NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22129, 18 September 1946, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Show Innovation In order to meet the convenience of exhibitors in the dairy section of the annual Agricultural and Pastoral Show, to be held next month, the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association has arranged to install milking-machines on the ground. This will relieve exhibitors of the necessity of providing their own gear for milking cows by hand on the day of exhibtion, and should be a welcome innovation. Rabbit control Several of the rabbiters employed by the Central Hawke’s Bay Rabbit Board reported to the monthly meeting that their areas were in much cleaner order. This was looked on as a most satisfactory sign, stated the secretary, Mr. G, E. Stiles. There were still two areas in the district which had not been covered, and every endeavour was being made to secure the necessary labour to work them. Hicks Bay Rainfall The rainfall recorded up to the end of August this year at Matarau station, Hicks Bay, is well below the total for the same period last year. For the first eight months of 1945, 73.73 in. fell, while this year the total to date is only 52.28 in. Last month 8.04 in. was recorded in Mr. Wood’s gauge on 17 wet days, as against 17.08 in. on 20 days for August last year. The heaviest 24-hour fall was on August 20, when 2-12 in. was recorded. Coast Afforestation

When the Poverty Bay Catchment Board yesterday received a copy of the Minister of Works’ 10-year plan for development of the East Coast area, Mr. D. W, W. Williams remarked with regret that the plan included no provision for substantial forest reserve development north of Gisborne. Tire acting chairman of the board, Mr. E. W. McEnnis, stated that the plan was fairly elastic, and did not represent the absolute limits of what could be contemplated during the coming decade. If any project was regarded as practicable and timely, it could still be incorporated in the schedules of approved works. Blight on Manuka

Reference to a recent press article on the killing effect of a blight which has tackled manuka in the South Island was made at yesterday’s meeting of the Poverty Bay Catchment Board by Mr. F. J. Perham. He pointed out that a suggestion had been made for a wholesale infection of manuka in the North Island. While it might be beneficial to wipe out manuka in some parts of the country, it was highly undesirable that its wholesale destruction should be embarked unon. Members of the board stated that certain areas of manuka on the Coast were already subject to unidentified diseases, and agreed that any extension of infection should not be undertaken without the closest control. The board agreed to make representations to the Soil Conservation Council in that direction.