucks be added to the Hew Zealand rolling stock for the carrying of grain and other things.”—Mr Milne (Tapanui) eug. gested that they should beeoment to draw attention to the lose to farmers through want of rolling stock, instead of making a

.specific' request. IfThe Motion wers la altered he would second it,-—Mr'D*l*ie! cohieuted, and the Motion as altered vu agreed to. : Mr Oameron advqcated that! there should be free carriage of artificial tnanurM as well as lime.—Mr Milne (TapautP) thought they should not interfere With the lime oonois» eion, but rather eek that the fMight On aril, ficial manures be reduced.—Mr Cameron preferred to slick to his dtiglfiat idea, and a motion to that effect, seconded by Mr Dnnn, was carried. The question, of selling wheat for a net price or otherwise being mentioned, Mr W. Livingstone (Waitahuna) thought they should ask Government to legislate in the direction of making all trausaotioui for net cash. —Mr Milne (Tapanni) considered thatif theydid anything it should be by arrangement; with the millers. He was averse to approaching the Government on suoh a subject, and thought they bad better let it drop. What they might do. and he would move it, would be to try aha get the size of oornsacks made uniform, say lo carry three bushels of wheat and four bushels of oats.—Mr A. Douglas: You mean four of wheat and three of oats.—Mr Milne meant what he said, and gave figures to show that ho was right,—Mt Cameron advocated a 44in bag as the.Standard.—Gore and Waitahuna representatives spoke in favor of the 441n bag.—On the motion of Mr Cameron, seconded oy Mr Bowmar, it was decided that in the opiuloh of the meeting 44in be the regulation tiu for corneaoks. Mr Bowmar introduced the question of a guarantee beidg given by vendors that artifical manures are up to the standard, and moved—“ That the Government be ashed U) pass legislation that the vendors of artificial manure* he held liable for the warranty of artificial manures supplied by them.”—Mr Milne (Tapanui) thought the want was of a competent analyst to test the manures at a nominal charge.—Ur Williams (Tuapeka) seconded the motion, and it was carried. Mr Cameron was elected president; the appointnsent of vice-president was held over; Mr Dalziel was re-elected secretary' and treasurer; and Mr Milne (Pen i mu'a) and Mr Driver (Milton) and Mr Ooutta (Gore) were appointed to tho Committee subject to their approval. Dealer (to customer); “What do you want with all the lead pencils you buy, Mr SmithP You are in here every nay for one." Customer; “I know it. I lend thereto my wife.” About the beginning of the century the Rev. Thomas Dyce, a very eccentric gentleman, was minister of Teviothoad. Once, when a number of Irish nawioa were in the loft of his church, ho preached from the text: “It is easier for a camel to go through tho eyo of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” and, looking up to the loftexclaimed ; “ Now, ye ragamuffins, there's consolation for ’ee!” Hr Dyce was brought before the Presbytery for preacliing unsound doctrine, when he replied: “ What can yo oxpeot for £SO a yoorP”—his whole salary—while most of his accusers bad £3OO at least. As a short and straightforward proposal, nothing haa ever surpassed that of the you ,hj who, on entering tho room, knelt down before tho lady, and, producing a ring from Ins pocket, said; "May IP”