TEMUKA POTATO CROP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21323, 18 April 1939, Page 3

TEMUKA POTATO CROP

Yield Below Average Digging in Progress Inquiries in and around the Temuka district yesterday, disclosed that although potato digging is not general, many farmers have gathered their crops. It is anticipated by growers that this season’s yield throughout New Zealand will be below the average, and so far this has been borne out by the returns to hand.

At Rangitata Island, Mr F. H. Ruddenklau has commenced digging operations and so far as he can judge the yield will be between four and five tons of table potatoes to the acre. The average yield for the district in an ordinary year is seven tons. Taking a line on his crop, Mr Ruddenklau said that there was no reason to believe that the average for the district of Rangitata would be greater than his own. Althogh he thought that a larger area had been sown this season, the poor yield and the lifting of the Australian embargo on New Zealand potatoes should induce a hardening on the market, and this in some measure would compensate for the poor returns. Although the main crop would not be dug until the end of the month, Mr J. F. Cairns said that the yields so faiin the district between Temuka and Orari had been fair to good.

CHURCH SERVICES HARVEST THANKSGIVING Harvest Thanksgiving services were observed in all Church of England churches throughout the parish on Sunday. Services at St. John’s, Winchester, Holy Trinity, Arowhenua and St. Peter’s, Temuka, were all well attended and appropriate sermons were preached by the Rev. L. A. Barnes. The gifts of produce and goods from the parishioners were forwarded to the St. Saviour’s Orphanage, Timaru. FARMERS’ UNION WOMEN’S DIVISION The election of officers at the annual meeting of the Candeboye branch of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union resulted as follows: President, Mrs G. A. N. Bolderston; vice-president, Mrs L. Phiskie; secretary, Miss W. Livesey; treasurer,

Miss M. Kyne; delegates to the South Canterbury Executive, Mrs Bolderston, Mrs Phiskie, Miss W. Livesey; committee, Mrs Dobson, Mrs Mulligan, Mrs Adair, Miss E. Boocock. Arrangements were made t' hold the anniversary social on May 25. A competition (specimen bloom) resulted: Miss M. Kyne and Miss W. Livesey, equal 1, Miss W. Livesey 2. Hostesses were Mrs Bolderston, Mrs G. Wallace and Miss Phiskie. METHODIST GUILD MONTHLY MEETING The returns from the Harvest Festival serveies, Harvest Tea and Sale held last month were most gratifying, the sum of over £22 being realised. This was disclosed at the monthly meeting of the Methodist Ladies’ Guild, presided over by Mrs H. G. Brown. The speaker for the afternoon was Mrs W. Hewson, who gave a talk on her recent visit to Australia. Souvenirs she had brought back were handed round for inspection, and at the conclusion of the talk, Miss Brown thanked Mrs Hewson on behalf of the Guild. Readings were given by Mrs Lee, Mrs Brown and Miss Brown. Mrs Bell was appointed sick visitor on behalf of the Guild. Afternoon tea was served, the hostesses being Mesdames Dale and Brown.

PERSONAL Miss N. J. Gibb returned y .terday from Greymouth. Mr G. Simpson returned to Dunedin yesterday. Mrs R. Duncan left yesterday for Oamaru. Mr N. Lindsay, who spent the weekend with his parents, Mr and Mrs D. J. Lindsay, Birkett Street, returned to Dunedin yesterday. Mr L. M. Johnson, of the staff of the P.W.D., Temuka, returned from the north yesterday. Mr G. Morland left by the afternoon express for Wellington yesterday. Mr W. Breese left yesterday for Wellington. The Temuka Technical Classes Association will commence its woolclassing class to-night at 7.30 under the supervision of Mr J. Farrell.

Mr W. B. Bland. F.8.0.A. (Hons.), F. 1.0. (London), representing Procter’s the Premier Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Temuka, and may be consulted on the defects of eyesight at the Temuka Hotel, on Monday, April 24, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Appointments can now be made by ringing the U.F.S. Dispensary, ’phone 240 M