DISTRICT NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, 13 February 1917, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

■ < STOKE. IMPORTANT MEETING OF FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Friday one of the most interesting meetings of the Stoke Fruitgrowers' Association -was held at Stoke, Mr A. V. Allport in the chair, and there being a fair attendance. Among those presentwas Mr T. W. Kirk, of the Horticultural Department, and Mr Hyde and Air Williams, Government Inspectors. Mr Hyde was thanked for his tabulated figures of a previous lecture, copies of which had been photographed and sent to growers. The chairman welcomed Mr Kirk to the meeting, expressing pleasure at seeing him there, and at the same time savin;.; that the thanks of the community wer--due to the Orchard Department, which showed that it was alive to the menace of the fire blight. FIRE BLIGHT. Mr Kirk gave some interesting dat.i re the fire blight menace. Resolution-, on this matter had been received by thiDepartment from several Associations. Dr Cameron says trees which acti; ally landed from Japan had no tin' blight. A lot which landed in Australia were not distributed and -were subsrouently destroyed. The position nov. in New Zealand is that no trees will b+landed or imported from countries where fire blight is known to exist, especially Japan. Trees from North America must be accompanied by a certificate stating that fire blight is unknown ii. the State in which the trees are grown. All other countries must also send certificates to that effect signed by the Go veminent inspector - . NATIONAL APPLE SHOW.

*'* A letter from Mr A. Gould re National Apple Show to be held in Dnnedin on Mav Ist to 4th was read. It was pointed out*that £2OO to £250 would be required for expenses. The Committee which is working to this end proposes to issue ( subscription lists. It is to he hoped that business people, heads of firms, farmer.-, and all loyal citizens, will heartily sup port this effort, as the welfare of tindistrict is at stake. Small growers v.ili probably be asked to put aside two i.r more cases of their finest fruits "or the great show The selection committee j consists of 'Mr A. P. All port of Stoke. Mr A. B. Hall, of Brightwater, and the ; orchard inspectors. It -was pointed out that the fruit sent to or given for the District Show of fruitin Dunedin would be sold for patriotic purposes. Growers sending- other "rait, especially in case lots for competition, could arrange to have it fold to best c dvantage on their own behalf. 'lhis should encourage all growers to help the National Apple" Show to become a great, success, but particularly to keep ut > > elson's reputation. j The carriage of the fruit would be free to individuals, so there should be a big response when, the selection com- j mittee comes round, as it will be coins i shortly. , The committee of selection for Stoke consists of the following:—Messrs A. \ ■ ■\ 11 port, A. Pa voter. J. Biggar, W. M. Bolt, D. Giblm. E. B. Izard, and T. C. C. Scott. The committee has power to add to its number. Suggestions for packinn- the apples to send to Dnnedin were received. Plon-tv of wood- wool and wrapping would be required. One grower at last show wrapped each apple in paper and wood wool. Mr F. J. Hill spoke in favour of insistin »• on the flavour test for the plate of 5 classes in apples. It was approved b: the meeting that Mr Shelton, secretary of the Federation, be written to ai'csng that a flavour test be given prominence in the judging of plates o!" fiv< apples. .. . , It was suggested that prizes woulo be given for a judging competition amongst growers at the Show.' Some pointed out the difficulties in. the wav of such a competition. The next meeting place of the de.e gates to the Federation would probably be Dunedin instead of Wellington a? previously arranged It. was proposed that the btoke i>;fo ciation be registered and affiliated. A resolution from the Nurserymen =■- Association was read. The chairman said it was t <.- re" interests to get trees from local or incw Zealand mirservmen. The results artknown to be better from New Zealano grown trees than from Australian, grown r Trces ordered through the Fcderatior carrv a reduction of 10 per cent -lo tnr grower. Prices have been arranged fo fruit trees as between the Nursery riv;n s Association and the Federation ( i New Zealand Fruitgrowers. A set of rules on forming fruitgrowers associations was forwarded by Mr Hvde. These were received from the Federation and were drawn up under the guidance of the solicitor of the Federation, i hev were regarded as a good set of legal rules. . . It was proposed that this set ot rule? he adopted by the Stoke Fruitgrowers Association. HORTICULTURAL STATION. Mr A. P. Allport, of the Agricultural Ronrd, s-noke on behalf of a horticultural station for experimental work. He explained the need for experiments which individual growers could not carrv n t. Tt was proposed that this Association write to the Minuter of Agriculture urging unon him the need of establis'nng a horticultural station in Nelson. Mr Kirk threw much light on this -i hject- by giving «f-"iHst:es which proved the above" need. Nelson's interest in fruitrrrowing was greater than all the other districts pnt together. This fact_ proves the need for an immediate station. Tf the Cawthrou estate t.-.l rot o-ive exactlv what was required, then a Government horticultural station niiif-f----he established at Nelson at once Mr MoMnrtry mentioned that the rus-

• ettins on apples was not altogether due to spraying/ This point could be -worked on in a trial station. Discussion also ensued on leaf roiirr. another point which could well be de-ait with on a trial station. ' The Evening Mail of Friday conveyed 1 the information that the orchard inspectors were to be more drastic in dealing with pests in orchards, more particularly black spot. Mr F. J. Hall hoped the inspectors would not go through* the orchards like .-'.. submarine. (Laughter). Mr Kirk gave further information .ibout the plan of the proposed horticultural stations. A hearty vote of thanks, carried' by acclamation, was accorded Mr Kirk for his useful information. In replv Mr Kirk apoealed to growers : o support the work of" the Department !n the Nelson District, by assisting the inspectors when on their rounds. The -taff of the Department -was depleted and the work greatly increased. Three hun- ■ iro dand- seventy nurseries and 100,000 orchards had been registered, et tai'inr heavv -work on the staff. It "was decided to forego trie next monthly meeting of the Association. The monthly meeting of the Stoke Road Board was held on Saturday even. ; nrr Present: Messrs J. E- Bartlett jehairman), J. Best, T. B. Chisnall. A. '\ Allport. and D.. GiblinMr H. T. Palmer was excused from tt-tendance. The overseer reported that certain owners of property at Talruna had de•iined to agree to the arrangement made with the previous owners in regard to waterway. The work authorised at the river crossing, Aniseed Valley, had been completed, and the Serpentine road attended to. The clerk of the Waimea County t xj-uneil "notified that the sum of £lls, ■ein" amount expended on the destruction °of small birds, had been placed to he Board's credit at the Bank of New Zealand. Mr F. A. Bamford, behalf of 20 property owners, wrote objecting to the natural watercourse at Tahuna being filled in.—lt was resolved to inform Mr Bam ford that the person filling in the watercourse had been notified. , , Mr W. Houlker -wrote in regard to the same matter. Mr R. Black, Secretary of the '> regressive Association, wrote asking •hat the road between the Freezing Works and Payntc-r's, Stoke, be opened .or traffic, and that the footpath from he main road fo the Sttke railway station be improved.—Consideration of the lirst request was left, open until next meeting. In regard to the footpath, it was resolved that the Board could not widen the footpath a s the roadway at >resent was too narrow for vehicular traffic. Mr F. "St. John and others wrote re the state of Enner Glynn road, and offerii;rr to put on a cart and two or three men to gravel the road.—lt was resolved that the offer be accepted. Mr F. W r . Fairey, Nelson, wrote, ap-nlyim-r for permission to boil down tallow, etc., at Stoke.—Granted. Accounts amounting to £oO Las 10d were passed for payment.

SUBURBAN NORTH. The monthly meeting .of the Suburban North Road Board was held on the 9th hist. Present: Messrs W. H. Al-bor- i ornrh (chairman), A. Dodson- (treasurer), J border, B. F. Welter, A. Stagg, and E. W. Frost. Accounts were massed amounting -to£l4 15s Id. " , r , . , The Overseer reported that ho had. had the ruts grabbed in on the road loading to T. Rayner's. He had had <ome repairing dono on the Todd s \ alley road, but it required a good deal more work. The AYaiigamoa, road had been repaired and cleaned up -"id finished except two culverts, which would bo put in as scon as he could get the dayman to do the work. He aSfccd for instructions as to whether he was to oroceed and get the new concrete xnil-;-ert put. in near C. H. Alborough s, Todd's Valley.—Adopted. . rorre=oondence was received from: tnc head office, Wellington, with leaflet regarding Discharged Soldiers' Information Department. Resolved that tenders be called*- lor putting in the concrete culvert m Todd s Valley opposite C. H. Alborough s. RIWAKA. A mcetinrr of the Riwaka Road Board was held on tlfiT Bth inst. Present : Messrs E. W. James (chairman), J. A. Askew, James Cook, P. Fry, and J. Rowling. Correspondence was received from the Public Works Department, Wellington, advising the cancellation of the* Swamp road grant. . From: the. Public Works Department, Nelson, confirming the above cancellation. From sc-eretarv, Motueka Harbour Board, stating that after the Valuation Department's" rerly was to hand regardtho board's alleged liability m connection with the rates on an unspecified section of block x., the board would bo again communicated with. Resolutions were passed as follows : That all accounts as presented be paid - That a sum not exceeding £lO be expended on road from Riwaka to Marahan, work to be done under supervision of Mr James Cook*

That the secretary write to -the Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, an explanatory letter with reference to Swamp, road grant, advising that, as none ot the original grant had been expended the full amount remains, viz., £IOO. The board Oesired to expend no grant during the war period, but the grant embodied in this resolution is of impcrtanco to this district, and it is desired that it remain on the Estimates. Cheques were passed totalling £SO 2 3 9d.