Makerua Plains

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

Makerua Plains

From* Our Own Correspondent, Personal Mrs Norman, eenr., of Taranaki, is visiting her son, Mr B. A. Norman, and Mrs Norman. Miss Dorothy Buglass has returned homo from Palmerston North Where she was the guest of Miss Sybil young. Mrs J. Mabey and family have returned to their home in Campbell's road after an enjoyable holiday spent at tho I‘araparaumu beach. Congratulations to Mr O. K. Christensen, who had considerable success with his pigs at the recent shows. He carried oil four firsts, two seconds and one third at the Horowheuua fixture, and first, second and third awards at the Peilding Show. Mr W. Williams, of Tane road, also was successful in this section at the , Horowhenua Show. j A recent Waiata visitor to the district was Miss Marjorie Brown, who spent a holiday as the guest of Miss Mary Wilson. Mrs R. Redmond and her daughter, Miss Kathleen Redmond, are Pahiatua visitors to Opiki. Mrs R. Mabey, lower Makerua Plains, has had her mother from Hopelands slaying with her foi a short holiday. Mr and Mrs L. T. Webb have as their guest a small nephjw fr to Te Rehunga, Dannevirke district. Opiki Farmers' Union Mr 13. A Norman presided the monthly meeting of tho Apiki branch, of the Farmers’ Union held recently. The proposal put forward by the Domini n Settlement Association for immigration on a large scale was discussed. Messrs. I G Allwright and Wilde were delegated at the last meeting of the Union to report on the proposals and they were impressed by the arguments made In favour of immigration. It was resolved to give ‘full support to such a scheme, providing It did not entail any financial burden to New Zealand. The question as to whether the Union should object to the Government taking control of meat and wool met with a negative response from members. The fact that the sheep farmer generally would fight such a measure was appreciated, but it was suggested that considerable benefits may come if his products were under the same control as the dairying industry. Proposed new regulations regarding importation of live stock into the Dominion was discussed. It was considered that the foot, and mouth disease was the worst scourge mat could be introduced into this count:y. Suggestions came forward that new regulations be made absolutely water-tight. Tho secretary was Instructed to write to the V ellington Automobile Association asking that the road information at. me Opiki school corner be corrected. At present the sign points “Opiki, 4 miles,’ down the “no-exit’’’ Opul road and tins lead 3. to confusion among the travelling public. The chairman and secretary, Mr. B. A. Norman and Mr. G. J. Wilde respectively, were commissioned to wait on the chief postmaster, Palmerston North, as to tho possibility of obtaining an official postal address lor the district. It must be understood that for the postal authorities no places such as Opiki or the Makerua Plains exist. The present address, i.e., Fitzlierbert West and th-3 Mangawhata rural mail deliveries, misleading and a change is ieouired now that the Makerua Plains .o't b». orm *ome importance in the Manawatu. Farm and General. usually at this season or the veur tiie plains, nivr a especially the silt land.:, show a tendency to become sun-bakeu and blown. Such have boea the vagaries qt the weather clerk that, v. imrever one looks, the same green pastures may be observed and dairy *delds have remained at the same level £>cc« j cingiy Flood protection banks a:-? still covered with goatsrue in the late flowering stage. In some cases this weed overruns paddocks and has been spread to the Makerua Plains highway. There is a possibility that many readers ouside the plains may not be familiar with this member of the weed family. Having this in mind we will endeavour to describe it. Growing up to a height of four feet or over, goatsrue is bushy in habit and trusses of delicately tinted mauve llowers stand up boldly from among masses of vivid green foliage. The most remarkable part about the plant is its long whiplike roots, sometimes over three feet in length, which add to tho difficulty of eradication. Cutting, digging out and firing have all been tried unsuccessfully tor where ground has been ploughed seedlings come up in their thousands. One farmer a short time ago cleared his paxidocks and resowed with Hawke’s Bay ryegrass. To-day this same paddock is a mass of goatsrue, to such an extent that the grass is invisible. A field of goatsrue in bloom is an attractive picture for the artist but unfortunately not for the farmer. Residents will no doubt be interested to learn that the writer actually saw a goatsrue plant treasured in a Christchurch garden while in the South Island some years ago. It has been suggested that the Agricultural Department be approached with a view to finding out if there is an effective eradicator but nothing has been done as yet. An Opiki resident has a novel arrange- . meat which has attracted some interest ; among his neighbours. He has never been known to keep a time-piece for more than a few hours without it being in the missing list, so when a wireless mast was in the course of erection he had an idea wihch has got him out of the difficulty. A pulley with a rope attached was fixed to the top of the mast and when dinner time arrives a flag fluttering in the breeze tells its own story. A code has been worked out and flags of different colours act in time of emergency when he is at the back of tho farm and away from reach of call. During the recent changeable weather of a fortnight ago the flag summoned haymakers to the scene of the fray whenever the sun ed from behind the clouds.