COUNTRY NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17702, 31 January 1918, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS.

[From Our Correspondentb]

ASHBURTON,

Mr Robert Bell has presented the Ashburton Returned Soldiors’ Club with a cabinet gramophone. The instniment wa® delivered at the club rooms on Tuesday afternoon. This season has been an off one in the Ashburt-on County as far as apricots are concerned. Hundreds of cases, however, have been consigned to Ashburton from other districts, and have found ready sale at current rateß.

Mr A. Macpherson, Government Fiolds Supervisor, states that the majority of the wheat crops on the Ashburton experimental area have now boon cut and are in stook. Early in tho season the small birds playod havoc with the- grain, but methods weie provided to scare the birds away. At tho Tinwald stook sale on Tuesday the highest price for fat lamba was 28s 3d, while tho average price was approximately 25s 9d. When the store sheep sale commenced the first five pens of lambs were passed at auction, the prices ranging from 22s Id for wether lambs to 24s 3d for mixed sexes. On inquiry being made it waa found that vendors were asking 25s for their store lambs, which left a very small margin for (armors and graziers to finish thorn off and sell at the averago price of 25s 9d. Tho annual meeting of tho Ashburton Sports Association was hold on Monday evening. Mr F. W. Soldon presided. The balanco-Bhoet. which was adopted, showed that the receipts aggregated £ll4 4s sd„ including «. credit balance carried forward of £ls Is sd. Tho expenditure was £99 16a 2d, leaving a credit balance of £l4 8s Bd. The following Committeo of Management was elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr F. W. Seldon; vice-president, Mr E. Buchanan; treasurer, Mr D. Friedlander; secretary, Mr W. H. Little; committee, Messrs D. M. Montgomery, J. Templeton, C. W. Allard, S. Ingham and I*’. Malcoig. Tho following assessments were mado for ground rent for the year:—Bowling Club £3O, Ashburton Lawn Tennis Club £3O, St Andrews Lawn Tennis Club £l2, Croquet Club £l2, Ashburton Cricket Association £3, Ashburton Ladies’ Hockey Club £2,' Ashburton High School £2. It was decided (o offer the Domain Board the sum of £9O for tho use of tho sports grounds for the various chibs for the year. Mr A. Macpherpon, Government Fields Supervisor, who is paying an official visit to Ashburton, is a keen enthusiast in tho cultivation of lucerne. In conversation with a “Guardian” representative yesterday he stated that his scheme for demonstrating the growth of lucerne in plots adjacent to tho railway lino between Christchurch and Ashburton is now under way. Threo different localities have been selected, one at Wcedons, one on tho northern side of tho Bankside railway station, and the other near the Ashburton saleyards. In connection with tho last-named arcs, Mr Macphcrson statod that ho had been able to secure about six acres, and a portion of this had already been cultivated and sown, and. tho iucerne crop was making promising growth. A portion of fhe area will require levelling, and as there is a water raco in the vicinity, arrangements will be made to irrigate tho crop in order to show the comparison letween lucerne so treated and the adjoining area. Tho soil was not inoculated before sowing, but was treated with a dressing of one ton of lime to the acre. Mr Macpherson also mentioned that owing to shortage of labour at. present, ho had not been able to get the ground fenced, and- on Monday when he visited the locality he found a person allowing- sheep to, wander over tho young cron. He expressed the hono that drovers and others would do their best to keep tlieir animals off tho crop until such time as the fences were erected. Mr Macnhcrson said the season was ideal for sowing ihe lucerne, but as the surrounding country was green it would not bo so good for demonstration purposes.. In a drw summer passengers on the trains would not fail to note the difference between the green lucerne and tho burnt-up appearance of the grass in the vicinity. He had only eown one variety of lucerne along tho railway. Oil tlie Ashburton show grounds several varieties bad been planted, and this year had made exceptionally good growth. Two cuttings had been taken off the show ground? plot, and the crop had arrived at a stage when it would soon have to be cut again. This would give it time to grow again before the allow in March. HORNBY. Tho Hornby School Committee called a meeting recently of householders and others interested in the carrying out of a fancy fair and garden party in the school grounds on behalf of Ex-mipil Soldiers’ Memorial Fund. Mr J. F. Ross presided. Representatives from several local institutions, and sports societies were present by invitation, and their offer of assistance was accepted with thanks. It was decided to hold tho fair towards the end of February, and a number of ladies and geptfomen were appointed to canvass tho district and to arrange the various stalls and sideshows. It was decided to ask Mr G. Witty, M.P.; to open tho proceedings. KAIKOURA. Blight has made its appearance in some of the potato crops growing on heavy land, and also ill tomatoes. This is attributed to tho abnormal moisture of tho summer. Difficulties are reported with the hands on one of the sheep stations. Help rendered, by neighbours, however, has overcome some of the trouble. Sweet vernal seems to bo spreading rapidly in one or two quarters. The growth o! this pest is, liowover, not viewed with alarm..

Early occupation of the new Club Hotel r.remis’es is expected. Putting on-tho finishing touches fo now all that remains to be dene.