SANSON

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8949, 15 October 1907, Page 3

SANSON

(AomOur Own Correspondent.) The weather still continues to be about as bad as it possibly can be aiidrtUOthiiig lias boon done on tho land since my hist. Ono of the heaviest gales yet experienced swept over tho district on Friday last and did a jjocd deal of damage, principally iu uprooting troes, ono of 'which crashed through Mr Porrofct's wooltlicd. As a result of so much wot weather sheep aro losing their condition, lambs aro commencing to Bcour and tho position is daily bepoiniug moro serious', as any feed that was saved for tho winter is now (lone and wo havo only the grass to ilepend on. The weathpr is also having a disastrous effect upon the jiealth of tho people. There is hardly a house that there is not sickness of some kind, and a t'ow weoks ■ sunshine is badly needed tc enable {hose indisposed to regain thoir health, | Mr Grant was in tho district last week for tho purpose of meoting those ted in thy forming of a Clfi-n In agricultural science. |He explained that tho course ho intended piying would bo in elomeiifciu-y agri-'jnltni-al chemistry, which amongst - jjthor tilings would enable tho fariiior to understand such terms as diriotassic oxide, phosphoric anhydride etc, so that when biiying manures h-b should have some idea of their composition. Thero would also be

jesting tor hmnus in the soil, each student would bo expected to test for himself and make a note of anything ho observed during the experiment. Altogether the course promines to bo most instructive and interesting and it is hoped that farmers will take advautago of the onpoi tnnity of learning something aboui the subject. Tin) course- will pnufNi; i:J ten lectures, one of which vriliuv given in the school, commencing on Wednesday next. •' The hotel to roplaco tho one destroyed by fire is fast approaching completioa and will be open to the travelling public in about six weeks tiT«e. It will bo a great improveImeut on the old building, which was most inconvenient and uncomfort/jife in every wy, £ J have not Jiriard anything about onr Rifle Olub lately,"but I should think it was about time it hold its animal meeting. It has had a fairly successful year as far as shooting goes, but could do with a few more members. In my opinion the initial cost of forming a club is far too heavy and deters a good many from joining. It costs a new member about £3 10a when he joins, including rifle and subscription, which is far too much, and about 8s for ammunition and marker every time lie attends the range. All that we get from the Defence Department isJOO io\mi\s of ammunition yearly. ■ If the Goveruuieur. wish to. encpurago tUU&iGltitia i'ney should graut' tifu Club a free rifle for every man' sworn ' in'and an allowance of 150 rounds Of amni v-nii tion per year. The value qf good shots was proved during the Jjoer war, where untrained men (.killed iii f lip usa cf the rifle proved fheinsolves quito capable of holding their own against trained and disciplined men. If ever we are called upon to defend this country against r foreign fon o:ir mode, of fighting w'onld of necessity be much {he saipo as that adopted by the Boers, and j'horeford tho Government of this pouutry siionld do all in its power to train tlio male population in the (skilled use of the rifle.