Notes of the Day

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 51, 2 March 1943, Page 2

Notes of the Day

Vital statistics for Feilding for Feb ruary were as follow, the figures in parentheses being for the same month last year: Births, 15 (22); marriages, 4 (2); deaths, 1 (4). Yesterday morning at the Feilding Borough Council Chambers LanceCorporal D. A. Taylor was made the local Patriotic Society’s presentation to men of the forces. A complimentary social and dance is to be tendered by the Colyton Patriotic Committee on Wednesday evening in tho local hall to Gunner C. Elliott. Gunner L. Thomas and Trooper J. Red shaw. The Feilding Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade announced that donations towards the £IOOO required to provide an emergency ambulance in Feilding now total £696 Is Bd. The amount previously acknowledged was £542 14s lid and since then a number of collectors, conducting a house-to-house canvass, have handed in £153 6s 9d. Feilding’s rainfall during February measured 5.6 in., compared with 2.6in. for February, 1942, and the average for that month of 2.89in. Rain fell on 19 of the 28 days and its intermittent advent was responsible for seriously interrupting harvesting activities. On the other haild, the Fain was needed to make up leeway in the matter of pasture growth which suffered a setback through the dry spell of the previous month. Ths month was unusually wet and past records reveal that only in two previous years the measurement exceeded in February that of February last, namely in 1935 when C.OTin. was recorded, and again in 1936 wlien 7.01in. fell. So far this year the rainfall totals 7.56in. In tho opinion of many farmers, Feilding should not bother about growing wheat. The experience of this season when ground was given over to wheat production has been, to say the least, most disappointing and some farmers face a definite loss owing to the unsettled weather. It is considered by those whose practical experience in the realm of agriculture in this district is acknowledged that that district is climatically unsuited for wheat growing. While the soil conditions may be such as to guarantee growth, the weather is the deciding factor, and reliance cannot be placed on obtaining weather conditions suitable for the successful harvesting and threshing of the resultant crop. The Feilding district was never strong in wheat production and the experience of last month has not been such as to provide much inducement to continue in this line.