WAITOITOI-URENUI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 15

WAITOITOI-URENUI NEWS

LECTURES TO FARMERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) There was a good attendance at the second of a series of monthly lectures held in the Urenui Hall under the auspices of the Farmers’ Union. . The address on this occasion was delivered ny Mr. W. M. Webster, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., of the Agricultural Department, who dealt with sterility in cows and the important part played by top-dressing, herd management, etc., in coping with this trouble. There were many factors which played a prominent part in successful herd management, he said, one of the main ones being the replacement of culled cows with home-reared heifers. Bulls tethered during the season had given better results than those allowed to depasture with the herd. Breeding troubles were often attributable to faulty feeding methods. Cows chewing bones showed phosphatie requirements and evidenced the importance of adequate phosphatic top-dressings. The milk from each cow for a season averaged a half-hundredweight of lime phosphates. Divers licks made available for stock were recommended; that of steamed bone meal and common salt being greatly favoured. Salt and super-phos-phate sprinkled in the stack duiing hay-saving operations was also another method of making available a COW S requirements. 1 . ■ The importance, of an adequate prevision of supplementary fodder in the form of various concentrates for winter and early spring feeding until the o-rowth of grass commenced . was stressed by the speaker, the high mineral analysis of ryegrass and clover being of predominant importance in the assistance of high production and-coun-teracting of breeding troubles. Numerous questions were asked and' satisfactorily answered, Mr, Webster being- accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his able and interesting address. Refreshments were dispensed by members of the committee.

GENERAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS.

The residents of Urenui and surrounding districts have long felt the growing necessity of improvements being carried out in the town hall in keeping with the increasing demands made for its use. The revenue derived from rentals are inadequate to carry out the alterations necessary. At a public meeting convened by the hall trustees the following eocial committee was elected for the purpose of raising funds and assisting the trustees^with proposed alterations: Messrs G. Loveridge (chairman), W. Scott, Ron Pigott, F. Healey, D. Des Forges, F. Clark, A. Wiley, N. Bleakley, A. Halcombe, E. Rogers, G. N. Fuller, G. Smith, W. Smith and C. Hen wood (secretary). It was unanimously decided to suggest to the tiustees that the following ■ works be carried out immediately: (1) The main hall be match-lined as 'far as funds permit; (2) the dancing floor to be thoroughly overhauled; (3) sanitary arrangements in the men’s dressing-room attended to. The first effort to raise funds will take the form of a street mart to be held on the sale day, July 14 - - , L A most enjoyable dance, organised by Mesdames M. Fahy and Wilson, Waitara, was held in the Urenui Hall recently. Included amongst the 40 couples present were numerous visitors from surrounding districts. The music dispensed by Mesdames Waters and Locke (violins) and pianist was greatly appreciated, as was evidenced by the numerous demands for encores. Competitions were won by Mrs. J. Rockett, Mrs. J. Cain, and Messrs Shea and G. Murray. Mr. E. Waters was master of ceremonies and kept the dance moving inerTily. The Rev, J. H. Combes, of Knox Church, Waitara, who left for his new charge in Auckland on Tuesday morning, preached his farewell sermon in Urenui. After the service Mr. S. Topless, on behalf of the Bible class and friends, asked Mr. Combes to accept a study clock as a token of appreciation of assistance rendered the district during his term of office. Mr. Topless concluded by wishing the departing minister the success he merited in his new field of labour. ■Subsequently members of the Urenui branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association presented Mr. Combes with a smoker’s companion, Mr. J. Rockett (president of the branch) on behalf of his comrades expressed the regret felt at Mr. Combes’ impending departure. .His ever-ready help and counsel in the affairs of the branch would be greatly missed and all members joined in extending their best wishes. In furtherance of its campaign for funds the Urenui Plunket Society proposes to stage the first annual ball in the Urenui Hall on July 31. The ball will be presided by a fruit drive to be held in the hall on July 23. Considerable interest is being evinced in this season’s fields competitions, the judging of which is now being carried out by officers of the Agricultural Department. The district throughout is looking- particularly well' at present and stock on every hand appears to. have ample supplementary fodder available. Dairy cows should come into profit in good condition. On a number of farms two-year-old hay and ensilage stacks are being fed out and have opened in excellent condition. Pastures generally show evidence of increased attention and have shown a marked response to increased ton-dressing and harrowing. Root crops are well up to the average and there should be no shortage of feed this winter. There was a large attendance at the second of a series of fortnightly euchre parties and dances held in the Mimi School on Monday evening. The attendance of local residents was strongly reinforced by a contingent from Uruti, (Pukearuhe and Urenui, and closely contested games again resulted. Mr. Clmrlie Baker, with 10 games, secured the men’s prize, and Mrs. Ed. White fPukearuhe), Miss R. Fitzgerald (Uruti) and Miss Ann. Baker (Mimi), with 9 games each, tied for the ladies’■ trophy. Keen interest was evinced ini the play-off, the issue being in doubt until the last hand was played, the game ending in Mrs. Ed. White’s favour. Mr. J. Thompson had charge of the'tables. After supper was dispensed by willing helpers under the charge of Mrs. Geo. Baker, dancing was enjoyed to music supplied by Mr. and Mrs. R. Allen (aceordcon and piano). Mr. A. Zimmerman was master of ceremonies. . . Mr. and Mrs. W. R- Saunders, Kakaramea, returned home on Friday after a holiday with Mr. and Mrs, A. D. Carr, Urenui. Mr. Dan Jonas, Onaero, was a visitor to Christchurch recently, and witnessed the second All Blacks v. British test.