WOODLANDS NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21854, 3 November 1932, Page 3

WOODLANDS NOTES

RAINFALL FOR OCTOBER. (From Our Correspondent). The rainfall at Woodlands for the month just ended is the lowest recorded since March 1932, when 1.32 inches for 16 days rain was registered as compared with 1.38 inches for 11 days for this October. The wettest day’s rain is registered for 15th when .38 inches fell. This with 31 and 33 points on. 6th and 7th respectively accounts for 1 inch of the total fall making the fall over the remaining days very slight indeed. As can only be expected after a comparatively dry month following on a dry September more rain would be appreciated, especially by the dairy farmers. The warm dry weather is ideal for sheep and lambs, for it not only keeps them in better condition but the warm sunshine stimulates the quantity of yolk in the fleece, giving the wool better handling quality and therefore a higher value. Dairy cows however feel the lack of that rank growth of luscious spring feed which is only in evidence with a plenteous supply of moisture. On many sheep farms dry sheep are now entering the shearing shed and as far as can be ascertained the quality of the wool is above the average of former years. The daily intake of milk at the dairy factories around this district is above that for the same time last season, but the increase is due to larger numbers of cows being milked rather than due to better yields per cow. The prices offering for cheese etc., is practically same as those quoted at end of last season. The automatic stoker recently fitted in the Woodlands dairy factory is a most ingenious machine for it automatically stops supplying fuel to the furnace when the pressure in the boiler reaches lOOlbs per sq. in. and recommences . again when the pressure falls to 951bs per sq. in. Part of the extra installation is a steam blower which causes extra draught through the box when put into operation and this ensures that all fuel entering the furnace is used up and with the automatic stoker and blower there is now none of those spasmodic clouds of black smoke emitting from the stack as there was before this latest invention was fitted. The three most important advantages of the stoker is that it ensures a steady pressure; it uses all fuel entering the furnace with no waste whatever and it gives the factory another hand in allowing the assistant who formerly did the stoking etc. to carry on with other duties. Women’s Division. The Woodlands branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union met in the hall on Friday afternoon when there was an attendance of twenty-six. Mrs J. Middlemiss presided. Thirteen new members were enrolled. An exhibition of needlework from the Mabel Bush-Hedgehope spring show was held and the work greatly admired. For the roll call each answered with “A gardening hint” and many useful ideas were suggested. The hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames R. McKenzie, H. Anderson, H. Robertson and E. Hargest who supplied a dainty afternoon tea. At the next monthly meeting Mr Leith will give a demonstration on decorative cake-icing. Personal. Miss Agnes Schmidt left on Saturday to take up a position on the nursing staff of the Southland Public Hospital. Mr Ewen Agnew who has sold his farm to Mr T. Rutherford (jnr.) of Invercargill was the guest at a social evening in the hall on Saturday evening. A pleasant time was spent in speeches covering a lengthy toast list, interspersed with music and vocal items. On behalf of those assembled Mr T. Lyall presented Mr Agnew with a small gift for Mrs Agnew and himself. He voiced regret at the guests’ departure from the district and wished them every success in the future. After other speakers had endorsed and supplemented Mr Lyall’s remarks, Mr Agnew briefly replied, thanking all for their gift and kind remarks regarding Mrs Agnew and himself. Mr Frank Remirch has been appointed to the staff of the Mataura Dairy Factory and commenced duties there last week. Mr Brown who bought the Woodlands store last year from Mr E. McCurdy has sold out owing to continued ill health.