SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 2

SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

[From Our Correspondent] PERSONAL. Tha death took place at Balclutha on Sunday of Mr David Milne at the age of 79 years. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand 34 years ago. He settled in Stirling, where he was engaged in farming for some years prior to removing to Benhar. A few years ago he went into retirement at (Balclutha. His wife predeceased him by 22 years, and he is survived by three sons and three daughters. His four sons all went to the Great War, one being killed and one wounded. The surviving members of the family are: Messrs David (Stirling), (Roy (Dunedin), and Alex. (Balclutha), Mesdames W. Farquhar (Balclutha), W. Lovio (Balclutha), and M. Tosh (Dunedin). At the evening service at the Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church on Sunday opportunity was taken to present Sergeant J. A. M'Guire, of the Air Force, with a soldier’s Testament. Rev. S. T. Nieholls made the presentation. and wished the recipient the best of luck. Sergeant M'Guire is the twenty-fifth soldier from . the church who has been farewelled for overseas service. , , „ Members of the Balclutha Pipe Band entertained Messrs D. Sutherland, L. Copland, V. Keach, lan Gold, J. Hunter, (R. Byers, and W. Stewart, who leave next week for the Territorial camp at Forbury Park, Dunedin, at a farewell social! '* A Very enjoyable, function was tho result, Mr JasTvveedie being in the chair. As ths members will be in camp for some three months, the band will in the meantime be sadly depleted. OUTDOOR SPORTS. Tho best cards handed in in the medal match plaved by the Balclutha ladies’ club during the week-end were: —Mrs Murdoch, 99—34—65; Mrs Copland, 105—36—69; Mrs Sinclair, 106—33 73; Mrs Anderson, 104—27—77; Mrs Moffat, 97—16—81. ~ In the Toko, club championship the following players qualified:—Senior: Sumpter, 76—82—158: C. H. Hitchon, 77—90—167; A. F. Withey, 92—87 179; Hoyle, 92—94—186. Junior; W. lv. ilitchon, 97—54—181: Vidal, 93 ■ 95—188; George, 104—101—205; Ransome, 103—102—205. The winner of the medal match was W K Hitchon, with a score of 84— 2D—63. . , , . , . In the Toko, ladies’ championship the following qualified :—Senior : Mesdames George, Withey, Hitchon,- and Miss Vidal. Junior: Misses Gray, Wilson, Mesdames Murray and Wilson. The best cards handed in for the medal round are:—Miss Gray, 101—29 —72; Miss. Wilson, 104—32—72 ; Miss Vidal, 95—22—73. The South Otago (Basketball Association brought the season to a close with a knock-out tournament on Saturday. This resulted in High School A winning the A grade and Clinton tiie B grade cup.

SOUTH OTAGO BOWLING CENTRE. The annual meeting of the above was held at Balclutha last night when Mr C. H. Pennell presided over a full attendance of delegates, representing tne eight affiliated clubs. The report and balance sheet were presented by the secretary. These showed that the interclub competition last season had not been completed, and three clubs —Milton, Kaitangata, and Stirling—were running level when the matches stopped. The funds stood at £33 18s lid, compared with £3O 8s 10d at the start of the year, this balance including £3O in the tournament fund. The report was adopted. Mr J. H. M'Cormick (Clinton) was elected president for the ensuing year. The other office-bearers elected were Vice-president, Mr C. E, O’Hara (Bai'elutha) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr L. Moffat (Balclutha) ; auditor, Mr L. M'Douald; selectors—Messrs _ R. Price (Milton), C. Pennell (Kaitangata), and W. Jefferson (Stirling). It was decided that, provided 40 sets of bowls were available, the Southland howl tester be invited to carry out testing at Balclutha early in November. The levy was fixed at Is 3d a member, reducible to Is if paid before November 30. The opening date of interclub fixtures was fixed for November 2. The annual fours tournament was fixed for February 22, and the annual pairs tournament for the last Saturday in January. It was stated that £5 5s had been given to the Red Cross fund, but it was thought that some further effort should bo made to assist the patriotic funds. It was eventually decided that a patriotic fours tournament be held at the conclusion of the first round of interclub fixtures. BALCLUTHA TENNIS CLUB. The annual meeting of the above club was held last night, Mr W. R. Scott presiding. The balance sheet, showing a fairly good credit balance for the season, was adopted. The following office-bearers wore elected:— Patron, Mr P. M'Skimming; president, Mr W. R. Scott; vice-president,.Mr G. Mattliewson; secretary, Mr 11. Roseveare; committee—Mrs A. Aitken, Miss I. Murray, and Mr R. Guest; auditor, Mr James Guest; Social Com-

mittee—Mrs Aitken, Misses M. Steven* son, J. Hayward, and I. Murray; delegates to South Otago Sub-association, Messrs Scott and Matthewson. Opening day was fixed for September 28 FARMERS’ UNION. Mr D. Inglis presided over a good attendance of members of the. Clutha branch of the Farmers’ Union iasn night, when Mr Colin How, consulting officer to the New Zealand Dairy, Board, delivered an address on tha herd improvement plan recently instituted by the Herd Recording Council of the New Zealand Dairy Board. Ha said the principle embodied in the plan was the raising of the standard otj dairy farming in New Zealand. Tha speaker outlined the activities„ of tha Dairy Board, which, he said, was recognised as the right body to institute* a herd-improvement plan, as it obtained all the' records and data possible. To carry out this work the board had appointed consulting officers, who were, contacting farmers,, farmers’unions, i and young farmers’ clubs to disseminate • and - obtain:,- facts- .aid: ..fiats’ plore- all = avenues possible to improve the industry. It was necessary for tha future well-being of .the industry to have cattle which could produce consistently over a long period of years rather than thope with a very high production, which were able to maintain this for only a short period. In the course of his remarks, Mr How said that there was a decrease of 43,7i;J dairy cows this season, compared with the 1938-39 season, the main cause ofi the decrease, being through farmers turning their attention to other 1 branches of farming. The loss of production had to be made up, and this could be done by improving the present herds by better breeding and grading. . .. „ Mr How answered several question* and was accorded a vote of thanks.