ROXBURGH NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 23

ROXBURGH NOTES.

ROXBURGH, February 27. Though rain has threatened several times during the past week, very, litle has fallen. Things are getting very dry, and 24 hours' rain would be most acceptable. The 1918 National Apple Show is to be held in Auckland. The Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association, at its last meeting, appointed! a committee to work the district in the interests of Otago, and the secretary was instructed to get into touch with Dunedin and the other associations. Mr J. Bennett and Mr J. H. Waigth, jun were appointed delegates to the Provincial Conference of fruitgrowers. Work in connection with the telephone exchange is still proceeding, and this week about 80 subscribers will be connected. At present the wires are being run through East, and then operations will be resumed on the line to Dumbarton. It is about a month since well over the requisite number of subscribers for an 8 a.m. to 8 p>.m. sex-vice were connected, and it was hoped the exchange would then be opened for service, but so far no intimation of such action haa been received, and subscribers are beginning to chafe at the delay. It is understood that the opening is being held up in Wellington. Tho Teviot Club rooms, which were publicly opened a few weeks ago, are being freely availed of by members, and it is anticipated that as soon as tho busy season is over and the nights get longer the attendance will be larger than it is at present. The rooms, which are situate in the centre of the town, leave nothing- to be desired as far as the personal comfort and recreation of members are concerned. A disease called "Rush" has made its appearance among the peach orchards in the district, and has wrought considerable damage among the late varieties. Its first appearance to any extent was in the spring, and growers whose trees were attacked found that the application of a weak solution of lime suk>huv was very effective. There was no further appearance to any extent until the mid-season varieties began to mature, and then it spread rapidly over most of the late peaches. It was practically impossible to spray, as the fruit was too far advanced, and as a sesult the disease has secured a strong grip of the . later varieties, some of which will be not worth picking. The past season has been moister than usual and favourable for the development of fungoid diseases, _ and probably this is responsible for the activity of this particular one. The purchase by the Government of Teviot Station Esta,to, together with its former purchase of Wcstcott's property, is regarded as a ggod omen for_ its intentions in the development of this district, and a» there are in each large areas eminently adapted for fruit-growing, the future prospects of this industry are very bright. While probably these properties are not as suitable for tho cultivation stone fruits as the more, favoured Teviot district, a few miles distant, they are equally adapted for

apple growing, and it is this branch of the industry to which special attention is being given at the present time. At the last meeting of the Mount- Benger Patriotic Committee, the special appeal for funds for the Y.M.C.A.’s operations at the front came up for consideration. The secretary was instructed to write for information as to the methods to be adopted for raising funds, and further action was left in the hands of a committee consisting of the Mayor and secretary (Mr A. H. Williamson} and Dr Qilmour. Tho balance sheet of the Patriotic Fund! for the year ended December 31, 1917, was presented by the secretary, and showed receipts as £619 and expenditure as £594. The principal item of receipts was the monthly collection, which represented £339. The Distress Fund showed a balance of £403 invested in the Savings Bank, and since tho year closed £l2 has been added for interest. Since the declaration of war the district has subscribed to different funds over £3OOO.