ARIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3447, 19 November 1932, Page 3

ARIA.

(Own Correspondent.) The monthly meeting ol the <\ria branch of the Te Kuiti District Returned Soldiers’ Association took place at the branch headquarters on Saturday evening, Mr. D. Helms being in the chair. The attendance was not so numerous as usual owing to a number of members being engaged in ensilage making, whilst others apparently forgot the date of the full moon. Several members of the telephone line party working in the district were present, one of them being an old cobber of “Davy’s” at the Gallipoli landing'. The result was a string of personal reminiscences which served to bring home to the writer that war really was horrible! After the business was disposed of those present enjoyed the usual smoke concert to which the visitors added more than their share, most of the Aria members being very bashful in respect to their vocal efforts. The many friends of Mr. John Buntain were grieved to hear of his sudden departure for the Hamilton Hospital, and hope that his recovery may be speedy and complete. In his absence Mr. Robert Gardiner is conveying the rural mail. Visitors to the Aria district have been numerous of late. During the last week Mr. Hutchinson of the State Advances Office, Mr. A. B. Jordan, Government Land Valuer, of Te Kuiti, Mr. W. D. Armit, Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, and his henchman, Mr. Harty, Crown Lands Ranger, and Mr. Bonner, Department of Agriculture, have all been amongst us. Some we were pleased to see, but not all. However, it is obvious that the Government Departments have not forgotten us, even if we have forgotten them! Mi*. Jack McPhee has taken up residence on the section at Waitahi that he has acquired under the small farm plan. It will be interesting to see how his venture turns out. As he is to have the expert guidance of the Department of Agriculture in farming the land, which is of excellent quality though somewhat full of weeds, all he needs for success is a modicum of hard work.

We understand that Mr. Moody has also obtained a section under the same scheme. If only sufficent applicants are forthcoming we may yet live to see the vacant land in the Aria district settled under the small farm scheme. If this becomes fact then we may have a chance to combat noxious weeds successfully. On 14th inst. the board of directors of the Aria Co-operative Dairy Company held their monthly meeting. It was reported that agents had reduced advances on consignment butter to 83d. per lb. for finest butter. In consequence the payment for finest butterfat supplied in October will be at the rate of B£d. per lb. at the farm s'ate, as has been the case in all the past pay-outs this season. All butter manufactured is grading finest grade; the average grade for the season to the end of October is one unit higher than was obtained last season. Of the output to the end of October 25 per cent, has been sold on the local market. (“Local” includes places as far away as Waihi!) It was decided to communicate with the Minister of Agriculture requesting him to use his best endeavours to get the Government to take sole control of sodium chlorate for the eradication of ragwort. _ With regard to the last-mentioned I would like to state that I personally tried the so-called 5 v ‘er cent, sodium chlorate-carbonate of lime mixture on 11 acres by broadcasting and have obtained a magnificent kill. I state this as I was a “doubting Thomas” with regard to the treatment. I have now decided to apply the mixture by means of the topdressing machine in order to get. a more even distribution of the mixture. I believe a smaller dressing per acre will be successful when using the distributor.