LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 3

LATE LOCALS

Items of Interest— Daylight Mining Bill passed and Latest Parisian Ties just opened at Addison's. See windows.—Advt.

Although eliou inouli'ier is successfully cultivated in Southland, attempts to grow it in North Otago have not proved so satisfactory as could be desired (says the “ Otago Daily Times”). The value of the plant for winter fodder is recognised, and efForts are being made to establish it this year on soils that have hitherto not been experimented with. Moisture is said to be essential to its successful cultivation, and as the land lias received a thorough soaking during the last few months, the results may prove better this year than formerly. “It is a subtle humorist, who chooses the code words for the weekly concession tickets on the ferry boat (remarks the Auckland “Star”). He generally produces something topical, and lias not infrequently been known to display a sound knowledge of current racing form. In fact, more than one person has found the name of the Auckland tip winner on his silent advice. For the last two weeks, however, lie has evidently been studying in a different school, and it is not hard to gauge his feelings when last week lie gave “income,” to be followed by “ taxes.” At a recent sitting of the 'Magistrate’s Court in Straford. Mr Tate, S.AL, inquired of the health inspector if milk might not naturally contain too much water as a result of the cows eating particularly succulent grass (reports the Stratford “Evening Post”). Tht inspector was unable to say ■ but a local farmer informed a “Past” representative that a northern dairyman had told him that while his cows fed oil tlie hills there was ml danger, but when (hey fed off tho grass an the swamp, the milk fell below the Government standard as rc- ’ gards Water content.

Stray dogs have become a real nuisance in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (states the “ Sun ”). They are had enough at ordinary times, but they destroy flower-beds, break down plants, arid attack and duck and water fowl, hut in the school holidays, when the gardens are thronged with children, they annoy the little ones, and often are a menace. Five stray dogs were caught in the gardens the other day. After being held for the day, they were released in the evening. Three or four were rounded up the following morning. “ IVe have caught and released one registered collie about six times alrcadv,” said the curator.

‘‘l can say without fear of contradiction that the lambs of the Wellington Province are absolutely the best that go to Smithfield, and it is recognised that they surpass the Canterbury product,” said Mr IV. A. Toms, of Martinborough, at a meeting of the IVairarapa Pastoral ancl Agricultural Association, in dealing with his observations in England of this year's show lambs exhibited in the Old Country. He stated that, taking the produce as n whole, he had been very disappointed with this year's display by New Zealand, ns the carcasses had lacked bloom, and in Hi is direction were no better than the Australian lambs, although their carcasses had more quality. It was considered that, the lambs had been chilled too quickly, and that might be the case. In his opinion, it was a very fine thing to send New Zealand’s ! lambs Home for exhibition purposes, because great interest was taken in the displays, which consequently had a considerable advertising value. There was not the slightest doubt that New Zealand was out on its own. Lambs from the Argentine were like hares, although this did not mean that the Argentine could not breed good sheep, because they could and these were fast becoming of high quality. The speaker stated that there was a lot to be learnt in freezing, and there was no doubt that some works froze too hard. This was the conclusion that had been come to in England, and ' the result of too hard freezing was to I take off some of the bloom.