COUNTRY ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 19

COUNTRY ITEMS.

Baort news paragraphs for this ooltunn us united from oon«. tponfcnts ana otters, Pott Oabds msy bt ated.

The Southland Meat Preserving Company are About to erect a factory at Lumtden. The Bttrlck Company's dredge has been taken down the river, where the maohinery is to be fixed on it. The bridge over the T6viot river bas undergone a thorough overhaul, and is onoa mote almost as good M n?w,

The Taieri Advocate says that grubs are doing a considerable amount of damage to the grass in the Otakia district, and several fields have suffered greatly thereby. A tree fell on Mr Bicbards, a Waiau settler, the other day, injuring him teverely about the legs, and inflicting a out on hit head .necesiitating his removal to the Invercargill Hospital. ' A man named Oaseerly, in the employ of Mr James Breen, of Maheno, was thrown from the top of a load of chaff at o»maru on the 24th uit. landing on his h*ad. He was taken to the hospital, where he is doing well. •Mr James Christie, formerly manager of the Islay estate, in the Mataura district, has been appointed an agent in the' Stock department, under DeputyInspector Turner, and will have charge of the Wyndham district. ■ A shuffling-up among the country postmasters is resulting from the recent classification. Mr J. A. Algle, of Baloiutha, changes placet with Mr W, M' Hutchison, of Biverton. Both are excellent officers, and the ohsnge will be regretted in each case by a large circle of friends. George Perry, a lad of 16, had his hand drawn Into contact with a oiroular saw at the wakapatu sawmill on the 24th uit. A couple of fingers had to be amputated, while the forefinger was badly injured. The Western Star says the lad is •' a regular brick, as lie bore the pain of amputation and stitching without a murmur. The Warepa Farmers' Club, in discussing the relative merits of the Government's taxation proposals and the property tax, came to the following decision :— " That in the opinion of this meeting the present tax Is preferable to the proposed one ; also that the valuation of large aud small properties should be more equable." T&e Tuapeka Farmers' Union has passed a resolution in favour of contributing to the cost of a competent lecturer on co operation, provided other clubs do likewise. The club resolved to request the member for the district to have a bill introduced this session compelling all sellers of artificial manure to give guarantees of quality and statements of the ingredient! of which lc la composed. The Oxford correspondent of the Christchuroh Presi writes : -" Farmers are suffering from the continual frost. Ploughed land ia ice-bound, and refuses to be disintegrated by the harrows, and there is yet much ploughing to bs done, and unleßs a ohange occurs grain-sowing will be much in arrears. (Strange to saj, though, Mr Bassett, of Woodstock, who occupies a cold clay farm at a much bigber altitude, has been- able to complete bis ploughing arid sowing, having been favoured with some nice warm northerly puffs from the hills. Water along the bases of the hills is still soaroe, but theßyre races are running handsomely." The Warepa Farmers' Club have a credit balance of £9 4s sd. In the annual report the chairman says -.-"With regard'to the club's work during the year, I will place befortf yoa-a resume iq as brief a j spaoe as possible. Considerable discussion has taken place on many subjects, the most important of I which are as follows:— (1) Analysis of manures: Shis matter was exhaustively disoussed and con-, siderable progress attained, and 1 trust further progress will 1 still be made, as the subject is likely to engross tbe attention of Parliament. (2) Amendment's of the Babbit Aot, w.hioh were opposed, by the club. (3) Bids of £d at wool sales : This matter is at present shelved, as the, executive committee' of the Farmers' Union have seen fit to take, no steps In the matter, being, I may s»y, in a' state of lethargy from which they nave not yet awakened, so that if further action is to be taken, it mutt rest with ourselves. (4) Employers' Union : Up action was taken in this matter. (5) Programme of the Protection League of Dunedin : This was vigorously taken up by the dvb 1 , but again the executive Were in the background, and ' nothing was done. (6) Cattle and Sheep Aot« The club's opinion on these'was-for-warded to Mr Mackenzie. (7), Effect of unibnlsm. on farming (by special 'request of Mr Maokenzle).t This question was exhaustively, discussed, and opinions unfavourable to such, a state of matters elicited. However, this matter will. lam Diire, come forward again', and I would suggest that comes of all acts and labour bills dealing with the. matter , be secured by the olub. (8) Daily, mails This was purely a' looal matter, whioh, I trust, although not carried to a successful issue will be further discuised. (9) Political platform of Farmers' Union : The club supported this, but as usual the executive allowed the matter toVdropV Seyeral papers weij© read N and exhaustively discussed during the year.— viz., 'The Trade Dispute,' by'Bev. G. B. Inglis 3 • Freetrade v. Protection,' by Mr Lamond; ' Co-operation,' by the president; and 'The small bird pest,' by Mr Stewart."