" Bites " from Birmingham

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 36, 22 September 1891, Page 2

" Bites " from Birmingham

[from another correspondent.] Farmers are exulting over the beautiful spring and the gloriously fine weather we are having. My advice to farmers who have not got a permanent supply of water is : make dams. The creeks are now lower than at any time last year, and if we have much more dry weather the springs will run out before the summer is over. Bush felling is progressing steadily, a dry summer will be acceptable to those who have bush to burn. Be bushfelling, I notice that the reprehensible practice of burning ratas during the spring, still obtains on some holdings. Everyone will admit it is a very dangerous practice, and has been the cause of serious loss in many cases ; were the damage confined to the properties of those foolish enough to fire the trees, to saye chopping, it would not matter so much — but it is not. A careful painstaking man may haye all his work destroyed, his clearing but a singed mass of timber, quite inaccessable, and all through the carelessness of his neighbour. The Kiwitea Literary Association is floated; headquarters, Birmingham. Let it be understood that " Kiwitea " means : the Kiwitea Eoad Board District. There was a long debate over the.name, and the present one does not satisfy all. The clause defining the objects of the Association was agreed to without debate. Qualification of members: "That the Association be open to all persons of good moral character." Some object. I do not mean that they have any objection to persons of good moral character taking part in the proceedings, but they think that seeing the object of the Society is mental and moral improvement; that the clause referred to makes it too exclusive. Not a bit ! They can get certificates of good character, if they are deserving, from — from — but, pon my word, I do not know anybody good enough to certify to 'the moral character of another. The subscription was fixed at 2s 6d for the ensuing six months. Low, certainly, but not too low. Money is scarce, " terrible scarce " in Kiwitea. The mode of election caused some lively discussion, some wanted it very exclussive, voting by ballot and one, two, or three black balls to disqualify the candidate for election. Very nice this I Very liberal I But, it didn't come off. Wouldn't it look nice to see a Society composed of individuals, each one perfection, meeting periodically to congratulate each other on their superoirity ? The cliuse regulating elections is not perfection, but it is liberal enough. Mr T. A. Bryce, who was in the chair, was unanimously elected President. Mr Bryce wanted to decline the honor, and speaking to that effect propoposed that some other member should be elected to the position. It was evident to those present, at least one who was there, that the cha'rman wished to decline the honor, but at the same time thought that he was the one person most fitted for the office, However, the vicepresident (Mr A. Fergnsson) will take the chair any time the President wishes the members to get the benefit of his wisdom. With Mr H. Tolley as secretary, and Mr W. Morton as treasurer, and additional members of committee, Messrs W. F. Jacob, A. Stokes, and H. H. Pitcher, the affairs of the Association will doubtless be well attended to. May the Association prosper. _____________