POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES.

Small Items. — Gravel is needed by fowls to enable them to triturate their food. Sunflower seeds give n glossto the feathers and fat to the body. Linseed is good also in the same way. Hard grain should be fed in the evening, and mushy food in the early morning. Milk for Poultry..— All kinds of poultry are very fond of milk, and it appears to make no difference to them if it is sour and thick and clobbered. The waste from the cheeseroom or the buttermilk from the churn is excellent food, especially is freshly mixed with meal of any sort.

StjiiPHtjb. — Sulphur exists in good quantity in feathers and in the eggs of fowls, and where the birds are enclosed in yards it seems reasonable that a certain proportion of sulphur should be given. Of course, if sulphur-containing food is supplied, such as cabbage leaves, it is better than the crude article. Lime is also needed, and this can be given in solution in water.

Limb.— lt takes but a few minutes to fill an old iron vessel or wooden trough with lime and place it in one corner of the poultry yard, but when this is done there will be no more complaint of softshelled eggs. The like slakes and becomes hard, with probably an outer coating of dust, but the hens remember where it is and what it is good for, and if you look at it now and then you will see the fresh print of their bills.

Chcken Choleea. — This disease causes the fowls to sit on their tails and die. Their faces look white, their eyes sunken, and they look "anxious." The principal symptom is in their droppings, which are watery, greenish, and sometimes with mucus. The' cure is to change the fowls to another spot. Give them really cool, clean water — some tonic may be added — and give green vegetable food. The sick fowls must be kept separate from the rest, and be fed upon nutritious stimulating food, with pure cold water, and some green vegetable food.

Table Fowls.— ln large centres of civilisation great numbers of fowls of about 9 to 11 weeks old are used under the name of " broilers." At this stage they are very tender, and can be sold at a good profit. Of course each poultry breeder raises a considerable number, since it takes as much time to attend to half a dozen broilers as to 200 or 300, except in the matter of picking and dressing. The poultry are generally taken directly to the hotels, restaurants, <ko. ready dressed for the spit. The Dorking crossed upon Indian game or upon Brahmas or some other good breed gives the best table fowl, whether for broils, roasts, or for cooking in any other way. There ought to be an opening for some enterprising man in this line of budnees.

Mr F. Rogen, one of the firm of Rogen and 00., Zealandia Poultry Farm, Wellington, New Zealand, writes us (Australasian) :— " I am sorry to say I will not be able to come over to your next show, as I am importing a new lot of birds for next year's breeding, and will have to be at home to look after them. You know what attention imported buds require. I have just landed two pairs of black- red game from Mr W. H. Gulliver, oF Southampton. They are grand specimens : good colour, shape, and style. They have landed in splendid condition, and I ought to breed something good from them, I have had a very successful breeding season, and have over 600 chickens, all doing well," We shall miss Mr Rogen's visit to our show, as the stock he brings is always first-class. We must hope, however, that in the following year he will be among us with the progeny of his new importations, and if they are as good as usual he will be certain to leave some of them behind him at satisfactory prices.

Flobiletb!— Fob tkb Troth ahd Bbutk.- A few drops of the liquid " Florlline " sprinkled on a w«t tooth-brush produces a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites ot impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly whiteness, and a delightful fntgraHce to The breafcb. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco-smoke, " The Fragrant Floriline," being epmposed in part of honey and sweet herb*, Is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet digoovary of tbe age. Price as 6d, of all OhemUtaaad Perfumer*. Wholealo styptt 81 farringtiM fMd, boadoa.— {Adyv4

Waikouaiti county council. , The ordinary meeting of this county council was held in the Council Chambers, Hawksbury, a on the 26th '.It, at which there were present* the chairman (Mr James Green;, and Crs J. C. Buckland, W. J. Bolt, J, Crichmore, J. Porteous, and J. D. Ritchie.

PETITION,

A petition was received from five ratepayers in the Pine Hill district, calling attention to about three chains of the road formed, but left unmetalled, about two years ago, in block VIII, North Harbour and Blueskin district, which was represented to be impassable in winter. In addition to having this portion of road metalled, the petitioners asked to have a few chains adjoining repaired. The council regretted that the funds would not admit of the work asked for being carried out, but agreed to break and spread metal driven by the petitioners to repair the worst parts of the road, at a cost not exceeding £4, the inspector being authorised to carry out the work.

FINANCE.

The Finance Committee reported the examination of accounts for the month amounting to £264 10s, which they recommended for payment.

CONTBACTS.

The following tenders were opened for work advertised by the council, and the lowest in each instance accepted:— Contract 432, formation and metalling on Seacliff road, near Guild's— Bond and Reid, formation £4, metalling 33 9d per yard ; John Allan, £5, and 4s lOd per yard ; W. Kendall, £5 4s and ds; Ord and Yeoman, £8 and 4s per yard. Contract 433, formation and metalling on Warrington road, near Masterton's — Bond and Reid, formation £i 10s, metal 4s per yard; W. Rendall, £5 15s and 5s 3d per yard ; T. Hourston, £5 17s 6d and 4s 9d per yard ; John Allan, £7 and 4s 9d ; T. Brown, metal only, £17 10s. Contract 434, metalling and gravelling on Warrington road, near Gardiner's — T. Hourston, metal 4a lOd, gravel Is Id per yard ; John Allan, metal 4s lid, gravel Is 3d per yard ; John Rendall, metal ss, gravel Is 5d per yard ; T. Brown, metal £13 10s, gravel 2s 6d per yard. Contract 435, repairs to bridge on Telegraph road, Blueskin— William Pullar, £24 10s; John Rendall, £28 14s; T. Brown, £39 ss. Contract 436, tarring bridges, Waikouaiti river — T. Brown, £5; John Rendall, £7 15a; Ord and Yeoman, £10; L. Bradley, £16. — Adopted.

inspectob's bepobt.

The Inspector's monthly report on the state of the roads in the coanty thus referred to them :— ln the North-Bast Valley riding the roads were in good order, except the Pigeon Flat road, and called for no special comment. In the Blueskin riding the usual attention had been paid to the roads by the Burfacemen and they were in good order, except the WaifcatiWakari road. The Main road and Quarry road would be dealt with by a special report. Contract 424 had been completed. In the Merton riding the roads had had the usual attention paid them \ and contraot 409, on Clyma's road, was about completed. In the Hawksbury riding, the decking of the Waikouaiti bridge had been re-covered, and about 20 new and secondhand planks had been placed across the bridge to support the beams and fasten t the] decking, which was now solid and firm ; 700 ft of timber, in addition to what was in hand, had to be obtained. Contraots 431 and 428 had been completed, and contract 430 was progressing favourably. '<

Waitati-Wakari road.— Abont three and a-hali miles of the upper portion of this road, from the end of the metal at Wallace's to the saddle,, required ear facing, and about $0' chain of scrub catting down alongside the toad, which got very wet and soft daring the winter, and if surfaced nowUt would have a chance of draining. Gost of surfacing estimated .at. £12 per mile, and cutting scrub £9.— The inspector was instructed to repair about one mile of the worst portion of the road near Mr Wallace's, and to call for tenders for same by next meeting. Quarry road, Blueskin.— This road had been carefully examined, and an estimate of the cost from its junction with the Manse road fora distance of 139 chains which required repairing and the scrub out and removed. To Surface the road, repair the culverts, and pot in a new one (there being about five chains of formation with ditch), would cost about £30. — The inspector to modify plan and estimate to suoh an extent as to provide for repairs of the worst portion at a cost not exceeding £15, and tenders to be called for the same by next meeting. Pigeon Flat Road.— This road was not very bad, but required about 50 chains of scrub out off the Bide, and about 100 chains of the road surfaced, which could be done by contract. Tenders were recommended to be called for the work, and the estimated cost given at £15. — Tenders to be called for the work.

Waitati Township. — The bridge crossing the stream at Brown street, Waitati, required renewing. To do this in stone, 15ft span, would cost £83, but as the stream appeared to carry lees water than formerly, the inspeotor was of opinion that a bridge of less span would answer the purpose. He recommended a pile bridge with iron rail girders, at an estimated cost of £27. — The council resolved to construct a pile bridge as suggested. Quarry Road, Hawksbnry.— The improvements proposed ta this road when carried out would complete it to Hallam's gate, for which plans and specifications had been prepared. Plans and specifications for that portion of Clark's road past the junction of MAuleys road had been prepared, and when carried out would complete it from the far end of Flag Swamp to the Main road. The estimated cost of the work was £45. — The council resolved to call for tenders for the work on Quarry road as far as Hallam's gate, and that portion of Clark's road, near MAuleys junction.

COBEBSPONDENCE.

From Messrs Richardson and M'Donald, Beaconsfield, drawing attention to the road leading from Main road at Dodd's to Marshall's Hill, which required surfacing, nothing having been done to it for over two years. — The inspector was authorised to attend to the work.

From the Land Office, Danedin, requesting to be furnished with particulars of roads in the connty in which moneys accruing from certain sections in the Waikonaiti district had been reserved. — The clerk was requested to furnish the information.

From Mr C. Reid, Flag Swamp, applying to have a few chains of road gravelled between seotions 2 of 13, block 111, and 12, block 11, and offeriog to supply the gravel free and to drive it oa the road with two drays, provided the council paid the drivers' wages of 5s per day. — The offer was accepted, and the inspector was instructed to have the work done.

From Mr D. H. Carey, secretary to the Lower Harbour School Committee, reminding the conncil of a promise made re road leading to the Lower Harbour school. — The inspeotor was instructed to put a man on to repair the worst portions of the road referred to.

From Mr D. O'Halloraa, Wailroaaiti, asking the council to form and metal about 10 chains of the track loading to his property, section 10, block V, Merton district, known as the Shabby bridle track. — Resolved — "That the Land Board's consent be requested to the road coloured 'green on the plan, being one on which the counoil can spend laud revenue, andjm

i obtaining such consent the inspector to be instructed to prepare plan setting out the most urgently required work on said road." . . From it . Mr ! Mowers, Purakanui, calling attention to the danger of stones left on the edge of Sutherland's road in front of her house through cattle wandering on the road.— Received. From Mr C. Russell, Beacliff, asking to have » portion of the Bush road metalled, and offering to supply the requisite stones to do about four chains of the same near the top of the hill and leading down to the railway station.— The offer was accepted, and the inspector was instructed to get the metal broken and spread when drawn.

From the Charitable Aid Board, Dunedio, requesting to be supplied with the rateable value of the rateable property in the county ; also forwarding list of persons in the county in receipt of outdoor relief.— The clerk was instructed to furnish the information applied for; and the council decided to recommend that the relief to W. Apes, who bad recovered and was able to work, should be discontinued.

From the Property Tax department, Wellington, intimating that a vouoher had been sent to the Treasury for the payment of £375, being 75 per cent, of subsidy on rates collectable for the year 1890-91.— Received.

From the Cromwell Borough Coudoil, asking the council for a contribution of £2 towards the payment of costs in the appeal case gained by Nicholson on a conviction obtained by the council for a breach of the borough bye-laws.— • The council declined the application, baring no funds available out of which such a payment could be made.

OTHEB MATTEBS.

Resolved — " That the inspector and Cr Porteous wait upon Dr King, superintendent of the SeacliS Asylum, to ascertain what assistance he would reader in getting a portion of the road leading from the asylum to top of the hilL"

Resolved — " That the inspector be instructed to examine and report on the state of the road leading to the property of Mrs Weldon, Maori Kaik."

Resolved—" That tenders be called for metal* ling about 10 chains of road from Parakanai, between Home's and the Mihiwaka Railway station."

Resolved— " That the offer of Messrs Allan and Kenyou to cart rotten rook to repair the worst portions of Kenyon's road, Merton, be acoepted, and the inspector be instructed to supply two men."

SPECIAL MEETING.

The council held a special meeting, the same members being present, when it was resolved to confirm the bye-law relating to traction engines.