THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16411, 3 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. GREAT HARVEST IN ENGLAND. Tiic Board of Agriculture hare issued 11 preliminary statement showing that the acreage under wheat in in England and AValcs was -\55G,7Ut> acres, as compared with 1_.918.48-j | acres in .1917. The yield per acre of j all the corn crops this year v/us above i the average, and. with the single e.v----i ception oi a. small area of beans, the 'total production was also greater; ; while all were better, whether judged j by tko yield from an acre or by total I production, than in 1017. j The yield of wheat is estimated at j 33 bushels per acre {two bushels above the average), and the total production | amounts to 10,534,C00qr. 3 which cxj ceeds last year's total by three- and ; one-third million quarters. A eerI tain proportion of the wheat has been' ! damaged. I Barlev has yielded 32 i2-oth bushels i ;-'"r acre, or half a bushel moro than j the average; the total production of : over six million quarters is the largest ; since 1914. The production of oats is almost : Iwo million quarters more_ than the previous highest on record (1907), and i amounts to 14,336.000 quarters. Mixed, i <>r dredge corn, distinguished for the first time, produced an additional ; 020.000 quarters from 139.000 acres. ! The daro-acc tf> barley and oats lias ; been considerably more serious and j widespread than in the ra.se of wheat. ; Beans have given -9 2-sth bushels to the acre, while peas, with 27 J bushels, show the best return of the lust ten venrs. Taking' all the five, corn crops together. I.he 'Toss production in England and Wales was iio s le=s than t.j million ouarters. or quite 3-5 per cent, more than in 1917.

JOTTINGS FOX FARMERS. A new world's shearing record is reported from Oniatatic. "\Y. A clla, in Mr [ I{. B. 'Potman's -shed there, shore 347 sheeD in nine hours, boating the world's record of 33D sheep, established by himself at Taihape last year. _ The new record was made under ordinary shearnig conditions. The sheep were taken as they came, including the usual pro- ! portion of lambs. Tbo peiformar.ee was j supervised by Mr 'Potman's manager, and carefully checked in every detail. Vella had as board mates J. Qucenan, who shore 304 sheep, and J.Hulena, who shore 303 within the specified time. .As far as can be learned, "Wednesday's hail storm in South Canterbury did not extend into the wheat areas. KAIKOUiIA. Unpleasant weather prevailed on New Year s !>«'}"> there boing a cold southerly wind and intermittent showers. boverul picnics wore held notwithstanding. Tlio "Kaikoura, express" (.\+r J. Jorinstone's traction engine and waggons) conveyed a full load to Hapaku, wuere the local fishermen held their picnic. At iv meeting of tne Citizens' Influenza Committee, Mr >S. Andrew presiding, ll'.o following resolution v.as ordered to bo placed on record: "That ail helpers wno, by visiting patients, supplying refreshments, or in any other way rondered aid in dealing witn matters in connexion with the influenza epidemic, be thanked by this committee for their valuable Bervices." Advice was received yesterday that Sergeant H. 31. Yaxley, son of Mr and Mrs M. Yaxley, of Kaikoura, who was recently posted as dangerously ill, has been pronounced out of danger. Sergeant Yaxley enlisted with the Main iiodv, was at the landing on Gallipoli, witnessed the sinking of the Triumph, and suffered the hardships incidental to tho historic campaign, boing wounded on two occasions. He was one of tho first eight men to leave Kaikoura, the other seven being Messrs J. Mecklc, J. Burland, J. Harris, J. Bosomworth, W. Abraham (killed). J. Leitch (killed), and H. Neilsen (lulled). Recently Mr G. W. Forbes, member for the district, communicated with the Minister of Public Works, suggesting that the Oaro bridge should be reconstructed at a site lower down river, which was pointed out to the Minister when he was visiting tho locality, and! which he then agreed to. The following reply has been received by Mr Forbes: "The Oaro bridge will be rebuilt at the old site on the strong recommendation of the Engineor-in-Chief." Mr Forbes has since sent the following further telegram to the Hon. Sir W. Fraser: "Tho Engineer-in-Chiei cannot have seen the site of the Oaro bridge; if he had, I am confident that he would adopt the new eito pointed out to tho Minister. I suggest that you have a further report on it. Local residents are' confident that, a blunder will he made if the present site is adhered to." A reply to the latter telegram lias not yet, come to hand. The social held in the Drill Ilall on New Year's Eve, under the auspices of tae Returned Soldiers' Reception Committee, was well attended, and a most enjoyable time was spent, the music being supplied 'by _ several ladies and gentlemen. At midnight all present joined hands, and "Auld Lang Syne" was sung in a hearty manner. The vital statistics for the quarter ended December 31st, 1918, with last year's figures in parentheses, are as follows: Births 11 (13), deaths'lo (6), marriages 2 (3). The totals for the year were: Births 67 (49), deaths 2-1 (22), marriages 9 (10). SOUTH MALVERN DISTRICT. The rainfall during December was 189 points, as compared with 564 points in tho corresponding month of 1917. Rain fell on eight days, the maximum fall being 69 points on the 29tli. Summer weather was experienced between the 9th and "Ist only, the remainder of the month being cold and showery. The rainfall for 191S was 29.63, as compared with 31.92 in 1917. The number of days on which rain was recorded was 121 in 1918 and 119 days in 1917. The past year has been a year to be remembered, apart from the armistice, the snowstorm, and the influenza epidemic. The Glentunnel school has had an entire change of statf, and tho scholars have received instruction lrom nine different teachers. The South Malvern Cemetery trustees have had the busiest year in tho past 30 years. Ten burials took place, one only being due to influenza. In addition 1 several chains of new fencing have been erected, and the grounds have received special attention. LONGBEACH. A carnival in aid of the Red Cross funds was held at the Longoeaca Homestead on New Year's Day. A number of stalls were erected in the large implement shed, and there was a sale of stock, grain, chaff, and produce. Afternoon tea and high tea were provided, and there was a concert in tho evening, followed by a dance. The Eighth South Canterbury Regimental Band added considerably; to the general enjoyment of the afte)> ! noon and early evening, while one of the bandsmen auctioned the produce, etc. The grounds were thrown open to the visitors, and full advantage was taken of the opportunity to- inspect the garden. RANGIORA. The vital statistics for 191S were as follows, the figures for 1917 being given in parentheses: —Births 144 (173), deaths 71 (50), marriages 15 (22). For the quarter ending December 31st, 1918, the figures wereßirths 3a, deaths 35, marriages 4.

TVAIPARA. The weather is decidedly unsettled. Heavy rain commenced on Sunday jifc 1 p.m., and continued showery until Monday evening, when some 52 points fell. The rain, although delaying reaping operations, will do a vast amount of good, especially to standing grain crops, as they showed signs of premature ripening. Tho wheat crops have done very well this season, anaT given good harvest weather, they should yield above the average. Shearing iias been practically completed for a week or more. The rainfall for December was 80 points, malting a total of 967 points since the first of September.