GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18510, 6 March 1930, Page 11

GERALDINE

FARMERS’ UNION. A meeting of the Geraldine branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Tuesday evening. Present:—Messrs J. McLean (president), Markham, T. Wooding, J. Vance, D. E. Lewis and H. Hill. A motion of sympathy with the widow of the late Mr W. Ellery, of Belfield, who had passed away since the last meeting, was carried. The president remarked that the late Mr Ellery had always taken an interest in the affairs of the Union.

British Farmers* Visit. The chairman reported on the British farmers’ visit, stating that there had been inquiries concerning the personnel of the party, but he understood that this would be published in the “Herald,” before their arrival in South Canterbury. The party would arrive in South Canterbury from the south on March 21, alighting from the train at Studholme, from whence they would be taken for a drive in the Waimate district. They would be met at St. Andrews by a party from Timaru. They would be tendered a luncheon in the Bay Hall, and on the Saturday morning they would leave for Ashburton. Mr Wooding: “It is unfortunate that they could not have paid a visit to the Geraldine district.” Use of Lime Praised. A discussion arose on the value of liming, and the opinion was generally expressed that it caused a great improvement both to pastures and to root crops. Hogget Mortality. A circular dealing with hogget mortality was discussed, the president remarking that there was a good deal of this about in some parts of the district. A summary of the suggestions for prevention of hogget mortality contained in the circular —which was a lengthy one—was as follows:—(1) Wean lambs early on to clean pastures, if obtainable; (2) pastures which have been grazed by cattle are most suitable; (3) if clean pastures are not available, the lambs should be taught to feed from troughs before or after weaning, weaned on to the driest paddocks and supplementary feeding increased after weaning; (4) in wet seasons early dosing soon after weaning is advisable to be repeated as necessary; (5) avoid overstocking with the young animals; (6) the possibilities of greater sub-division of paddocks in case of luxuriant growth, and the utilisation of the herbage thereon as ensilage or hay offer greater possibilities for providing a clean area upon which to wean lambs; (7) where arable farming is carried out in the production of supplementary green crops, a clean area should be obtainable upon which to wean lambs; and (8) late lambs require more attention than early lambs, sick lambs being most difficult to treat. Mr Markham said that they should obtain stock bulletins and make them available for the perusal of farmers at anytime.

Experimental Plots. The president reported that the Agricultural Department required land for experimental plots—including wheat, potatoes, ryegrass, cocksfoot and white clover, also manure experiments. Some of those present said that they were prepared to offer land.

GLORIOUS WEATHER A glorious morning dawned yesterday following two days of rain, and everywhere the country had a springlike appearance. There is no shortage of pasture feed, and grass is springing away well from the stubble. Harvesting operations will probably be resumed to-day. Threshing mills are busy in many parts of the district. There were a good number of farmers in town yesterday, and the shops were kept fairly busy in the afternoon. The stock sale was well attended—at one portion of the day nearly a hundred and fifty cars, worth on a conservative estimate £30,000, were lined up outside the yards—but bidding was inclined to drag.

W.C.T.U. There was a good attendance of members at a meeting of the W.C.T.U. on Tuesday, and Mrs H. D. Neutze occupied the chair. Arrangements were made in connection with the Dominion convention which will be held in Timaru this month, and Mrs A. Borrell was appointed the delegate from Geraldine. It was decided that if possible a party would visit Timaru on March 21. It was decided to ask the Dominion officers—Mesdames Peryman and Hiett —to visit Geraldine at an early date. Afternoon tea was served before the gathering dispersed.

IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL. The headmaster of the Geraldine District High School has outlined a number of improvements that could be worked for at the school. These included the putting down of a lawn over the greater portion of the girls’ playground, to include basketball fields; also a cricket pitch for the boys; concrete paths to the conveniences, and a number of improvements in the primary school grounds. A gramophone and libraries for the class rooms were other things they could keep in view. At the new secondary school at Raukapuka, the paths needed forming, grass needed cutting, and a bicycle shed of some sort was very necessary. Extra accommodation for scientific apparatus was urgently needed, and shelves and cupboards were wanted. Two more typewriters were required, as eighteen pupils were sharing two machines. At the present time, the pupils were cleaning up the school gardens. When that -was done it was suggested that they return their attention to the grounds nearby, and that they make an attractive entrance. This would all take time, but when the schemes were placed into effect, the school would have surroundings second to none. Other needs included two sets of ambulance material and an aneroid barometer. Extra accommodation was required in the secondary department, and at the present time he was teaching a class of twelve In the shed. A new office was required at the primary school,, the present room being merely a teacher’s room, and entirely unsuited to the dual purpose, the headmaster’s records and material at present being distributed in five different rooms. Mr Porter, the Board’s architect, had seen the necessity for the new room, and suggested that the Board should build one against the present room. Many of the minor matters mentioned in Mr Barrell’s report were attended to, and it was decided to refer same to the Board, and to keep the rest in view.

CANCER RESEARCH. The following donations have been received at the Geraldine Borough Council office for the Cancer Research Committee’s funds:—Mr J. Kennedy, £2/2/-; Miss E. H. Tripp, £10; members Geraldine County Council, £3/10/-; Mr F. H. Fish, £2/2/-.

A DRAGGING SALE. There was a large entry at the Geraldine stock sale yesterday, but bidding was slow, and there was a dragging sale for all classes of stock. Farmers were present in good numbers, and the sale did not finish till about 3.30. There was a considerable drop in fats—which in many cases were not up to average standard —and fat lambs showed a decline of from ?td a lb, or a shilling a head all round. Stores dropped in sympathy with fats. Cattle sold well at current rates. The decline in values for “fats” no doubt had a depressing effect on the sale, and although there is seemingly a good quantity of feed in the district, it has not a great deal of substance owing to the heavy rains which caused it to become rank early in the season. One farmer informed a “Herald” representative that stock on light lands and land that had been limed had done best this season. Details of prices are as follows: — Fat Lambs—l 7 at 22/7, 20 at 24/5, 10 at 22/10, 21 at 22/4, 17 at 22/-, 6 at 16/3, 2 at 20/-, 10 at 19/4, 68 at 23/6, 60 at 23/6, 30 at 24/3, 25 at 22/6, 57 at 23/6, 35 at 25/-, 22 at 22/10, 66 at 23/6, 56 at 24/8, 10 at 24/-, 8 at 22/4, 33 at 23/11, 47 at 24/11, 80 at "22/10, 31 at 23/10. Fat Wethers.—l4 at 27/6, 1 at 25/-, 5 at 24/5, 104 at 25/3. Fat Ewes—3 at 15/3, 1 at 18/-, 13 at 16/-, 7 at 16/-, 15 at 16/9, 33 at 15/6, 8 at 14/10, 13 at 16/6, 27 at 17/1, 9 at 16/1, 11 at 16/6, 22 at 17/-, 12 at 16/4, 7 at 16/3, 4 at 19/-, 3 at 15/3, 6 at 15/-, 7 at 13/4, 35 at 16/-, 25 at 16/9, 14 at 17/7, 59 at 16/7, 18 at 16/8, 19 at 15/-, 11 at 15/10, 7 at 16/7. Ewes—l 23 6 and 8-tooth at 16/7, 26 f. and m. ewes 11/6, 269 f.m. and fiveyear Romney ewes 22/2, 100 two-tooth Romney ewes 29/9, 96 f.m. ewes 16/-, j 33 two and four-tooth ewes 24/6, 42 half-bred ewes 4/3, 71 English Leicester cross two-tooths 28/5, 94 Corriedale two-tooths 30/-, 90 1-bred two-tooths 24/-, 280 2-bred six and eight-tooth 18/6, 14 two-tooth ewes 27/3. Store Sheep.—24B rape lambs at 20/-, 7 two-tooth wethers 21/-, 48 cull lambs at 6/8, 34 two-tooth ewes 25/7, 39 m.s. lambs at 16/-, 35 at 18/-, 90 s.m. ewes at 18/9, 29 ewes at 12/6, 55 ewes at 15/1, 50 m.s. lambs 11/6, 25 m.s. lambs 17/6, 61 f.m. ewes at 12/4, 36 ewes at 21/9, 27 two-tooth ewes at 16/6, 41 cull two-tooth ewes at 16/-, 34 f.m. ewes at 13/9, 92 ewes lambs at 14/7. 179 rape lambs at 18/6, 212 rape lambs at 19/7, 8 cull lambs at 7/9, 101 store lambs at 17/3, 35 at 14/9, 53 small ewe lambs at 12/3, 150 two-tooth ewes 33/-, 80 twotooth ewes 30/-. Store Cattle.—l cow at £5/5/-, 5

heifers at £4/6/-, 3 steers at £3/10/-, 4 steers at £5/5/-, 3 steers at £6/7/6, 3 cows at £l/2/6, 1 cow in profit at £9/17/6. Fat Heifer.—l at £9, and 1 at £7/15/-.

PERSONAL ITEMS. Nurse G. Seymour, who for some time past has been a member of the staff of the Geraldine Maternity Hospital, has left for Cromwell. Mr J. Kennedy, Mayor of Geraldine, left last night to attend the Municipal Conference in Invercargill. Mrs W. Bell, “Waiwera,” accompanied by Miss V. Bell, left yesterday for Dunedin. Mr B. R. Macdonald returned to Geraldine from Christchurch yesterday. Mr B. Logan, who has been attending the Methodist Conference, is expected to return to Geraldine on Saturday.

LION HUNTS IN RHODESIA. “Lion Hunting in Rhodesia” was the subject of an address given to the Geraldine Boy Scout troop on Tuesday night by Mr Winsor Richards, the international croquet player, who is at present staying in Geraldine. Mr Richards dealt with his subject in an interesting manner, and told the Scouts of two of his acquaintances. Sir Robert Baden Powell and Cecil Rhodes. At the conclusion of the address, three cheers were given by the Scouts to their visitor, and words of appreciation were spoken by Captain A. W. McArthur and Scoutmaster D. Callanan.

FAREWELL SOCIAL. Prior to their departure from the Gapes Valley district, Mr and Mrs W. Weaver and Mr A. Priddle were met by a gathering of residents and neighbours, and made the recipients of presentations as a mark of the esteem in which they were regarded by their friends.

Mr W. Patrick, who acted as chairman, and other neighbours, spoke in eulogistic terms of the neighbourly qualities of their departing guests. Everyone in the district would be sorry to lose them.

Mr T. Masefield, the nearest neighbour, then presented Mr and Mrs Weaver with a beautiful dinner set, and Mr Priddle with an attache case, and made the Misses E. and G. Weaver each the recipient of a bracelet. Music for dancing was provided by Mr C. Gregan and Miss Gregan, and extras were played by Mr Fordray and the Misses Bigham and Johnson. Songs were sung by Messrs Brown and G. Fletcher, and bagpipe music was provided by Mr Fletcher. Mr Frank Priddle acted as M.C.

RANGITATA FISHABLE. Reports received in Geraldine yesterday stated that the Rangitata was again fishable for quinnat salmon. Quite a number of enthusiasts are enjoying the sport.