NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20004, 22 January 1927, Page 13

NORTH OTAGO.

(From Oub Special ( STEWARD WATER RACE. A meeting of the Steward Water Race Board was held in the offices of the Waitaki County Council yesterday. There were present: Messrs J. G. Macdonalcl (chairman), J. Henderson, J. Gibson, T. Williams, W. G. M’Hardy, and A. Elliot. The caretaker reported that all the water in the races was satisfactory. During the month the rivet was very high, but did not alter the intake in any way. 'there was plenty of water at the intake, which appeared to be permanent, 'there were some bad places in the main race, from the floodgate down, and he asked the board to put on a couple of men to do the more urgent work. It would not ou necessary to shut olf the water, as what was wanted was the cutting of the sides back. A lot of trouble had been experienced with the lower race, to get water down to Henderson’s. There was no material with which to patch leaks, so he had engaged a team to do a day s carting of clay. When it was rammed in it would help matters a lot. The Clerk reported that upon the receipt of the above report he had asked a member to instruct the caretaker to have the work done The Chairman reported that ho had visited the intake and found that a good supply of water was coining into the races. It was reported that a man had been employed for 17 days on the race, wnich was now in a satisfactory condition. The caretaker reported three settlers who had neglected lo clean the watoirace, and the clerk was instructed to write them, informing them that the race must bo cleaned out at once. .... The clerk was instructed to write Mr A. Scott, thanking him for giving his team for a day’s carting free of charge. Mr A. R. Milmine wrote drawing attento the state cf the two water-races on the road near his homestead—lt was decided to approach the County Council with the object of securing pipes, if possib.e, to carry off the surface water. It was decided to institute proceedings against a settler who was alleged to have been taking water from the races for some time past. The balance sheet for the past year was read by the clerk. This showed an excess of expenditure over receipts of £3 los 4d. —After discussion, the balance sheet was adopted. . ~ Accounts amounting to £74 11s were passed for payment. TAKE-ALL IN WHEAT. Reports received this week-end from the country districts concerning the ravages of take-all are of a most depressing character. In the Tokarahi, Enfield, and Totara districts the fungus disease is spreading with great rapidity, and in some cases the vield of wheat will be reduced by from 20 to 30 per cent. The disease has also attacked barley, and one crop a. Tokarahi has been completely destroyed. Take-all has made its appearance at Utokaike, but the Papakaio plain has so tar been immune. Contrary to the opinion of the experts, the dry weather does not appear to have checked the spread of the disease in infected areas. HEAVY TRAFFIC LICENSES. The Waitaki Counts Council has issued this year about 25 heavy traffic licenses. The license fees range from £45 for heavy motor lorries down to £5 2s for delivery vans. The fees are divided among the different local authorities in proportion to the distance travelled over the respective roads. OUTLOOK FOR OATS. The outlook for Garton oats in North Otago this season is by no means bright. A good deal of last season s crop is still held by farmers, and buyers are not operat. ing. It is reported that at one southern port 50,000 bags are held. The price at present quoted in Timaru is 2s 7d per bushel for A’s, and 2s 4d per bushel for B’s, for forward delivery. Farmers will not look at these prices, but whether they will obtain more as the season advances is an open question. linseed' growing. A new variety of linseed, known as the Bill Moose, is being grown in North Otago this season under a guarantee a northern oil company of £l3 per ton. The crops are looking remarkably welj, and pi*s- - a heavy yield. The grains of the new variety average only 122 to the pennyweight, while the old variety averages 233 grains. It is estimated that a fair crop will produce 15cwt to the acre, so that it is just as profitable as oats at 3s per bushel. Incidentally, it may be remarked that it is linseed from which Irish linen is manufactured. The fibre in the stalks is steeped in the peats, and then bleached. In New Zealand, of course, the linseed is used principally for oil and oilcakes. A CHILD LOST. On Thursday afternoon a woman from Hilderthorne went into a shop in Oamaru, leaving a four-year-old girl standing outside. When she tame out the child had disappeared, and a careful search failed to reveal its whereabouts. The police were informed, and the town was scoured for some hours without result. As dusk was falling, a telephone message was received that the little toddler was making its way along the North road, in the direction of Hilclerthorpe. The news of its discovery brought a happy relief to its anxious guardians. WEEK ON THE FARM. Another congenial week has been experience by the farmers of North Otago. The weather Itas been fine and warm, and cereal crops are hardening and ripening rapidly. It is anticipated that the cutting of Garton oats wnll begin at the end of next week, and that some of the wheat crops will bo ready by the middle of next month. In preparation for next season’s crops, a good deal of summer fallowing is now being done. The turnip and rape crops have done well, and show no signs of disease. Mangolds have also a healthy appearance. Lambs are now coming in freely to the freezing works, and are killing off better than was expected a week or two ago. Tlie harvesting of grass seed has commenced, and the samples shown are of bright, clean appearance. There is likely to be a heavy yield of clover. The cream supplies to the local dairy factories is being well maintained, and dairy farmers are having a profitable season. Shearing on the bacK-blocks stations is now practically completed, and large consignments of wool are reaching town by rail and lorry. .CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. The Christian Brothers, who are establishing a collegiate school at Redcastle, near Oamaru, were entertained at a welcome social in St. Joseph’s Hall last night. There was a largo attendance, and very enthusiastic welcome to the district was extended the Brothers. The addresses were preceded by a musical programme. The school is to be opened next month to students, but the official opening will take place with an important ceremony on a coining Sunday, when a largo number of visitors will arrive by special train from Dunedin. CRICKET. • The following will represent Union Chib in its matches to-day, both games commencing at 1.45 p.m. on King George’s Park : First grade.—v. Albion.-y-Crone, Catto, Gregory, Hunter. Maddigan, Moikle. M'Bcath, M’Donald, Robertson (2), and Ptott. , I Second grade.— v. Weston.- Blair (2), Hunter, I.amb, North, Maude, Ogilvie, Sanborn, Smith, Webster. Ny.

The following players will represent the Albion Club ;

First grade.—v. Union, at King George’s Park. —Bronker (). Chalmers, Dickel, Granger, Jeffreys, Jacobs, Keith, Gecldes, Todd. Second grade.—v. Maheno, at Takaro

NEWS FROM. THE DISTRICT.

IOBBGSPONOBira.) Park. —May (2). Brook, Stichman, M'Grath, Williamson, MTvor, Spkirving, Hammill, Ross, Familton ; emergencies—Marshall and Lam bert. PERSONAL. Mr Theo. Russell, formerly of Redcastle, has purchased a farm at Silverstream, in the Taieri district, to which he in tends immediately transferring his racing ht Mr" H. Grenfell, of Oamaru, has rotunied from an extensive tour of the North Island. MATHISON MISSION. The Mathicson mission is drawing large congregations every evening to the Church of Christ in Oamaru. A homecoming is to be held to-morrow, with a conference in the afternoon. A special choir, under Captain Neeve, is providing the music. WAITAKI RIVER. The heavy nor’-westers of this week have brought down a considerable body of snow water in the Waitaki River, and anglers have had poor sport at the river mt uth, no catches worth mentioning are reported. A GALA DAY. A gala day is to be held on the, Oamaru foreshore this (Saturday) afternoon and evening, by the sth Mounted Rifles’ Band. The funds derived are to be used for the purpose of assisting to pay the expenses of the band to the contest. Besides music, numerous other attractions will be provided. JOCKEY CLUB. At a meeting on Thursday night the Oamaru Jockey Club arranged the programme for its March meeting. It is being forwarded to the District Committee for its confirmation. “ ORPHAN ” SCHOOLS. AN AUCKLAND SCHEME. SMALL SCHOOLS ASCJSTED. INCREASED EFFICIENCY RESULTS. (Special to Dailk Times.) ALuE-bAND, January 2i. There are "oipaaii senoois as well as cluiureu, put an excellent scheme evolved oy uio senior inspector ol Aucsaaud district (Mi C. W. uarrarcl) nas gone a long way Co emeiioraCe ineir lot, ana onug tneui some of tne many advantages oi the larger scnools in more populous places. “During 1920,' states au oerrard in a report to tne Auckland Education Board, “1 lecommended to the board a scheme wnich, if adopted, would, in my opinion, increase thb efficiency of sole charge scnools. I nose schools respesent some 56 per cent, of the total numoer under the Auckland Education Board. Owing to their isolation, and to the fact that they are in general taugnt by inexperienced, though, in many cases, promising -teachers, the standard of worii is usually low, anti there, is an urgent cal! for their improvement. To achieve this result i suggested that the large city, suburban and country schools should each adopt a country one, and endeavour to assist the teacher thereof to raise his standard of efficiency. The results during 1925 wore distinctly pleasing, while the cost of the experiment was practically negligible. In 19z6, I enlarged the scheme. Some 60 schools were selected as ‘parents,’ (he number of adopted ones being 60. The headmasters and stalls of the former schools entered most wholeheartedly into the work, and it is due to their enthusiasm that unqualified success has followed. The inehods in general use by the “parent” school giving assistance were as follows: 1. Advice regarding the drawing up of schemes of work, time tables, work books, school organisation and the classification of the pupils, school environment and playground activities and the general routine work of the school. 2. Interchange of work in all classes to indicate the standard to be aimed at. 3. The encouragement of correspondence between pupils in the same class in each school. 4. Suggestions as to the best method to be adopted in teaching the various subjects of instruction. 5. Suggestions for a suitable occupation, and busy work for the pupils in the primer classes. 6. Advice forwarded regarding difficulties in class management, class discipline, teachers’ relations with the committees and parents, etc. 7. Detailed schemes forwarded in history, geography and Nature study. 8. Suggestions as to the methods to be adopted in the teaching of drawing, writing, and singing. 9. Suggestions for suitable books for the school library, and for use as supplementary readers. In many cases reading books were sent. 10. Examination tests sent as a guide to the standard to be secured. 11. In many cases full teaching notes were sent on several subjects. 12. Suggestions as to the teacher’s place in the community. That gopd results have followed from the scheme is proved by the fact that the head masters of the “parent” schools have noted as the year progressed a distinct improvement in the work of the adopted school. The inspectors on their visits to the schools have also commented on the improvement. The cost of the scheme during 1926 was £3 8s lid, consisting of postal charges on letters and parcels of papers forwarded. More than 70 per cent, of the teachers of “parent” and adopted schools expressly desired to make no charge, the former stating that tiiey had been amply repaid by the satisfaction they received in affording assistance, and by the letters of appreciation from their foster children, while the teachers of adopted schools stated that anything they had had to pay was more than compensated for by the help they had received. One of the latter tersely wrote as follows: —“The cost of postage is a minus quantity compared with the value I have received.” While another stated: A correspondence school usually charges for instruction. . . The board has expressed its appreciation to Mr Garrard, and has approved of the scheme being continued.