Improving Standard Of Far North Bees

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1946, Page 4

Improving Standard Of Far North Bees

The annual meeting of the Far North branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association was held in Kaitaia this week. The president (Mr W. I. Haines) was in the chair. There was a good attendance. The Dominion president (Mr P. A. Hilliary) was unable to be present as he was held up by flooding and slips on the road.

The branch has a membership of 23. The secretary (Rev. J. Graham) presented the annual report and balance sheet, which were adopted. Over 60 new queens (purebred Italians) were brought into the district in an attempt to raise the standard of bees being kept.

The president, in his capacity of part-time inspector, visited 40 apiaries. The Auckland inspector also made a tour of the district and gave talks and demonstrations. INSPECTIONS APPROVED

The branch approved of regular inspections, contending that it is only the fear of a prosecution that will induce some backyard beekeepers to maintain their stock in a healthy condition.

The honey crop was satisfactory despite the dry conditions prevailing during the honey-flow period—October to December. Owing to the continuance of sugar rationing there was an abnormal demand for honey and most members sold their complete crop at the apiary.

Election of officers: President. Mr W. I. Haines; vice-presidents. Messrs Geo. Hancox, John Walton, C. F. Werner and F. C. Brent; secretary-treasurer, Rev. J. Graham; committee, Messrs J. Paulson. W. S. Beckett, P. R. Atkinson. R. L. Davies, W T. Watts.

After the formal business the' president gave a talk on the winter feeding of bees.

Mrs, Eleonore Hedvig J. Olsen, an early settler of the Northern Wairoa, has died in Auckland aged G 4. Until the death of her husband in 1929, Mrs Olsen was farming with her husband at Mareretu and Hukatere, ifod from then till her death she resided in Auckland. Mrs Olsen is survived by three sons and eight daughters.