TUAPEKA FARMERS' UNION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4079, 28 February 1894, Page 3

TUAPEKA FARMERS' UNION.

The ordinary' meeting of the Tuapeka Farmers' Union was held in the schoolhouse, Tuapeka West, on Wednesday evening last. The attendance of members was not quite so large as it might have been. The President (Mr T. E. Williams) occupied the chair.

ROUTINE BUSINESS.

After business of a routine nature had been disposed of, and accounts amounting to £1 8s passed for payment, the subject relating to the formation of

A FABMEES' UNION for the four counties of Bruce, Taieri, Clutha and Tuapeka was dealt with. After some discussion, the Secretary was directed to write to the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, in whose hands the convening of a meeting of the proposed executive for such a union was placed, requesting to be supplied with' all available information y in reference to the progress of affairs. It was also decided to ask the opinion of the Waitahuna Farmers' |Glub. as to the desirability of calling another meetjng of the Executive, so as to hurry on the f ormation of the proposed Union. TffE HJSSSJAN ¥£Y. The President said he would suggest tjiat the Secretary write to the Agricultural Department calling attention to the general existence of the Hessian fly in the Tuapeka West district, and asking to be informed as to what steps the Department intend taking for the extirpation of Jb-e pest. S§eh^tb,at the Government had introduced a speqies of insect parasite, known as the natural enemy of the Hessian fly, he thought meas? ures should be taken for the distribution of the insect through infected districts, The damage caused by the Hessian fly was much, greater than people were inclined to think. In their own district of Tuapeka West, he was not exaggerating in saying that from onethird to one-half of the wheat crop had been destroyed during the present season. That was a state of things sufficiently serious to call for prompt and energetic measures on the part o! the Agricultural Department. Unless

the Department acted promptly and prevented this latest pest from spreading, the position of the farmers would become a very serious one. He believed an effective remedy was the liberation of the parasite he had mentioned, and he trusted no delay would be made in trying the experiment. This was all the business.