The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1912 A MEIIRY CHRISTMAS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 December 1912, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1912 A MEIIRY CHRISTMAS.

Again has como the season of the year when an intangible hut very real feelings of general goodwill is universally felt. It is a time- now wherein asperities are forgotten, and the communicated spirit of kindliness and friendly fellowship rolls in beneficent waves through the land. This Christmas season in short, is one of uplifting and heartening; a period all too brief wherein miln is man to every man, and the superficialities of rank and place and ' power and wealth are put aside. "Peace is on earth to-day, and goodwill to all men." A Merry Christmas, good readers; a Merry. Merry Christmas! THE TARARUA TRACK. Mu. W. H. Field's movement to secure a track over the Tararna ranges to connect with the Wairarapa is commented upon in favourable terms by the Manawatu Standard. Mr Field's recent note to The Chronicle, it says, "should revivify local interest in these desirable objects." Since the subscription list was opened at '.pie Chronicle Office on Thursday a couple of Levin settlers have put down their names for small amounts, and doubtless there will he many more subscribers before the list is closed. POULTRY AND BEES. Further tabulated matter is to hand from tho Registrar-General concerning tlie results of tho census taken in New Zealand 011 2nd April, 1911. The latest volume runs to 106 foolscap pages of figures concerning the manufacturing and primary industries of New Zealand. Some of the figures quoted are stupendous. Thus, the value of the materials used or operated upon 111 the frozen meiat industry for twelve months ended March 31, 1911, amounted to £6,629,480. Again, we note that the amount of paid up capital 111 public companies registered in New Zealand amounts to over 16-} million pounds sterling, and there is an additional 2} million .pounds sterling invested in private companies. An industry that has shown marked growth in the quinquiennial period is that of poultry. The total number in New Zealand during 1900 worked out at 3,191,604; in 1911 it had swelled to 3,093,137. Auckland led the way with 937,982, then came Canterbury with 747,883, Otago with 696,109 and Wellington with 097,895. Beeikeepiug, however, has shown a decline in popularity. Probably this is duo to apprehension based on the failure of nrnny amateur apieulturists some six o.r seven years ago. In many instances these failures were caused by ignorance of bee history au<l hiabits, and failure to apply proper treatments. Now that knowledge of these subjects is more widely disseminated, and the inspectors of the Agricultural Department are keeping a wary eye open to help apiarists to help themselves, an upward trend in the industry may be looked for. Exactly how great the set-baok has been may be judged from the table which follows Bee- Bee Honey keepers hives produced. 1906 15,396 74,341 1,003,900 1911 11,011 71,605 1,457,429 The one shining exception is seen in the preponderating amount of the honey in the 1911 period. Beitter methods and greater care account for this; 'but the fact remains that the quantities well might have been greatly increased without detriment to tho market and with great financial benefit to tho dominion.