THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16416, 9 January 1919, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. "Personallv knowing the Oistriet \rell, M said the Hon. \\ . D. Donald at Gisborne recently; "1 ' l - u strongly of opinion that there saouicl j«' very considerable subdivision, of t.ie largo estates so as to allow oi an increase iu soldier settlers and ordinal j civilian settlement. All however, should bo settled in a mannei satisfactory aliko to tho owners ot tno land and the new settlers. In regain to tho largo holdings in this district i must be remembered that, in it numbei ot" cases, those at present in occupation had dono tho spade work and hail P lli ~ chased their land tinder the laws oi that day. They arc t hereto ie entitled to protection by whatever Government is ruling the destinies cf tho country. With the increase of population and t-ne immigration -of the future, however, said Mr Mac Donald, no one would cc<ny that it would become nccescsarv; 111 ;act. it had already become nccessary. to revise the system of land ownership ana occupation, which would have to 1)0 J, 1 ' modelled with a view to utilising tho whole of the land to tho best in the interests of tho people or tno Dominion. According to Mr A. H. Cccivajne, tho Government Biologist—who has been visiting the Ashburton district investigating the disease in the wheat crops, which is rather prevalent in sonio localities —the Hessian fly is not responsible for the damage, but rather some fungoid disease which seems to attack tho roots. Samples of diseased plants have boon sent to Wellington, and an investigation will bo made and a report furnished in the near future. SCUTHBIUDGE. Mr O. 11. Piper presided over the monthly meeting of tho iSouthbndgo Town Hoard. Tho Labour Department wrote stivtinjv that tho statutory halfholiday under the Shops and Offices Act ivas to ho fixed this month. _It was docided to hold a special moating for the purpose on the inst. An application from Mr J. Brady for a supply of race water was referred to tho \\ orks Committee, with power to grant the application if considered pruclieablo. Mr McEvody. chairman of works, reported that tlie Taumutu road channel had been repaired satisfactorily.. A good ileal of "work required to ho done, but it was impossible to find labour. Mr Twiss complained of the dirty state of some of the water-races, and urged that they' should be cleaned as soon as possible. It was left to the Works Committeo to havo the streets cleaned up and races attended to. For the Hall Committee, Mr Chapman reported that the hall repairs were in hand. RAXGIOKA. A meeting of the llangiora School Committee was held last night, Mr H. A: Archdall presiding. It was decided to approve of the Board's recommendations that tho school reassemble on January 27th, and that certificates and attendance prizes bo presented at .'J p.m. . that day. The. headmaster reported that the average attendance for the year was 282, entitling the school to another mistress. Votes of sympathy were passed with tho parents of Private J. "W. Hartland and the widow of Private James Stringer, who had made the supreme sacrifice. At the Rangiora Bowling and Tennis Club's grounds this afternoon, the Mayor (Mr C. 1.. Jennings) and Mr F. Horrell (chairman of the Hospital Board) are entertaining all tho workers and thosO who assisted in any way during the influenza epidemic. Tho opportunity will 1)0 taken to make a presentation to Mr A. 3f. Loasby, in recognition of: tho good work done by him... ' > The."weather in North Canterbury- is still very unsettled. Strong nor'-west winds, followed by showers of rain ironi the south, have'been experienced for several days, delaying tho grass seeding and hay-making. Warm weather is very much required to harden off and ripen the grain crops. So far ver3 T little harvesting has been done; a few fields of oats have beon cut for chaff, but wheat crops are not sufficiently forward to cut. Potato crops are, looking well, and promise fair, yields.