Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 29, 3 August 1897, Page 2

Correspondence.

suggeste%improvements. (to the editok.) Sib, — Since the bridge across the Oroua river on the Feilding Ashurst road has been rendered, through the action of the late flood, practically useless for public service, the whole of the traffic previously coming that way to Feilding has been diverted via Taonui, reaching Feilding across the Aorangi traffic bridge, which, I might say, has helped to constitute, since its construction, one of the principal arteries to tbe city of Feilding ; and, by the way, I would suggest that the Manawatu County Couocil should be induced to widen and improve that piece of road linking the municipality of Feilding with the bridge. It is at present unequal to the purpose for which it was made some 18 or 20 years ago. I simply mention this in order to point out that it is not necessary for the municipal authorities of Feilding to perpetuate this conditioa o£ affairs by confining the whole of the traffic approaching this way to the road or Btreet running parallel with the railway line, which is only an extension of the County road. What objection can there be to placing South street in a serviceable condition, so that an opportunity could be afforded the present large volume of traffic approaching by the County road to expand into other avenues leading to the town ? Another advantage I consider would be gained in having this road made reasonably decent for traffic — better access to the sale yards would be afforded to the large quantities of stock passing to and fro, besides being kept on the confines of the town, instead of as at present driven through the more populous and frequented throughfares, causing irritation to ordinary traffic and an abundance of classical language from stock-owners. There is just one more matter I should like to draw the Council's attention to — where the drain running parallel with the railway line intersects the road or street, just below what is commonly known as the Tramp's Cottage. The culvert put in here is an insignificant piece of work, narrowing an already insufficient roadway to about nine or ten feet. Why not extend the culvert the full width of the- road and abolish the absurd and aggravating nuisance of blocking the traffic at this point on busy days ? I am, &c , Ratepayer.

LIME, SALT AND SULPHUB. (to the editob.) Sir, — It is of public interest to discuss the keeping of orchards and gardens free from insect pests, also for owners of orchards to remind each other of the modes of doing so, At the end of the present month the destructive borer fly makes its appearance, lays its eges on the branches of currents, gooseberries, and other fruit trees. The result ia, in a few days they are hatched and the young borer cans eats its way to the pith of the youDg wood, doing much harm and rendering itself secure from being molested and destroyed. To preterit this mischief, drees the trees with the above mentioned mixture, the latter should be applied in a sprey form. Some time since I read in the Auckland Weekly that one of their staff interviewed the owner of a 1000 acre orchard in California as to the material used for dressing his fruit trees. His answer was, lime, salt and sulphur. While on this subject I may mention an incident that occurred the other day. The stocks of apple trees wero being dressed to prevent damage to the bark by some young rams, at the time grazing in the orchard, One, more venturesome than the rest, approached the kerosene tin. containing lime, salt and sulphur. Ai the moment of smelling, it fairly leaped up turning a somersault and ran for' its life to the furtherestpart of the orchard. So much for sulphur, one of the oldest and most valuable of insecticides and fungicides at present in uso. I am, &c, John Holdkk.