FARMING IN CANTERBURY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2440, 31 January 1882, Page 2

FARMING IN CANTERBURY.

There are different drawbacks to farming in different countries. In England what the farmer dreads is the wet weather that too often prevails in autumn. In New Zealand the bugbear of the agriculturist is the north-west wind which bears down on the plains when the com is ripe, and thinks nothing of threshing out twenty bushels per acre in an inconceivably short space of time. Odes have been written to nearly every wind that blows, and even the biting English nor’easter has found a poetical admirer in Charles Kingsley. But nobody yet has been found to say a word in favor of New Zealand nor’-westere. As is the case with snakes, their utility among the works of creation is a matter which exercises those who are always declaring that everything must have its use. The unbelievers in this theory declare that these winds exist solely to torment the farmer, to enervate the citizen and to enrage the gardener. But the winds being an established fact, it is necessary that agriculturists should take them into consideration as a serious factor in the problem of successful farming. “ Heaven helps those who help themselves” is a time-honored and very true proverb, and when ills can be guarded against to a certain extent it is very evident that only foolish persona will neglect the necessary precautions. In England the wet weather is an obstacle that cannot be overcome ; the farmer there can only make the most of his gleam of sunshine by the rapidity of his reaping operations. But our nor’westers can, in a degree, be mitigated by the planting of protecting strips of trees on the exposed plains. At present the wind sweeps with hardly any obstacle ever miles and miles of flat country there being nothing to check its progress. But in the farming of the future this will have to bo altered. Special protection to the crops by planting will have to enter into all operations. The owners of land will speedily see that it is to their own interest that this should done. Even supposing a man does not farm his own laud, it is evidently to his benefit that his tenant should work securely, and that as little as pcssiblo .should bo left to chance. When land ia first broken up, say, under cropping

lease, no doubt bands of trees cannot be expected suddenly to spring up from the ground. All wo mean to say is that both owner and tenant will have to pay infinitely more attention to the problem of protecting their crops from the wind than they do at present. The singular bareness of the plains is what particularly strikes the stranger; it is a bareness that almost invites strong gales. Were planting gone into more extensively a difference would speedily bo felt. And luckily there are a number of varieties of trees that grow without very much attention being paid to them or without a heavy first cost. All that is wanted is for farmers generally to realise that an expenditure in planting strips of trees would be a saving in the long run. Were such planting taken up all over the plains, nor’-westers would lose much of their sting, and no such lamentable accounts of damage done to the crops would reach us as were forwarded at the end of last week.

NEWS OF THE DAY

Bazaab. — A bazaar in aid of the trust fund of the Addington United Free Methodist Church will take place in tho Selwyn street Schoolroom on February Bth and 9th.

Entertainment. —An entertainment and dance will take place in the Papanui Town Hall this evening. Fibb.—At an early hour this morning the alarm of fire was given by the bells and the railway station whistles. The Brigade were quickly on the alert, and it was discovered that dense volumes of smoko wore proceeding from the grocery store of Mr W. J. Fisher, High street. Fortunately, both from tho &re being discovered almost directly, and the confined nature of the shop the flames had no vent and could not spread. The Brigade soon managed to master the flames, and the damage done was not so large as might have been the case had the fire got good ho’d. There is no clue to the origin of the fire. The insurances amounted to £I3OO, Picnic. —The timber and coal merchants and employes turned out in groat force today, the object being their annual picnic. At least ninety vehicles joined in a procession that numbered some 600 or 700 persons. The Artillery Band was engaged, and accompanied the pleasure seekers. Hotel Item.—A temporary transfer of license has been granted to Mr B. Yicsen, of Christchurch, for the Spread Eagle Hotel, Ashburton Forks, in the room of the landlord, Mr Philip Tisch. Druids. —A lodge of Druids will shortly be opened at Timaru. As there are a good many enrolled, no doubt a large lodge will be started. Also, arrangements have been made to open lodges at Camara and Kaikoura. Inspection op Daisies —The question of framing regulations under the Order in Council for licensing dairies was yesterday remitted by the Board of Health to the chairman and medical officer to report upon.

Bangioba —The death will be learned with deep regret of Mr B. Fridgeon, who was for many years connected with the Christchurch Hospital staff, and who had now settled down on his own property in Bangiora. His loss will be much felt by those with whom that gentleman was acquainted. Thbatee Eotai. —The bill now occupying the boards at the Theatre Boyal seems to have hit the public taste completely, as last night there was again a crowded house, and both pieces went capitally. They will be played again this evening, and are really well worth seeing, especially the farce. Maqisteeiax. -In Saturday’s issue it web notified that Mr Beetham had been gazetted Magistrate for Ashburton district. This will, it appears, not apply to the town of Ashburton. Mr Beetham’s duties will not extend •outh of South Bakaia, and Mr Beswick will preside once a week at Ashburton. Cricket. — A match was played last week between the Muffs of Ashburton and the Mount Somers team. The Ashhurtonites put together 51 runs in their first, innings and 61 in the second, losing by 55 runs, as the Mountaineers scored an aggregate total of 167 in their two innings.

Sydenham Borough Council.— kt the usual meeting of the Council last night, a motion, oE which notice had been given at the previous meeting by Councillor Hall, was carried, to the effect that, in case Messrs Joubert and Twopeny held their exhibition on the Agricultural and Pastoral Association grounds, the Council would grant towards the rent to be paid by them £SO out oE funds available for the salary of his Worship the Mayor. The Kbbb Campbell Fund.—A meeting of the subscribers to this fund tool: place yesterday at the office of Messrs E. Wilkin and Co., for the purpose of con* sidering the best method of distributing the money collected. The total amount of subscriptions in hand was announced as being £333 18j 2d, with a few sums yet to come in. It was resolved that Messrs Ollivier and Toosey be appointed as trustees to distribute the funds collected.

Painters’ Picnic.—The adjourned meeting of painters and plumbers re the annual pionio was held last evening at the Forester.]’ Hotel. There was a good attendance, and Mr J. Parry was voted to tho chair. It was decided to hold the pionio at Prebbleton on February 11th. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements : —Messrs Parry, L?e, Pegley, Qoodohild, Lloyd, Oakley, and Cochrane.

Leßon’3 Bat.—The grass seed harvest is now in full swing, but the recent rains have discolored it a lictle, and the wind on Friday and Saturday caused a deal of the seed to ehake out ol the uncut grass. However, if the weather continues fine, most of it will be in in a few days, and the crops are quite up to the average. Cocksfoot has changed hands in the Bay at 3,3, but holders of seed are expecting to realise 4d delivered in Lyttelton. The recent rains have quite improved the pastures, which will increase tho quantity oE dairy produce in the district this season very much.

Magistrate's Court, Kaiapoi.—At this Coart on Monday, before O. Whitefoord and J. O. Porter, Ksqa., E.M.s, J. O’Brien, charged by T. Foulkos with damaging an apple tree to the extent of 30], was fined 20s, and ordered to pay amount of damage. Blackwell, Evans and Co. v Standard Brewery Company, £l3 18s 4i. Mr Holmes for plaintiffs, Mr Bruges for defendants. Adjourned fourteen days. Robins and ‘Day ▼ A. Brandt, £lB 18s lid ; Q-. W. Wearing’s trustees v A. Brandt, £44 16s, judgments for plaintiffs ; W. Fraser v E. Oapill, £1 12s, adjourned ; Die v Bosustow, £2O, in which case evidence was heard at length, to be forwarded to Hokitika Court, in reference to a consignment of potatoes sent to plaintiff, which were not considered to be according to sample, and sold by him at the rijk of do' fondant.

Hbathcotb Regatta.—A meeting of the managing committee of tho Hcathcote Regatta was held last night at tho Oommorciul Hotel, Mr F. Pavitt in the chair. The Secretary reported the receipt of ten guineas addi. tional subscriptions, making tho total £lO9 15s 6d. Tho following officials were elected for tho regatta—Judge, Mr H. Thomson ; umpire, Mr J. 8. Monok ; starter, Mr F. Pavitt. The committee proceeded to consider tho order of programme, which was decided to bo tho same as last year. Tho prizes in tho Ladies Plate, a four-oared race over a mile and a half course, were fixed at £ls first and £3 the second prize ; ‘ v at for the junior fours was increased to £l2 ; tho prize in the trial fours was fixed at £lO. The distance for tho swimming race was fixed for 300 yards, to be an open race, in singlet and trowaorp, tho prizes to be a cup value £3 ar.d £1 for a second prize. It was received that Mr Monck be requested to lay eff the courses. The meeting then adjourned. Ashucbton R.M. Ootjet. Yesterday, before the Mayor and Mr R. Alcorn, J.P., Charles Dancer, William Purser, F. Parnell, and J. Seymour, laborers, were charged with having stolen three fowls, worth 6d, the property of Mr William Byrne, of Rakaia. The evidence showed that the door of the owner’s fowl-house had been tampered with. Ho gave information to Constable Rome, and they went to a oamp, a quarter of a mile away, where the prisoners lived. They were at breakfast, and on their tent being searched a sack (produced) was found with the birds inside, with their necks wrung, Tho men then offered to pay for tho birds, saying “ it trail a drunken spree.” Bach prisoner was sentenced to fourteen days’ hard labor for this offence, a not nnfrequent one just now in

Good Tempiaey. —A highly successful open meeting in connection with the Woolston Lodge of Good Templars was held in the Temperance Hall on Monday evening last, Bro. H. Neil, W.0.T., in the chair. Addressee were delivered on the evils of the system, and the beneficial results of prohibition, by Messrs H, Bennetts and 0. M. Gray; recitations, by Mr Abbott; songs and duets, by Messrs Gray and Amos, Misses Amos and Kent, and Messrs Harrington and Amos. Dbamatic Entbbtainmbnt. —The Albion Dramatic Club will give an entertainment this evening at the Papanui Town Hall. Tiib Chatham Islands. —Our correspondent writes :—Our quiet little settlement was thrown into a great state of excitement five days ago by our district constable (assisted by a special constable) marching into Waitangi a female servant from the Wharekauri station, a distance of twenty-two miles, and looking her up in the criminal cell of our island gaol. This was followed by the arrest of another young girl, aged fifteen years, servant also at Wharekauri; and also the arrest of a man called Jewel, a native of the Western Islands. Many were the conclusions arrived at by the public, and some said murder was attempted, and others theft and drunkenness. However, after two days all this was put an end to when the prisoner* were brought before the Besident Magistrate. Mr Obudleigh wai the principal witness and prosecutor. The Courthouse was crowded, and it turned out that the former Lmale prisoner had refused duty on the station, and would not leave, for which she was sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, in addition to the time she had already been in prison. The young female was either ordered to leave the station or ran away, and met with the man Jewel on the road. She asked him to show her the road to Waitangi, a distance of twenty-two miles, approachable by a track only. He (Jewel) took compassion on her, and brought her to Waitangi. A case of abduction was got up against Jewel, but the evidence failed to substantiate the charge, and he was set at liberty, after having been forty-eight hours in gaol. The young female is kept in close custody by the constable, and will be shipped back to Canterbury, per Omaha, to her parents, if she has any, and if she has not, then she will be sect to the Eeformatory. So thus ends the great Chatham Island excitement. The spar rows—the great pest of the colony—have arrived here. They must have come across with the strong westerly gales last winter. They have also been seen on Pitt’s Island. Whales are very numerous around these islands this season. The Alaska, Canton, and Especnlador are cruising here, and have every prospect of making a profitable season. Mr Dion Bouoioault is evidently growing difficult to please. A year ago, when the audiences of the Adclphi rsfused to accept "The O’Dowd,” he complained that the public were unfair to him ; now he has fallen foul of the critics, whom he considers to have unjustly dealt with the unsuccessful “ Mimi,” which has already been withdrawn. Mr Bouoioault has enjoyed considerable theatrical popularity, and he should be content to sometimes accept the bitter with the sweet. “ Whittington and his Oat,” at the Melbourne Princess’s, now ripples along with a most catching liveliness. Everybody seems bent upon communicating some share of vitality to it, and it is consequently vitalised to the limits of possible vigor. The dances have been made especially diverting. That one executed by Mr F. Marshall, Mr E. Marshall, and Mias Gray is one of the best examples of terpsiehorean grotesquerie ever seen. For it is curiously comic, and wildly erratic, and yet it is not in any way extravagant. And the comic duet of the Messrs Marshall is encored until it must provoke them into expletives to have to return so many times to the stage ; although there is a belief in the common mind that such topical songs are intended to be sung with an exit after each stanza. It must again bo remarked that the scenery at this theatre is in itself an arteducation, and it could be wished that all young scenic artists would go and study Mr Gordon’s work, so that they might haply acquire some of the spirit with which it is wrought out, Mr Charles Wyndham will play the hero in

“Poggarty’s Fairy,” the new Christmas piece at the Criterion.