Marton News

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 2

Marton News

Rotary Club Told Of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ Activities

The value to New Zealand agricultur of young farmers’ clubs, which acted as a medium between research stations endeavouring to demonstrate the latest farming and animal husbandry methods and the more con servative farmers was stressed by Mi G. Gordon, addressing the Marton Rotary Club at its weekly tea. Young farmers’ clubs throughout New Zealand were bound by a Dominion council, but each club was selfgoverning, and was in no way connected with Federated Farmers, said Mr Gordon. Before the war, about 203 clubs were established in the Dominion. and the total had now Increased to 306, Although clubs had some social interest for members, they were mainly of educational benefit, and offered a useful medium of bringing new methods before the farming community. The Dominion owed much to the three Government research stations, and although farmers were In the main very conservative and satisfied with the particular way of farming which had given them results over the years, young farmers benefiting from instruction through voung farmers' clubs were more willing to try out modern methods, said the speaker. Club activities included lectures on farm topics. instructional films, courses in public sneaking, and field days, when some of the Dominion’s best stud stock was shown them. HARRIER TROPHIES PRESENTED. On Saturday afternoon the Marton Harrier Club held its final gathering of the year. Because of the unfavourable weather, the function was conducted Indoors, the order of the day being games and comnetltions.. A comnetitlon was won by Mrs G. Black. After afternoon tea, the trophies won during the season were presented by the president, Mr M. Griffin. Trophv winners were: Senior club champion. S. Robertson: junior champion, C. Simcox; colts’ champion, B. Bennett: senlo? sealed handicap, T. Rivers; colts’ sealed' handicap, R. Stent; Todd Cup (seniors), G. Bromley. 27 points; Kempton Cup (colts), G. Savill (28 points); Rivers Shield (colts) B. Gardiner (1.8 no.nts); Marton v. New Plymouth Shield, vicecaptain, S. Robertson; Shadbolt., Cup. Marton v. Feilding, vice-captain, S. Robertson. STOP-BANK CUT AT KAKARIKI. Bulldozer operators have completed cutting a stop-bank which maintains the flow in the Rangitikei River at Kakariki past the Rangitikei County Council’s crushing plant. This is the culmination of protracted negotiations on the course of the river. The work was carried out at the request of the Railways Department in the hope that an altered river course will remove the threat to the road and railway bridges and the main highway. Concern was exnres—by the Railways Department last year that the river’s present course, especially when in flood, was threatening the railway bridge. It expressed the hope that the council would not be influenced by the proximity of its crushing plant in taking action to remove the river threat. Conferences between parties concerned—the County Council, the Rangitikei Catchment Board, the Railways Department, the Main rfighways Board and the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council were then called. The bank removed extended from the eastern side of the river, deep into the river bed almost opposite the crushing plant. It was built in the late war years to maintain the river on its course into the feeding "shingle pool,’- opposite the crushing plant on the western bank. A gap about 30 yards wide has been rut into the bank and a channel bulldozed to direct water on to the cut. MIDNIGHT FIRE. Smart work by the Marton Volunteer Fire Brigade just before midnight on Sunday resulted in a fire which had broken out a* the Marton Jockey Club’s accommodation house at Marton Junction being extinguished before any serious damage occurred. The fire originated in one of tile bedroom? and is believed to have been caused by a lighted cigarette, s.noked by an occupant in bed. Damage was done to the head of the bed and the wall. The 10 volunteer firemen who responded to the call, used first aid equipment to suppress the fire. BOWLING TOURNAMENT. An all-day bowling tournament was played on the Marton green at the week-end. Although the weather was not at its best, the green played well considering the rain which had fallen on Saturday. Eight rinks took part in the tournament and three rinks finished with four wins each, out of a possible of five. In the semi-final. Coleman, Whitehead, N. Nicol and Bland beat a Wanganui East rink skipped by Burns In the final a Marton team, comprising Abbott. Adams’, Currie and Morgan beat the rink skipped by Bland. “BLITHE SPIRIT.” Bookings are very good for the opening performance of “Blithe Spirit,’ a hilarious and improbable farce to be staged > Ute Marlon Players in the Civic ■ neatre tomorrow night. The plot, dealing with the return from the “other side'' ol Charlies Condomine's first wife, Elvira, proven a somewhat disturbing event in the lives ot Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, and the situations arising from the ambiguity of the principal actor’s martial status creates a wonderfully humorous situation. The effect on the

second wife at the appearance of wife number one is no less intriguing, and although Charles described his wife as a “poor, wistful little spirit,’’ she proves infinitely more dangerous. Much experiment has gone into the make-up to produce an effective “spirit’’ and the resultant appearance of Elvira is sure to cause a good deal of comment. “WATCH YOUR STEP.’’ A variety show which should appea. to all tastes is to be presented in the Marton Civic Theatre next Tuesday (November 28). The concert has been arranged by the Marton Fire Brigade and the funds will be devoted towards the expenses entailed in sending a team to the New Zealand Fire Brigades' competitions being held at the Canterbury centenary celebrations next year. One of the main attractions will be the popular radio quiz “Posers, Penalties and Profits,'' for which prizes worth over £5 each have been donated. Entries close for the qui'.' next Monday with J. D. Joll, Ltd., where box plans are now open.