HALCOMBE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19601, 28 June 1926, Page 2

HALCOMBE.

PAYMENT FOR BUTTERFAT. The local butter factory paid out Is 6d per lb for butterfat for last month, the highest price for May for years. [ The output of butter for the same period was 64 tons, an increase of 17 per cent, on the amount manufactured for May, 1925. The grading average for the month was 92.52 points. According to the director’s circular the London market has assumed a healthier tone thlan has prevailed for some time ’past, there being a better all-round demand notwithstanding reports in respect to increased supplies from the Continent. Pig Co-operation. Suppliers to the Cheltenham Dairy Company are requested to attend the annual meeting of the North Island Dairy Companies’ Pig Co-operation, to be. held at Palmerston North next month.. Important questions are to come up for consideration. PLOUGHING. The final meeting before the Halcombe Ploughing Association’s match this week was held on Tuesday. Mr W. Gray, of Marton, wrote stating that in consequence of ill-health he would not be able to act as one of the judges. Mr Lobb, of Feilding, will therefore act alone. Messrs J. Green and P. Rasmussen were appointed stewards, and a committee of ladies will see about the refreshments, both on the ground and at. the social in the evening, when it is expected that a party of talented people from Wanganui will provide musical items. HOCKEY. Halcombe girls were in good form at the 7-a-sido tournament held at Kiwitea on Wednesday afternoon, when teams from Apiti, Rangiwahia, Waituma, Stanway, Tokorangi, and this village took part. The Halcombe girls beat Waituna in the semi-final, and Rangiwahia in the final. The winners were each presented with a silver badge. SOCIAL CLUB. Members of the Social Club and their friends, to the number of about. 40, had a gay old time on Tuesday night, when a mock banquet was tendered to two aristocrats, Lord and Lady Dinkumsham. The guests in every day life arc Messrs W. Francis and E. Green, and their disguise was excellent. Among the other important personages present were:—Mr Mitchell (Mayor), Air Marshall (tramways manager), Air Elgar (Dairy Control Board), and Air J. Fergusson (AI.P. for the district). Air Stan Anderson, was a flower girl, and | a mighty big one too —about 6ft 6in tall. The affair was capitally managed, and the banquet delightful. GOOD LAND. There cannot be much wrong with ■ the land in this district, for a man who . has been here over 30 years, and who , should know what he was doing, purchased a small farm lately at £lOO per ] acre. There are no buildings on it — J nothing except a good roll of grass. ■ The place is to carry cows, ami the j new owner declares it will puy him it < butterfat keeps anywhere near the figure at present ruling. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Horticultural Society had a ( meeting last week at which it was stated the receipts of the last show were £35 18s 6d and the expenditure £22 14s Id. The date of the Bulb Show is September 22. There will be no competitions in future, because they tend -to encourage the spirit of gambling, according to several speakers. Guessing the weight of a sheep or cake is, so it was inferred, much like Yankee grab, two-up, and poker, and is apt to ruin the body as well as the soul. In place of the competitions, which, it must be confessed, were the means of swelling i the receipts, surprise packets will be ■old, and there will be dart-throwing and other games of skill. Moreover, there is to be a drapery stall. The president and Messrs Alitchell and Faulding were appointed a committee to revise the schedule. CONGRATULATIONS. Halcombe people were very glad to hear of Air W. Keith’s success at the Marton Ploughing Afatch. also Mr J. Rasmussen’s wins with his splendid horses. Both these farmers arc consistent supporters of ploughing matches. Und they have received many congratulations from all over the district. A FISH STORY. It was reported that, two residents of a near-by village picked up the other morning, on the beach near the mouth of the Rangitikei River a frost fish over six feet long. PERSONAL. Friends of Airs George Wheeler will regret to learn that she had to undergo a serious operation in Palmerston North Hospital a day or two ago. Latest reports state she is doing as well as can be expected. Air Alex. Gibbon, who used to live here not so very long ago, but who now resides near Patca, was in Halcombe last week looking up old friends. WINTER FEEDING. Dairy farmers —meaning to say. some of them—have made a start hand-feed-ing their stock, and hay and roots are now being carted. A successful dairy farmer the other day gave it as his opinion that a great mistake is often made in delaying the commencement of winter feeding until the stock show appreciable signs of going back. Stock should never be allowed to go back if it can be at all avoided. He slays ani I mals may fall away so much in a few ; days or a week that it will take three | times as much food to bring them back | las it would to have kept them going, it being an accepted fact that animals in good condition consume proportionately loss feed than when in poor condition. Not only this, but animals in very fair condition are better able to penetrate into difficult positions to secure food and to climb rough coun- , try in search of it. How often Ims on? seen weak cows bogged where a vigorous one could have got out, or weak animals looking for food in bare gullies while more vigorous stock were ■ scrambling over rough country in • search of food, and getting it. There ■ is only one way of giving stock a fair start in winter, land that is to start them strong. Very often the delay in i starting winter feeding arises from doubts in the farmer’s mind as to whether he will have sufficient feed to

carry him through the winter or noG “Better to have some over than g» short towards spring” is his motto—and not la bad one providing that it has not been at the expense of his stock that he has some over. A little feed to spare after a steady ration has been supplied to the animals all through tho winter is an indication of good management but to allow the condition of tho animals to go down in early winter and have feed to spare when spring comet is surely bad management.