Late Local News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 January 1914, Page 3

Late Local News

Our Shannon corresponde- t wired us at noon to-day. A tire at Miranui mill (Slitinnon) occurred this morning (Saturday). The cook's house and ! the billiard room, store and diningroom all were destroyed. The insurances total £1550. A lengthy report on the annual meeting of Rorowhenua Fruitgrowers' Association is crowded out of to-day's Chronicle, but it will appear on Mwuday. Mi- .1. Prouse considers that far too man}- varieties of apples are grown at present. Only about two dozen out of the hundreds of different sorts are really worth planting and orchards should keep to these sorts only, and not trouble themselves with what are simply second-class apples. Mr 11. S. Young, of Levin, was eleventh in a list of forty-three competitors who competed in the prize essay competition initiated by Mr AV. A'ash on the subject of "'AVhat Socialism is." Tho coinpetition was open to any resident in New Zealand and Australia, and several from the latter country competed. The Christchurch correspondent of The Post telegraphs that Mr S. Maunders, who for over twenty years has occupied the editorial chair of the Lyttelton Times, has resigned his position owing to a difference of opinion witn tJio directorate regarding the political policy of the Times. Other resignations from the editorial staff have also been announced. At last night's annual meeting of the Fruitgrowers' Association Mr Neill suggested that the Association* hold held days visiting in turn the orchards of various members of the Association. In this way a great deal of valuable information could be gaine'd by exchanging ideas and comparing the different methods of orchard management. Members consi-l-ered the idea a very good one and it was arranged to hold the first field day in Mr Neill's orchard on Saturday Ist February. The Levin Brass Hand will play a programme in the gardens (Bath street) on Sunday afternoon next, commencing at a quarter past -'3 o'clock. A collection will be taken up in aid of funds of the band. At a meeting of the Methodist officials held in Otaki last night very appreciative references were made to the work of the Rev. F. T. Harris, of Levin. The officials arranged to give Mr Harris three weeks' holiday. The story of an interesting discovery was told to the assembled fruitgrowers by Mr J. I , rouse last evening. A few years ago he noticed that a limb of one or his trees was more heavily laden than the others and he found near the trunk of the tree a bandage round the limb. The bandage had held and to a great extent had checked the growth of the limb. He tried the idea on a tree and the resulf was the same, the tree bore more fruit, the wire bandaging apparently checking undue growth of wood. Mr Pi-ouse said ihat at presenl he had more trees wired up and expected good results. Of course the wire needed watching, and should be loosened.