THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16142, 21 February 1918, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

♦ NEWS AND NOTES. THE MEAT TRADE IN QUEENSLAND. GOVERNMENT IN A QUANDARY. (FROM Or;; OWN COR FOND E.N'T.) SYDNEY, February 13. Tlic bitterest critics of the extremis Government of Queensland —and the; arc very runny and very bitter —iiav< to acknowledge that it lias at leas given the peop.'o of the northern Stat* cheap meat. There arc State butchei shops in Queensland, and the Government insists on paying only a moderate pric*j for its? stool;, and retailing the meat at corresponding rat<-s, thu; controlling the whole- .stock and meal market. The big- prices which tht world is paying for meat to-day can only bo enjoyed by ( the Queensland pastoralists and exporter after the local needs have been supplied. The nithles.suo.is with which the Government controls the meat market, however, threatened to land it in a peculiar difficulty tho other day. When, during the recent Hoods, one of tho Ministers arrived in llocKhampton, lie found thu town at the point of suffering a meat- lamitie. Jle wa.s truck by the fact that, w-»i;c the population, almost isolated, wailed for meat, stock of all descriptions was being swept down the flooded river, right through tho town, lie at once gave orders that all such stock as could possibly - be rescued be commandeered, slaughtered, and sold in the State butchers' shops, and that, where the owners of tho stock could be discovered, they were to bo compensated. Several owners said they wanted £10 per head for their cattle. The .Ministor said that this was ridiculous. The owners said that if their price was not paid, they would be compelled to take drastic action, even to the ex lent of issuing warrants and searching the State shops. Possibly the prospect of the State having to face a charge of having beef or hides in its possession reasonably supposed to have been stolen, proved too much for the Minister, for eventually he compromised and agreed to pay £9 per head for nil itock taken from tho river and slaughtered. Several owners of cattle complained that their animals, which had managed to escape from the flood, and were safe in shallow water, were seized by the State's ii.ea and taken away and slaughtered, although they could quite as readily have been allowed to remain wlicre thev were until their owners cant;- for them. cantei;t-l'ky a. and p. ASSOC I AT I UN. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. he General Committee of the C'an-iii.-y A. and I'. Association met yes- ' iay afternoon, Mr J. Deans presiding. Mr E. fl. "Winter (BrooksUM was electo ! a member of the Association. A letter was received from the New Zealand Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association, announcing that the South Island members of the Association had decided that gold medal competitions for the year 1918 should be held at the Canterbury A and P. Association's next spring show. This year, in addition to the usual gold medals issued, there would be given a framed certificate, and any animal could compete notwithstanding that it had won a gold medal pre-viously-anywhere in New Zealand. , The matter -was referred to the Cattle Committee. JOTTINGS FOti FA II ME IIS, A conference of representatives oi district municipalities, held at Geelong (Vic.) last week decided to urge the Government to make the destruction of sparrows compulsory. It w'as also decided that the district municipal councils should pay bonuses of 2d per dozen for sparrows' heads, and Id per dozen lor sparrows' eggs. Itwas stated that serious' damage was being done everywhere to grain crops by the sparrows, and that tile growing of such fruits as cherries was for the same reason becoming almost impossible. A Palmerston gentleman, who is deeply interested in economic botany, has-been instrumental in introducing to that district a plant which lia.9 already proved itself a valuable aid in reclaiming sand and other waste areas. The discovery of the plant in these latitudes is rather interesting, and was supplied to a "Standard" representative by tho gentleman referred to. '"Between Tasmania and Victoria," j he stated, "there is a fair-sized island, called King's Island. Years ago it was a waste of white sand. A wreck occurred, and from it a bed mattress floated ashore. "Where it rotted a green patch appeared, and the growth ultimately spread over the sands of the island, converting the barren areas into excel lent pastures. The Victorian Agricultural Department introduced the plant to the coastal areas of that State with great success. For a long time its nature was not determined, but now it is officially classified as 'melilotus parviflorus.' It is a legume, and related to the clovers and lucerne. It grown luxuriantly, and the dying leaves add humus to the sands, and" being a legume, with abundant root nodules, it quickly nitrates the soil. In America it has been used on poor clay lands for reclamation, with good results." The gentleman further stated that he believes that the sand areas of the west coast of the North Island could be turned to good use if this ' plant were extensively introduced. He had been successful in producing a quantity of the seed, and has supplied the "Standard" office with a parcel for distribution over such areas. • It would be useless sowing it on good land, as its value is to reclaim poor soils. Correspondence from King's Island shows that the effect of this plant haa not been exaggerated. The time to sow is in the month of February, and tho seed should bo soaked in water for several hours before sowing. SOUTHBROOK. The Southbrook Methodist Church held its annual harvest festival last Sunday, the preachers for the day being the Rev. J. Guy and the Rev. F. Greenwood. The church was very beautifully decorated, and there was a large collection of fruit and vegetables, which were disposed of on Monday evening. HORNBY-ISLINGTON. Matters in connexion with tho school fancy fair and garden party are well in hand. A large amount of produce, as well as cash, have been promised. Both the Tramway ami Highland Pipe Bands are to be in attendance. The .opening ceremonv is to bo performed by Mr G "Witty," M.P. LADBROORS In the Ladbrooks Town Hall yesterday a welcome was tendered "to Private T. lloeslor. Mr H. Pickering presided, and in a brief speech welcomed tho guest on behalf of the residents, and wished him good health and prosperity in tho future. Tho Hall was well filled, visitors coming from near and far. A euchre tournament occupied the first portion of the evening, the results being : Ladies, Ist, Mrs Spencer; "booby," Miss M. Payne; gentlemen,

Ist, Mr D. Ihinick: "booty,'' Mr Jack - yne. The floor was then cleared fo! r auc ' n s ; which was kept up till oarlv in too morning the music being supplied by Mr H. Myers. Mr A. Gabitis acte<l as M.C. Items wore contributed by the following: Pons. Mrs Crayt 'omo; Highland fling!" .Miss E. Craytnorne: song, Kombardicr Marshall; 'rish jig, Miss E. Cravthorae: song, ™ ai '.shall: song, Mi.-s Wacked. The Ladbrooks Hall Committee have derided to give a social in aid of the hall funds. a.l>out the middle of March. Mr A_ Gabitis lias received 3 cable message stating that his son. Private Len. Gabitis, who was severely wounded a short time ago. lias slightlv improved. although he is not yet removed from the dangerously ill list. MALVERX. At a meeting of the committee ot ih_t' Malvern A. and i\ Association, Mr W . Deans pre.-iding. a large number of special prizes were received and allotted. OXFORD. 'I lie Oxford Patriotic Committee met on Monday night, when ihe chairman. Mr J). JJawke, presided over a good attendance ot members. It was decided to send letters oi' svmpathv to the parents oi Privates C. Johnson and ][. Morris (wounded). and that the committee express its sympathy With Mr J. MiGrath. a member of the committee, iu his illness, and hope he will soon be able to take his place among his fellow-members. A long letter was received from the secretary ot the Canterbury l'atriotic Fund, in reply to the committee's question, asking why interest was charged on tfie loan granted to a certain returned soli::er. and not required in other cases. A iong discussion took place on tae question. The letter stated that leans, tree of interest, were granted "tor settling soldiers on the land, and ior starting soldiers in business ■or proiess-.0n." The committee took objection to this limitation, and urged that- the soldier who intended to build i home m;is equally entitled to assistance, perhaps more so, even if lie were io be a farm labourer, with the iliati proposing to take up land or enter into a business. Every facility atid '•very eneourager-ent should be given to the returned soldier to establish a iioine, and any system of relief that did not recognise" the needs of the (arm labourer equally with the fann:>viier was open to criticism. It was pointed out that soldiers going <.n the land got almost unlimited "assistance from business firms for stocking up. and from the Government up to their reasonable needs. Help was not so readily granted to the man ivhn was neither going 011 the land, nor going into a business, but might work r.ll or 111 either. The fund was raised to assist all needy soldiers, not those only who would be able to repay it. A resolution was passed in regard to this matter. The question of making "rants from the Patriotic Fund to otiier lunds was considered jv, entu.'ily a resolution was carried that no part ol the Patriotic Fund should be diverted to other hauls whose operations were outside New Zealand. V. et and drizzly weaihei- has prevailed throughout t!ie district for neat I v a week. \ cry heavy rain fell m I'Yidav and Saturday, S.lYin being recorded. On Sunday a wind blew Iroin the north-west, hut throughout Monday and Tuesday drizzling tain was continuous. All harvesting operations are at a standstill, and the I'rotracted rain, with high temperature, has resulted in potato blight (K'ing strongly in evidence. Sunday-school anniversary services in connexion with the Oxford Methodist Church were held 011 Sundav. when the Rev. J. Harris, of (,'reendale, preached three times to large congregations. In the afternoon prizes were distributed to the children. At. each service special hymns wore sung, and the collections and subscriptions for the day, 111 aid of the school funds, iniounted io £S. ROLLESTOX. There has been a good deal of wet veather here lately, but practically all lie wheat and oats have bi-en secured. A. gord deal of wheat has been threshed, nit the yield has been poor, while the >at crop is very short. Potatoes are ooking well, and >0 far there is 110 iign of blight. There is a small area of i 'as which are looking very promising. Hiere is a-' fair amount of red clover 111 :he district which is looking splendid, >ut it is rath-'T eariy to forecast what ;he yield is likely to be. i>k imming is ?oing on apace, and everybody is busy. ELI.ESMERE. Ideal weather conditions prevailed in lie Fliesmere district yosteiiiay. In adlition to the bright snn-hine, there was 1 good wind which helped very. materitllv t'i dry the grain standing out in ;trtiik.v. Farmers all hone the I'avourtblo conditions will continue. SOUTHBRIDGE. The monthly meeting of the Southiridge District High School Committee was presided over by the llev. H. r. Hawkins. It was reported that Mr irant, manual and technical instructor mder the Board of Education, had 'isited the school in connexion with a iroposal to establish, technical classes, ['he rural couis.> was to be introduced nto the secondary department. A ■omplaint was received that boys and .'Olit lis had been a.lowed into the swiinning bath during the hours set apart or girls. The secretary was instructed o inform the bath caretaker that if here was any further cause for eomdaint the committee would cancel the irrangement entered into and 110 capitaion -would be paid. The committee a[>jroved of the action taken by the ■hairman in connexion with the presenation of the secondary department dux uedal. The headmaster forwarded the jroceeds of the breaking-up concert, .t was decided to make application for nibsidy on the amount raised, and to ipend the money in the purchase of looks for tlw> school library. The naster reported the primarv roll to bo ['7 and the secondary roll L' 7. The school had heon graded in the first grade or work done iu school gardens an-' general principles of agriculture, anil ljid gained the distinction, along with vaikonra District. High School, of scciirng highest marks in Xorth Canterbury. LKERTOX. The l.ee-ton Lodge of Oddfellows received a visit on Mf-nday evening from the Prov. G.M., Bro. Gahagan, and the

Prov. C.T., Bro. T. J. Archbold. _ After the ordinary business had been disposed of, tlio G.M. addressed the lodge on the subject of payment of sick pay to soldiers, setting forth several reasons in support of the. continuance of these payments. The Prov. C.T. presented 1 lie oilier side of the case, adducing arguments in favour of withholding sick pay. Delegates wero appointed to represent the lodgo at the annual conference, on March 18th, when the question of soldiers' sick pay is to be discussed. Tho visiting officers were subsequently entertained at supper. LINCOLN. Next Sunday morning an induction service, will bo held in St. Stephen's Church, when Bishop Julius will install thc> Rev. "Wilkinson vicar of tho Lincoln parochial district. During tho last threi< weens Mr C. M. Strachey and Mr Adams liavo kindly taken the church •orvieos. A slight shock of earthquake was felt here in the oarlv hours of yesterday morning * ' r Fine weather now prevails, and harvest cperations are again in full swing. Farmers are busily engaged 'in 'Carting grain to the station. AKAROA. The rainfall over the week-end as I recorded in Akaroa was 3.(34 in, making u total for the year to date of nearly 1A in. The weather began to clear on .Monday afternoon. 'luesday was line, though no cocksfoot threshing was [lone, for the seed will take some time lo dry. Yesterday dawned beautifully .•lear, and the farmers will now wel.oii:e a few weeks of bright, sunny rtea tiler. A meeting of the executive of the lianks Peninsula Patriotic Association iva.s lield on Tuesday, Mr Geo. Armstrong presiding. ihe chairman explained tlmt the executive had been -unimoned to consider the allocation of Llie Association's funds in respect to irgent war appeals. He reminded tho neoting that the bulk of the £1750 ■aised on the Peninsula last Easter was jcill lying in the bank. It was time some of it was made use of. After loino discussion it was unanimously resolved to grant £500 to the Y.M.C.A., £500 to tlio Salvation Army's war ivork, and £100 to the Scottish AVoiien:s Hospital Fund. It was also .lccided to carry out another patriotic .•arnival this year. The chairman itated that on Thursday of next "week i nuniber of returned wounded soldiers vould visit Akaroa. It was resolved ;hat all expenses incurred in entertainng them be borne by the Association. Jn the motion of Mr E. Hay, seconded by Mr Thacker, it was resolved: — 'That the executive take this opportunity of notifying the Peninsula people and tlio public generally that it has power to vote, from the sum entrusted Lo its keeping, amounts of money to any charitable war fund, whether it goes to help New Zealand soldiers or sailors, or those of tho Allies, or to any other war fund the executive regards as needing help at the time."' ASHBURTON. The pupils of tiie Ashburton Technical .School, 17 in number, who went through the shearing course, shoro £000 sheep during the past season. The annual congregational meeting of the members of tho Church of Christ, Ashburton, ivas held on Tuesday, when tho pastor, Mr J. M. lnes, presided. Reports from all sections of the church's work wero received and considered very satisfactory. The date of the harvest festival services were fixed. Mr S. Fenton was appointed to take charge of the choir, and Messrs AY. S. Shearer, AY. Olsen, and G. Johns wero appointed delegates to attend the annual conference, to be held i:t Easter. A meeting of the committee of tho Ashburton Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Society was held on Tuesday when Mr G. Bundv presided. Mr AY. Nos* worthy, M.P., wrote accepting the position as patron, and Mr C. AY. Nicoll that of president. The New i Zealand Rhode Island Red Club wrote - offering special prizes for Rhode Is- J land Reds in utility classes. The . South Island Poultry Association noti- j fied that the following championships I had been allotted to Ashburton: — | Golden Wyandotte, Andalusian ■. Utility, White Wyandotte, Dragoon Pigeon, and Nun Pigeon. It was decided to support the_ art union scheme as in previous years! It was decided to ask Mr F. C. Brown to judge tho utility classes, failing him Mr C. Cussen. The appointment of other judges was left until next meeting. The monthly meeting of the Ashburton Borough School Committee was held on Tuesday, Mr AY. G. Hillier presiding. Mesdames M. A. AA'at-son and G. M. Begg forwarded their resignations owing to leaving the district. The chairman reported that the Education Board_ would not grant an ensign for the Alien ton school until the flag-pole was erected, and ho had made arrangements for the erection of the pole at ance. It was decided to put a petition in circulation with a view to inducing the Board to add two extra ass-rooms to the new building to ac- i commodate the infant classes.