THE LEVIN CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1918.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 30 May 1918, Page 2

THE LEVIN CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1918.

The military writer of the Wellington "Post" says: Since the heavy fighting ceased, the Allies have an unbroken record of successes and the Germans an unbroken one of failures in tho numerous local attacks aimed at individual points of vantage. But that fact is really no guide whatever to what will happen in tho great battle. All the experience of the' war compels us to face the fact that ground will be lost; and General Smuts does not hesitate to warn the nation that the Germans will como within an ace of victory, though they will not win. Indeed, he has courage enough to admit that the Allies may have to fall back upon their last impregnable line of defence, tho sea itself. Plainly the day of the great battle is fast aproaching; any hour may bring news of its commencement. Tlie Levin Borougli reserves last year brought in a revenue of £624, The Levin Dairy Companythailks to the skill and care of Mr Jas. Smellie, its mjanager— still produces the best butter in the Dominion. At the Otago Winter Show this week, Levin butter secured the first prizes in the principal classes against strong competition. Details are as follows: Box of factory butter, suitable for export: Levin 1, Taieri and Peninsula 2, Canterbury Central 3. Box of butter for export, open to members of the N.Z. Factory Managers' Association: Levin 1, Canterbury 2, Opotiki 3. | Root fungus wllich attacks fruit trees in this district was mentioned to Mr Cunningham, the orchard instructor, during a demonstration at Mr Scobie's orchard in Levin yesterday. The fungus affects the . tree at the bottom of the stock and eats away the bark, eventually killing the tree. The instructor said the remedy was thorough aeration of the soil by cultivation, Vmd the removal of the soil round trees that were found to be affected. The diseased parts should be thrown open to the sun and air, and the soil treated with a solution of carbolic acid, one part to fifteen , of water. Mr Scobie showed those interested a tree which had partially recovered when the soil round the stock was removed. One orchardist mentioned having lost 20 trees out of 100 from the. fungus.

The total rainfall in Levin last week was 41 ■'! points, a little over I four inches.

Mr H. Holland was elected yesterday by nji majority *pf 210 over Mr Coates for the Grey seat.

A quantity of reading matter, including reports of a succesful sale held yesterday by the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union and of discussion at the meeting of the Horowhenua Patriotic. Association, is held over today.

Mr H. M. Payne, for many years headmaster of Queen's Park School, Wangauui, hut who a month ago took over the largest school in Palmerston, at Campbell street, died last night from an attack of pneumonia, after a few 'days' illness.

At tlie sitting of the Military Appeal Board in Palnierston yesterday the cases of E. J. Field (Werarc<a), D. Hannan (Levin), F. M. "Winter (Manakau), M. C. Ingram (Levin) and P. C. Anderson (Levin) were reviewed and again adjourned sine die.

The social held in the Century Hall on Tuesday evening tinder the, auspices of the Methodist Young Women's Guild, proved a very enjoyable little function and the Primary Department of the Methodist Sunday School will benefit to the extent of about £4 12s by this effort. During the evening songs were rendered by Mrs Billens and the Misses Murray and Walker, recitations by the Eev. Haslam, and instrumental music by the Misses "J'" liamson and D. Thompson. As the evening was cold several games were entered into very heartily by the young folic. Refreshments were handed round later on in the evening and just before singing the National Anthem. Mr Gibson explained in a few words that the money raised by this social was to help to fit up the Y.M.C.A. room as an infant room which would be safer and more satisfactory than using the gallery of the (Century Hall ps the teachers of _ the little ones have had to do in the past.

An Oliau correspondent writes: Three (local lads 'liad ail adventure on Monday evening. I hey were going towards the lyulway station when a car pulled up and a number of men and boys alighted and ran towards the lads. U± course the latter bolted and made for the bush, with visions of kidnappers or highwaymen a. la the pictures vividly before _ their minds. Their pursuers caught two of them, however, and then there were explanations. It appeared that three boys had absconded from the Weraroa Training Farm and a search paity was out after them; when the local 'boys, ran it was naturally thought that 'the quarry was in sight. All parties enjoyed the joke—none more so than the burly chief of the raiders—except the lad who took to the bush and lay "doggo" for several hours. His opinion of the proceedings would hardly pass the censor and can be left to the imagination;

During the discussion on the nationalising of patriotic funds at yesterday's meeting of tlie Hol'owliPHim Patriotic Association yesterday, Mr P. "YV. Goldsmith, said one objection to Government control was that tlie Government was a machine. A' Patriotic Society liad some sort of soul wliicli could not be found in a Government. Help given by the Government liad a harsh flavour about it, whereas a Patriotic Society considered every; case on its merits and tried to bring a little human kindness into tlie gifts it made. Mr Goldsmith added that so far as the local Soci-. ety was concerned there liad never been a known case of need which had been turned down or neglected, a fact which needed emphasis in view of tlie criticism levelled at tlie Society by those who wanted an excuse for not giving.

About fifteen fruit-gtowers attended at Mr Jas., Scobie's orchard yesterday afternoon to witness a demonstration of pruning by Mr Cunningham, one of- the Government orchard instructors., The demonstrator dealt with the pruning of Sturmer and Delicious varieties of apples trees and the special treatment of (TohnaT thans to ensure their continued productiveness. The Johnathan —though an apple admirably suited for in New Zealand—has been going out of favour because of the tendency ._ of the tree, to become unproductive in the course of a few years. Mr Cunningham explained how by a system of hard pruning on the lateral plan this tendency could be arrested and the size of the crop maintained year after, year. Tlie difficulty was that orchardisfs allowed the Johnathan to bear too heavily in its early years and (lid not. prune severely enough. The demonstrator stated tliat some surprising results had \been ob- I tained in Hawke's Bay from old Johnathan orchards that I 1 n ' been renovated on tlie lines Jie advocated. Many questions on practical points were asked y those present and a very P 10 1 able afternoon was spent.. A demonstration was to have been given in the morning at Weraroa but had to be abandoned owing to the instructor's car breaking down.

Applications are called for ftie position of Caretaker of the Goli Links. Conditions can be seen at the Borough offices. Applications close on Monday, June. 3 at o p.m.

The Borough Council invites tenders for the material left on the section, the scene of the' late , fire in Oxford street.Some useful ' building '.timber . still remains. Tenders close next Monday and the conditions may be seen at the Borough office.

The following liours of attendance will be observed by the Levin Post, and Telegraph Office, on Monday, June 3 (King's Birthday) : —Post Office: Open in all branches except money order and savings bank from 9 to 10 a.m.; all mails \ usually despatched on this day will be closed at 7.30 on morning of -3rd; there will be no delivery by letter carriers but a delivery of all classes of correspondence, including that usually delivered by letter carriers between 7 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, ■June 1. Telegraph office: Open from 9to 10 a.m. only. Telephone exchange: Open from 8 to 10 a.m. only.

A pleasant surprise greeted the audience at the first annul meeting of the Horowhenua Patriotic Association yesterday whrr. the ladies of |the Levin braroh provided afternoon tea. The effect of the "cup that cheeks" was quite startling. Before its appearance no one seemed inclined to make much comment or criticism on thle Association's work, but the refreshment such a flood of eloquence th-it the pressmen were almost submerged in "copy," and the mcet : ng «' !iS prolonged fo rover an lioir: 1 lie ladies were heartily thanked .or their thoughtfulnees.