AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The potato crop at the Chatham Islands j is promising. A considerable area has been j planted in anticipation of a possible shortage in New Zealand, and some hundreds of ; tons Trill soon be xeady for the market. j A resident ef Napier has i^atentctl tun ( arrangement that no dcubt will come into ; general use by a largo number of pastoral- ', ists. The idea is a self-locking staple for J use in wire-fencing or in hanging wire-net- ; ting. By issans of c slotted plate, which is fitted on to a staple, one point of which only is embedded m the posts, the wire can fee easily xemoved by raisiug the plate upv/arfls. On replacing the wire the plate ; falls again into position, and relocks the i •wire, ll'bis arrangement is socially suit- j able for changing stock from one paddock j to anothc -without having to waste time ; in going roucd to where the gates are swung. In fact, in a number of instances it . would do awaj with the necessity of gates altogether. The new plate and staple can be manufactured cheaply. The attention of Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., has been drawn lo the fact that a large area of poor country in Southland district is covered with dense manuka timber, wbicb reaches a height ef 40ft or 50ft. He learned from a local manufacturer (cays the Lyttelton Times) Ihat this timber was .vary suitable for shafts of drays and other 1 things. It is a.so .very good- firewood,,,] but -on account; of. the high railwaycharges j it was impossible" to place it on the market. } Consequently, settlers tfere burninjr and "destroying this valuable timber. Mr EH - co'mmunicafced with the Minister -of Lands, ailing his • attention to -what Tvas taking place, and urging him to take such stops as might be necessary to prevent the destruction. He has received a reply from the Mink-ter. stating that he was making inquiries as to whether the timber mentioned was being destroyed in the manner suggested, and what steps had beet bo taken to prevent ir. Mr Ell also wrote, calling the .Minister's attention to the fact that Southland birch" was largely used in the manufacture of chair frames end foi' othor j purposes. The Minister thanked Mr 3* 11 for the suggestion that tho forests should be reserved, and statpd that the Southland Commissioner of Crown Lands had hren communicated with in order that arrangements might be made for carrying out the suggestion.