Ashurst Notes

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 101, 23 February 1892, Page 2

Ashurst Notes

.» (from our own correspondent.) There is a heavy fresh in the Pohangina, undermining some more of the protective work erected by the Railway Department to protect the banks. The course now adopted by the river is a yery decided one, and makes the railway people think seriously about their embankment across the river-bed. The willows that were laid in the early spring by the banks have had time to make a network of roots, and have withstood the rush of the tide very well ; but those that were put m late had no time to take root, and have disappeared, this means that the river has encroached some few feet in that place. Mr Treweek, of the Railway Department, was taking observations today, and saw the imperative necessity of stopping any fnrther inroad, if possible. Our station-master is to arrive at the end of the month. Both station-house and residence are now finished. I notice that in the ladies' waiting room, instead of a window, a lattice-work arrangement is put vp — reminding one of windows in the East — behind which are those veiled beauties whose faces may not be seen, but only the light that flashes from their eyes. A new teacher for the State School arrived in the person of Miss Prendergast. Thanks to the early burns, fencing has commenced and is employing hands that might otherwise haye been out of work for a week or two. lam thankful to say that it is yery seldom that any who want work are out of employment in Ashurst, Grass seed sowing will, with some persons be quite a month earlier than usual. Your correspondent " Pohangina " has made some very practical remarks on early sowing, and given us his experience in the matter. There are, as you know, farmers (conservative farmers shall we call them) who would not sow till March no matter how early the bush was burnt. Your "Pohangina" expressog the same opinion that I hold in this subject, (only much more lucidly) that bush land should be sown as soon as burnt, and let the grass seed have the first chance, instead of the seed of Nature's 1 sowing. Your other correspondent who advanced the theory that ashes destroy the germinating powers of grass seed is also knocked into a cocked hat by " Pohangina," So we may say " Advance Pohangina. There is no doubt that where a large tree has been burnt and made a heap of ashes, that the seed would not grow there.