COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 9

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES

(IYom Our Special Correspondents.)

MANASVATU

Although a week or two ago the signs Jed formers in tho Manawatu district to expect an early spring, growth is still very backward. Tho succession of heavy frosts was followed by a few fine days, but two more severe frosts have been experienced during the past week, and on Wednesday evening a cold, westerly wind set in with rain, which continued during Thursday. All tho way up from Paekakariki to I'almereton North feed is very backward, and tho grass shows but poor growth, with the result that it is being eaten off at a timo when it can least stand it, and unless some warm weather comes soon the outlook is anything but, promising. Stock are not looking any too well, except where artificial feeding bas been Tesorted to, and the cows which have come an early are not giving the quantity of milk which was expected.

There has been_ almost a butter famine in Palmerston North, and many people are at a loss to understand why this should be in a district where there are so many dairy factories. It seems that none of the factories will sell any of tho new batter until some decision is reached as to what is to be done with the season's output. In order to supply their regular customers the factories are i buying stale butter from the Govern- ; ment stores and supplying jt to storekeepers, who are therefore not responsible for the quality of the butter which they sell, and some of it is very unsatisfactory. The news that the factories are !ib>'v fn ?pf 2Sfa. ]>er cwt. from the Imperial Government, whilo it will be satisfactory to shareholders in factories and to milk suppliers, is not hailed with delight by the ordinary householder and consumer, as it looks as if butter on the local market will be something in the vicinity of 2s. 9d. per lb., a price which it has not reached for many a day. The_ majority of the co-operative dairy factories have now held their annual meetings, and all report having had a very satisfactory year. Some big cheques have been paid out as bonuses on butterfat.

The board of directors of the Palmerston North Y.M.C.A., which raked 6oma •£15,000 in the recent campaign, has now secured ft site of 1} acres an Grey Street, just off Rangitikei Street, upon which it is proposed to erect suitable bnildinga for a Y.M.C.A. The site is n Native reserve, and is "being- leased. The present lease has about seven years to run, and the direotors have the right of renewal for terms of 21 years. In the meantime the board has arranged for the use of the Linton Rifle Club's rooms in King Street, so that a start can be made at once with the boys' department, and this will be fitted up as a gymnasium with billiard tables, etc.

The cold rains which set in on Wednesday still continue throughout the Maiiawatu, and are very trying to the young lambs, which are suffering considerably, Most of the hay which was saved for win ter feed has been used up, and feed generally is very scarce. The roads have Buffered considerably by the frosts experienced and tho heavy motor traffio which they are now called upon to carry, and many of the main thoroughfares are full of "pot-hole®," making motoring rather unpleasant.

At the annual meeting of the Manawat\i Eacing Club, tho following officers were elected President, Mr. H. J. P. Strang; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Goring Johnston and F. S. MTJae; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Louisson; committee, Messrs. E.- L. Broad, C. A. loughnan, W. Randell, and E. Wood. It was resolved that no more associate members should be elected. It was announced that Mr. ,T. Goring Johnston, who was absent in England had notified his intention of presenting a valuable cup to be competed for at the next Autumn Meeting. The president mentioned the fact that the Julius totalisator ordered from Sydney had been shipped, but owing to the scarcity of cement the club would be unable to erect the necessary building for housing it in time to have it in operation for the forthcoming Christmas Meeting. He also stated that the new semaphore, which had' been erected in the centre of the course was a very clever and ingenious piece of work, and he understood that it was the most com< plete of its kind in Australasia,