NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1925, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

A feeling is abroad in the A\ r aikato that owing to the stabilsation. of tho Government resultant upon the recent elections, business in the sale and purchase of land will brighten up considerably, the “Times” states.

Apples and pears in the AYanganui district have not been greatly affected by the unseasonable weather of the last few months, although stone fruits are not bearing as well as usual (states the “Chronicle”). The severe winds have played a good deal ol havoc with some of the young fruit, according to reports.

AVlien application was made at the Napier Supreme Court for the discharge of a Maori bankrupt, His Honour Air Justice Alpers stated (reports the “Telegraph”) that he was always reluctant to grant a dischrge to a Maori. “I will, however,’’ he said, “grant this one to mark my sense of the folly of the Hastings tradespeople in giving credit to a man of this sort.”

“It is necessary to get the lambs away fairly early in Australia, because otherwise grass seed gets, Into tho Jlesli and spoils it. The fat lamb trade there is not conducted on the same dimension-: as it is here—they do it as ii sort of secondary business.*’*—Afr J. \V. Deem, agricultural instructor, who returned last week alter spending two months in Australia, in discussing farming conditions in the (uiuiiionwealth with a AYanganui “Chronicle” reporter.

Tho rain which lias fallen during the past few days is being welcomed by the farming community, especially on the coast, where feed was getting very scarce (says the “AYairarapa Age”). It is anticipated that this shortage will account for heavy drafts of small lambs late ill the season. Most of tho lambs are backward, and a bigger “tail end” is expected than for several seasons past.

“The average return of dairy cows in Australia is very low.*’ remarked Mr .1. AA'. Deem, agricultural instructor. who has just returned from a two months’ visit to the Commonwealth, in the course of an interview with a Wanganui “Chronicle'' reporter. “The cows are probably to some extent to blame for that, hut the want of proper feeding is the main thing. There is no doubt that if they are fed to the maximum they are capable of doing much better Ilian they are doing at the present time,” he added.

A little Imv at a AYanganui school was kept home for the day. and the billowing morning relates the “Herald”) he was questioned by the lady teacher as to why he was absent. Tbe lad replied that there was sickness in the home, and the teacher, always being suspicions of anything in the way of infectious diseases, instructed the lad to bring a note, the context of which was: “Twins in the house, not catching.”

Farmers’ wives and daughters are to he encouraged to form themselves into unions, the lirsl of which in flic Dominion was formed by Mrs C. J. Harris. of Oakura (say.s the “Taranaki Herald”). The executive of iho North Taranaki branch of the Farmers’ I’nion. decided on Friday to invite the presidents of women's unions to attend its meetings. It was stated that brandies bad lately been in the habit of inviting the ladies to their meetings, which was one way of interesting them in the business

Attention was drawn to tho depredation of cattle in the Egmont mountain reserve at a meeting of the South Committee of (lie Egmont National Park Board at Eltham (says the “Taranaki News"). Mr A. Gamlin, of iUanaia, said that more and more cattle wore being grazed in the reserve each year, and the numbers there now would surprise the more sceptical members of the eommitiee. The matter was dis'-u-sod at length, afier which il was decided to recoinim ini t In* board to appoint a ranger for the southern slopes of the mount am.

Il is not often that a barrister is reproved for the choice of words while talcing a case in tho Supreme ,Court. Recently .Mr .Justice Reed had occasion to request counsel to refrain from using a word i relates the Auckland "Star"). Counsel interspersed his address with the word " right-o.” and eonlinued to do so until lfis Honour said: " Please do not use that word, Mr . Tt is not a word that a barrister usually uses in Court, and another thing it gets on my nerves.” Counsel did not again err. In the opinion of Mr .1. W. Deem, of ‘he Agricultural Department, the Governments in the various Stales of Australia were not assisting the farmers to the saine extent, or with such thoroughness, n..s the Now Zealand Government does (states the Wanganui '■ Chronicle “' Right through it roomed to he a general recognition that more would have to he done, and the Governments are endeavouring to build up their staffs for this work.” he further explained. “ Really.” lie added, "we have nothing to learn from them at all. Our departments are better organised to help the farmer than any of the States in Australia. ‘‘Ragwort is going to wine out dairying in Taranaki.” said .Mr IT. .Tones (Kamata). at a meeting of the North Taranaki oxcrutive of the Farmers' Tniim (reports the "Herald"). ‘'Blackberry is a serious menace, hut ragwort is worse. Farmers will ultimately have to go in for mixed farming.” Statements by other members were that ragwort on tlie top of the Kaitake ranges spread its seeds for miles around the countryside through the medium of the winds, that some farmers had actually asked the inspector to servo them with notices to mil blackberry and ragwort, lint had lint received any. and that what at a glance would be a clean paddock was covered with roots of ragwort, growing there from windtrirne seeds.