MIDDLEMARCH NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22057, 13 September 1933, Page 10

MIDDLEMARCH NOTES

CENTRAL OTAGO

(From Our Own Correspondent.) MIDDLEMARCH, September 11. < ANNUAL CONCERT. The annual concert and dance held for the purpose of augmenting the prize funds of the Strath-Taieri A. and P. Society was held in the hall on Saturday evening. The seating accommodation in the hall was taxed to its utmost capacity. The Concert Committee had the co-operation of Miss Ruby Baxter, who organised a party of Dunedin’s talented entertainers and presented a programme of songs, etc., which has rarely been excelled in Middlemarch. The programme consisted of songs by Miss Jess M’Millan and Messrs Roland Dunbar and Edward Ottrey, which were well received. The humorous' Scottish songs and stories by Mr George Currie were much appreciated, and the violin solos by Miss Aileen Smith were among the best items of the evening. The dancing of Miss Ethel Todd was most attractive, and Master George Reilly contributed the sailor’s dance and an Irish jig with equal success. Mjss Molly Baker delighted the audience with several recitations, and the vocal duets by: Misses Ruby Baxter and Jess M’Millan were excellent contributions to the programme. The comic sketches by Miss Baker and Mr Clarence Paine, were well received. The accompanists for the evening were-Miss Ruby Baxter and Miss Kathleen Wheelan. ' ■. i The vice-president of the A. and P. Society, Mr F. J. Keast, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Baxter and party for the excellent entertainment they had given and for having come from Dunedin to help the society. After the concert a dance was held. HERD-TESTING. The annual meeting of the Middlemarch group of the Otago and Southland Herd-testing Association was held in the A. and P. Hall on Thursday evening. The meeting was presided over by the chairman of the group committee (Mr W. J. Keast). Mr Hume, the Dominion organiser, and Mr Olson, secretary of the Otago and Southland Association, were present, and a very large number of members and those interested in the movement. The chairman presented the report of the result of last year’s testing, which showed a reduction of 341 b fat per cow. This he attributed to the unfortunate spell of dry weather which was experienced during January, February, March, and April. Notwithstanding this, there were four herds in the group which produced ovef 3001 bof fat—Mr F. J. Keast (13 cows, 375.771 b fat in 285 days) ; A. J. Robertson (8 cows,. 322.881 b fat in 241 days): P. M'Fadyen (31 cows, 311.771 b fat in 248 days); W. J. Keast (IT cows, 310.121 b fat in 278 days). The highest cow in the group belonged to Mr J. o. Elliot, and produced 5151 b fat in 204 da fhe report was approved, and the following committee was appointed to carry on for the current year:—Messrs W..J. Keast, A. J. Robertson. H. J. bmitp, John Elliot, and F. J. Keast. Following the annual meeting Mr Hume gave an interesting and instructive lantern lecture on the work connected with the herd-testing movement in New Zealand, and outlined what could be and what was being done by way of improvement in the herds by testing and culling. Numerous slides were shown of the hignest producers in the Dominion, and the lecturer stressed the necessity of,the use ot a sire from tested dams if improvement in the herd was to be maintained. After many questions had been asked and answered, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Hume for his instructive address. CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRICT. The district is looking exceptionally well, and lambing,, which is now in full swfng, is progressing satisfactorily, me rainfall for the month so far is only .four points, but there is an absence of wind.