NOXIOUS WEEDS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4563, 22 April 1942, Page 5

NOXIOUS WEEDS

INSPECTOR’S REPORT USE OF WASTE PRODUCT At Monday’s meeting of the Waipa County Council the noxious weeds inspector (Mr G. M. Wall) reported as follows: Considerable time has been spent this month in attending to odd jobs which have been held over from the busy season.

The office staff have co-operated to the full during the year in conserving what stocks of materials we had on hand, with the result that there is still at the depot 9 tons 4cwt. of Atlacide and lime mixture, 30 tons 4cwt. of lime and four tons scwt. of Atlacide. Taking into consideration the small reserves various farmers have, this should help things for the coming year.

A large number of “Notices to Clear,” in regard to road frontages, have been sent out during the month and quite a good response has already been made.

Mrs Higgins’ property at Frankton has been inspected and unfortunately nobody has been home on two occasions I have called. The land adjacent to the boundaries has been inspected and the question of clearing a section adjoining the northern boundary has been taken up with the owner concerned. Regarding the trees damaged by fire this may have been due to a spark from a passing train, but was not on account of noxious weeds, as the area is still unburnt and reasonably clean. Considerable anxiety is being felt by farmers north of Auckland over the spread of South African grass, called Kikuyu grass. While I have not seen any of it in the County, too much publicity cannot be given the matter, for it is a real menace and spreads rapidly, being almost impossible to eradicate. WASTE PRODUCT

Cr G. S. Hall reported having communicated with the gas company in connection with the waste product for use as a weed killer, but as yet had received no reply.

Referring to the use of the solution prior to the last Council meeting, the Inspector stated that while the action on blackberry had not been very successful, he was pleased with the manner in which gorse had been browned. He thought the spray would be of value for footpath work in browning weeds, thus enabling them to be burnt. It was too early to give any opinion regarding further growth. Correspondence dealing with a Waipa remit to the New Zealand Counties’ Association in connection with a proposed amendment to the Noxious Weeds Act was received from the Association, and the Minister of Agriculture. After discussion, it was decided to forward the Minister’s letter to the Council’s solicitor for advice.