TEMUKA “RAINS BROUGHT NEW LIFE”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21183, 2 November 1938, Page 4

TEMUKA “RAINS BROUGHT NEW LIFE”

Good Farming Season Expected Wheatgrowers Express Optimism Cultivation in Full Swing Following one of the most disastrous seasons in the history of farming in this country, farmers throughout the whole of the Temuka district are certain that if warm weather, with occasional showers, continues, they will be able to Indemnify themselves for the losses they have suffered. Everywhere cultivation is in full swing, crops are well up to the best standards, and there is a greatci feeling of optimism amongst the farming community than for some time past. Farmers in conversation with a reporter of “The Timaru Herald” were unanimous in their opinion that the recent rains have meant their salvation. Early this year continuous rains (the rainfall for the first six months was the heaviest this century) swept away all chance of farmers reaping any harvest. Crops were battered to the ground, root crops rotted, stock lost condition and footrot and worms caused concern, for the growth that was expected to make an abundance of winter feed was trampled into the mud. There was very little hay saved and even that was in poor condition. Farmers Work Overtime With the wanner weather which came in August and September fanners were able to get back to their cultivation. When the fine weather broke through and the land was in fit condition to work, farmers in all parts of the district toiled from daylight until dark to make up some of the time they lost. Even darkness did not stop some of them, and in many parts of the district tractors were heard chugging well into the night as. with lights fitted to their tractors, they carried on with their ploughing. But their worries were not over. In August only 38 points of rain fell. There was a good fall at the beginning of September, but the ground had started to dry out quickly. Towards the middle of October deterioration among wheat crops, a shortage of green feed for ewes and lambs and general impoverishment to pastures was threatened by the spell of hot dry weather. The need for rain became more and more evident as crops and pastures began to fade. A moisture content in the soil of 25 to 30 per cent is considered necessary for the establishment of good healthy crops, but in parts it dropped as low as 10 per cent and water had to be admitted to three races of the Levels Irrigation system to relieve the position. AU Farming Benefits Rain in the last two weeks has, to quote one farmer, “brought new life." The fall will benefit all branches of farming and coming after such a spell of dry weather it is particularly welcome. Civen plenty of sunshine with occasional showers from now on crops, pastures and stock will rapidly grow healthy. During the past few weeks a large acreage has teen sown down in the Temuka district. Crops in the Winchester, Ortcn, and Waitohi districts are looking well. At Winchester there appears to be a good quantity of wheat down, but the area in oats is not so great. The strawberry crops are picking up quickly. Thsre was a good flowering and the fruit is setting well. There is every prospect of the raspberry crop being up to the average; the canes are healthy and promise to bear good fruit. Farmers have noticed that weeds do not appear to have grown so quickly as usual this season. Clover Good Clover in Winchester is making wonderful progress. A noticeable growth has taken place on all top-dressed lands which are producing healthy pastures. Patches of clover and grass, however, have been affected by porina grub. There is plenty of grass in the Orton district. Root crops are striking well and with plenty of warm weather should fill out steadily. The rain has made a wonderful difference to crops of rape and turnips and a good strike seems assured. Late crops and spring wheat are flourishing. Considering the conditions under which it was sown the autumn wheat is doing well and farmers generally are satisfied with the crops. Tire pastures in the dairying areas at Clandeboye and Milford are showing good growth, but plenty of sunshine is necessary to harden the feed and give it body. Position at Seadown At Seadown a good area of land which lay under water all winter is being tilled and there is every prospect that the crops in that district will prove satisfactory Some farmers believe however, that tlie land may have been adversely affected by the waterlogging and that -rops and pastures will ot thrive. Tire sowing of rape and turnips in areas has been held up temporarily by the rains, which should, however, do a lot of good. The clay sub-soil in tills district allows the water to remain near the surface for a considerable time before draining away, and this has made cultivation difficult because the ground has dried out hard and lumpy. With the recent rains cultivation should be easier and the soil should settle down with plenty o. cultivation, farmers say. The dry weather ma; have meant worry for the wheat grower, but the sheep -armer found it Ideal. Shearing on the downs lias had u good start and a good many of the dry sheep on the smaller lots have been shorn. Autumn Wheat Uprooted In Rangitila Valley most of the autumn wheat sown has been taken out because of the poor strike and the slow progress it made. The lambs on the downs are thriving and there is plenty |

ot feed. Warm weather is indeed needed to harden up the pastures which are inclined to be soft. Very few root crops have as yet bean sown in this district. The prospects for fat lambs are excellent. So far, the major sowing of potatoes has not begun. In the Ashburton area, however there have been some big crops put down already and one r’ominent grower stated yesterday that the area in potatoes this season would probably be bigger than for some years past. Only small crops have been sown in the Rangitata and Seadown areas. Following a dull day on Monday, rain began to fall heavily ; esterday morning and continued throughout the day. At 4 pan. yesterday half an inch had been recorded in Temuka. Most of the water is being absorbed ty the soil and there is very little surface water. The Opihi and Temuka rivers are hardly affected. OBITUARY MR H J. O’LO.IGHLEN The death occurred on Sunday of Mr Herbert Jervis O’Loughlen. manage: of the Temuka branch of the Bank of Australasia. The late Mr O’Loughlen, who -was a prominent figure in Temuka, was born at Richmond near Nelson, 51 years ago. He received his early education at Marton, Christchurch and Hawera. He also attended the New Plymouth High School and about 1904 joined the staff of th? Bank of Australia. Mr O'Loaghlen se-ved at branches in Auckland, Te Puki, Moto Motu and Te Kuiti before coming to Temuka. His first managership was at Motu, and he was appointed to the Temuka branch in succession to Mr W. B. Sutcliffe, a little more than a year ago. Mr O’Loughlen, who is survived by his wife and three children served in the Great War. In each town he lived in he was well known for his interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Lodge St. George, No. 29. ! The funeral at which he was accorded military honours, took place yesterday. The bearers were: Messrs H. Wilson, L. Nicholas and Guy C. Tully (Temuka R.S.A.), and Messrs J. Da'is, A. E. Smith and A. Meek, representing the Lodge St George. AMATEUR ATHLETICS FIRST NIGHT OF CHAMPIONSHIPS The first championship meeting of the Temuka Amateur Athletic Club was held in the Domain on Monday night. The results were as 'ollow: Senior 100 Yards: M. Hayes (Byds), 1; J. Drennan (6yds), 2; L. R. H. Wilson (scr), 3. Time—ll 3-ssec. 440 Yards: J. Drennan (20yds), 1; M. Hayes (30yds), 2; L. R. H. Wilson (scr), 3. One Mile: J. Spillane (110yds), 1; J. Nolan (110yds), 2; F. Sullivan (75yds), 3. Time—4min 56 2-ssec. Junior 100 Yards: G. Leonard (scr), 1; M. Scott (scr), 2; J. Kernohan (2yds), 3. Time —11 l-ssec. One Mile: O. Burt (200yds>, 1; D. Boyd, 2. Women 75 Yards: B. Washington (6yds), 1; N. Beeby (10yds), 2; L. Counihan (10yds), 3. Time —9sec. LICENSING POLL FINAL RETURNS The final returns for the licensing poll in the Temuka electorate, which have been supplied by the Returning Officer, Mr L. W. Parrant, are as follow: Continuance 5953 State Control 430 Prohibition 3208 Informal 174 VITAL STATISTICS A feature cf the vital statistics. for October is the increase in deaths over the same month last year. The figures supplied by the acting-Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages (Mr F. A. Taylor), with those for the corresponding month last year, are as follow: Births 12 ill); deaths 12 (1); marriages 3 (1). WOMEN’S INSTITUTE A successful “Bring and Buy” in aid of the Makogai Leper Fund was organised at the October meeting of the Waitohi Women's Institute, Mrs M. Nolan presided over a large attendance of member':. A competition was won by Mrs D. Kennedy. Afternoon tea was served by Mesdames W. McKinnon and D Kennedy and Miss Doherty. Winners of the monthly competitions were: Best bloom. Mrs Stratford 1. Mrs Doherty 2. Polyanthus. Mrs Stratfc-d 1, Mrs Doherty 2. Baby’s frock, Mrs M. Nolan 1. “COCOANUT GROVE" The world’s most famous nightclub is brought to the screen for the first time in Paramount’s “Cocoanut Grove,” the new fill.) coining to-night to the Elite Theatre. Distinctly new type of film fun is presented in this gay romance that rev Ives about the trials, tribulations, and the final success of an unknown swing band trying to break into the actual Cocoanut Grove, Mecca of all young band-leaders. Fred Mac Murray, last seen with Carole Lombard in “True Confession,” is starred as the swing-happy young band leader. His lovely leading lady is radio thrush Harriet Hilliard who plays a role in the picture identical with her occupation in real lit-. She is Mrs Ozzie Nelson, and sings with her husband's band.