FROM HERE AND THERE

Shannon News, 31 January 1928, Page 4

FROM HERE AND THERE

HAPPENINGS ELSEWHERE In the Early Days. Old residents of Whangarei toll the following story of the hardship.-, endured by the early settlers in Die district. One woman,- who shall be nameless, had not seen money foi years and years. When she had sufficient eggs and butter, she tramped some miles, to the Whangarei store and exchanged her produce for othei food, and for clothing. Sire left home early for the long tramp, and before leaving she tethered her children to trees near the house. One, day she astounded the storekeeper by saying, "I must have some Money today." Curiously'enough, the storekeeper himself rarely saw money, as the system of barter was in vogue and worked very well. Ho akeel the woman how .much she wanted. "Eightpencc" was the reply. "I want to post a letter home to my mother." The stovekeeper busily searched his shop for the required amount, but all he could find was a shilling piece. One of the children who used to be tethered by his mother is still living in Whangarei a'ud is numbered among tire oldest in habitants. , , '

Calif ornian Thistle. Many fanners find the present month an ideal one for giving attention to odd patches of Californian thistle that will soon be in full flower. An hour or two spent on .these pests with the scythe or grubber will cause them to bleed freely and effectually retard tlveir growth for the present season. Scotch thistle, blocks, and the blackberry pest would also be greatly cheeked if treated now before the seeds mature. Setting a Cross-Cut.

The following" easy method of set ting a cross-cut saw has been contributed ■ by an ex Digger settler,

Place th» saw on the saw-horse and g*et some one to press it firmly against the side. With a small adjustable spanner, screwed down so that it just fits over the top of the teeth, bend the alternate te'eth downwards. Reverse the saw and repeat this operation on the opposite teeth. With a small file sharpen tire teeth just ad justed. Reverse the saw again and sharpen the tips of the. first teeth adjusted. An immense improvement can bo made by any careful amateur in half an hour. Fat of the Land. Railway officials who have been re sponsible for the handling of fat stock this; season state that without going into figures they believe that something like a record has been established, more especially in tire number of fat lambs which have been earned to the various freezers. They state. for example, that unusually large con signments of lambs have been going to the works at Horotiu, in the Wai kato. Railwaymen feel a greater re sponsibility in regard to the carriage of live stock than they do in respect of anything else, and they speak as though they will fool relief when tire strain of the season is over. Royal Show. The question as to whether the Royal Agricultural and Pastoral Show should be held as at prvsont in conjunction with provincial shows in spring ur separaiely in autumn, was considered at a meeting of the Royal Show Society at Wellington this week. After considerable discussion, a special committee was set up to enquire into the advisability of (1) holding future Royal A. and P. Shows" alternately in Palmcrston North and Christehurch, and (2) of holding the Shows in autumn. The members of the committee, will attend the next meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association to discuss the proposals, and will also confer with the Maoa | watu A. and P. Asoeiation regarding j the same matters.

The Friesian. cow, La VertexQuantity of the University of Ne-

braska as a senior four year old has just completed a record of 27,465.5 lb milk and 1062.63 lb fat in 365 days, her average percentage of fat being 3.87 lb. She was bred and is still owned by the University of Nebraska, U.S.,

Men. With Grit Needed. J "It would be a great mistake t< attempt to artificially force settle i nvent in the northern peninsula, because I am sure that there is not in | New Zealand to-day the class of man with capital such as is required, to take up and develop the small holdings available in such great numbers,' said the Hon. O. J. Hawkcn, Minister of Agriculture, when reviewing liistour of the Northland. "The call,' 5 he said, "is for men with some capi tal, men prepared to graft and to live frugally for a few years until their holdings arc brought into a reasonable degree of productivity. Tho land is there waiting, but it is no easy jobj to break it in, and pluck and perseverence are essential ass-ets." Dry Waikato Land. The Waikato is experiencing the worst dry spell it has had for over 14 years. Only half-an-inch of rain fell in Hamilton in December and none ! has fallen this month. Everywhere j the country is dry and parched and the greatest concern is being felt by dairy fanners. The butter-fat yield has dropped by over 25 per cent, this month, compared with last month, arid a further reduction in production is expected unless rain falls soon. Where farmers have paspalum pasture or lucerne or have stacks of ensilage tho position is not so serious. In some cases soft turnips are being fed out, although they have not *.yet matured. In the swamps, there' is still a good deal of rough feed to be had, but the hill country is particularly bare; In marked contrast to the conditions that prevail in the Pukekohe and Tuakau' districts are the Hauraki Plains, where the heavier country, on account of its natural .formation, is not suffering so much. Similar conditions prevail in

the vicinity of Tirau where there appears to have been a little rain. Light Rains in the North - Throughout most of the North Auckland peninsula parched pastures have been relieved since Sunday by intermittent showers, which already have been followed by a freshening of the hill, country. At a time when dairy production has been flagging; through the relative scarcity of feed and when fat stock are pouring into the freezing works in record numbers, the breaking of the dry spell is of incalculable value in sustaining the milk yield and main, taimng the condition of stock ready for killing. Farmers! in the Northland, while welcoming the turn of the weather, are hoping that at least another inch of rain will fall. Friesians at Marton.

There wore 2-t entires in the Friesian section at the Marton A. and P. Show on January, the principal exhibitors, being Major 11. A. Wilson, S. J. Gibbons and «T. P. Morrison. Mr. Morrison won the championship in bulls with Tiak Mcrcena Woodcrest, a bull improving with age and nowvfit to be shown in any company in the Dominion. This bull was one of Mr. N. P. Nielsen's Wilbor Cup winning team at Palmerston North-in 1926. The reserve champion bull was Major R, A. Wilson 's Eainfield P-ietertje Topsy King a bull purchased recently at Mr. F Smedley's sale. Mr. S. J. Gibbon's. Fanny 2nd, won the championship for cow* —a low set, good bodied cow. The reserve champion was Mr. J. P. Morrison's Tiak Marigold. Major R. A. Wilson won the gold medal given by the N. Z. Friesian Association, for most points. Mr. 11. K. Green of Kairang'i judged the section