WAKEFIELD.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11938, 18 May 1907, Page 4

WAKEFIELD.

( From our own Correspondent. ) The opening meeting of the Wakefield Literary Society took place in the Sunday School room on Tuesday evening, the President, Mr Alex. Kobertson, in the chair. The Secretary, Dr Hamilton, read last; year's minutes (which were confirmed), and he explained that the syllabus was not yet completed. The evening' was devoted to ' ' impromptu speeches, ' ' sixteen papers being handed in and twelve of these discussed. Between sixty and seventy persons were present, and we were pleased to see our old friend Mr O'Connor, from Appleby, and his friends present. The debate for next Tuesday, "Insurance Companies versus Friendly ! Societies, " is to be opened by Mr i W. Smith, while Mr Ivo Tunnicliffe j champions the Friendly Societies. The members of the various Friendly Soiceties are invited to attend. The weather is just lovely— sunny days and frosty nights. The usual monthly meeting of the WakeSeld Branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union was held in the Oddfollows' Hall on Tuesday evening, ' Mr I. Tunnicliffe (President) occupying the chair. There was a fairly good attendance. An invitation to ' farmers to attend at the local Tecbn cal School was received from Mr Bruce, the Agricultural Science Instructor, for the purpose of hearing something with regard to manures. Mr Bruce has fixed next Monday night for this purpose. It was unanimously resolved to accept the invitation. Mr Q. E, Field gave some very valuable information, based on his own personal experi--1 ence, on the use of manures, and , said that he had raised the yield on his farm as much as from twenty to 1 thirty bushels per acre by the judicious and liberal use of manures. This is where an experimental farm would be of use as an object lesson. There are no leas than seven such farms in tho North Island, and not one in the South. Under the circumstances there is ample justification for the present agitation to get a farm establishgd in the Nelson district. The President informed the meeting that there were steps being taken to have the conference with the members of Parliament for Nelson and Motueka held on June 3rd, the Farmeis' Union Field Day, on the ground, and that the deputation promsed to be strongly representative of the whole district. The vexed question of small birds was discussed, the meeting being unanimously of opinion, that operations for their destruction, or rather means of keeping them in check, should be commenced at once. Mr T. Gibbs volunteered to see Cwhat he could do with the County Council, and report next meeting, The meeting then adjourned.