DISTRICT NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS

PUKERAU NOTES. (From Our Correspondent.) The weather experienced during the month has been of infinite variety, a period of hot days and cold nights having since been followed by some strong winds and cold rain showers. Sunday’s weather, however, was such to gladden the hearts of the man on the land. A warm rain fell for the greater part of the day," and in the evening a strong sou’ wester brought further soaking showers. The moisture is just what was required for the turnip crops and the late-sown areas which had been very slow in coming away, should now make rapid headway. Turnips sown before Christmas have done well, and on some farms thinning and scuffling are being pushed on with. There has been a riotous growth of grass everywhere, and stock of all kinds are in fine fettle. An increased area is being utilised for hay, and the acreage being kept for seed, both ryegrass and dogstail is above the average in this district. The oat crops are up to the average in appearance; but most farmers are only growing sufficient to provide horse feed. The autumn-sown crops are getting a bad doing from the ravages of the small birds, this pest seems to be worse this year; flocks of sparrows invade fowl runs and stables wherever grain is to be found. Shearing operations are nearing completion; this work has been delayed on account of the shortage of shearers. Several growers have sold their clips to the Gore buyers at satisfactory prices, but most of the wool from the district is railed to Dunedin and Invercargill and submitted to auction. The fat lamb buyers are getting some good drafts of fat lambs; on the dairy farms especially the percentages of fats off their mothers are above the ordinary. The supply of milk at the local cheese factory is being well maintained, the daily intake being slightly in excess of last year's supply at this time. A local resident, who goes in extensively for pig-raising, has recently had the misfortune to lose over 40 pigs of various sizes, the animals succumbing to some mysterious disease which attacks the respiratory organs. The tennis court and cricket pitch, which were practically deserted during the holidays, are now being well patronised in the evening. The cricketers are looking forward to the resumption of the weekly matches. The annual picnic and the school excursion this year to Riverton are events of’ interest to take place shortly. TENNIS. BALFOUR v. RIVERSDALE. The second round of the Campbell Cup competitions commenced on Saturday, when Balfour met Riversdale on the Balfour courts. The Balfour team won by 12 sets to four, the games reading: Balfour 82, Riversdale 53. The following are the scores (Balfour names appearing first) : Combined Doubles: Mrs Wilson and Livingstone 6; Miss Grant and A. Savage 6 v. Mrs Knowles and T. Steel 4; Miss Liddell and R. Wilson 6 v. Mrs Stevenson and J. Jopp 4; Miss Sheed and G. Sproat 6 v. Miss Knowles and Mr Lynskey 1. Ladies’ Doubles: Mrs Wilson and Miss Grant 6 v. Miss Stanton and Mrs Knowles 1 ; Miss Liddell and Miss Sheed 6 v. Mrs Stevenson and Miss Knowles 3. Men’s Doubles: Carmody and Savage 6 v. Livingstone and Lynskey 2; Wilson and Sproat 6 v. Steel and Jopp 2. Ladies’ Singles: Mrs Wilson 6 v. Miss Stanton 1; Miss Grant 2 v. Mrs Knowles 6; Miss Liddell 4 v. Mrs Stevenson 6; Miss Sheed 6 v. Miss Knowles 2.

Men’s Singles: Carmody 2 v. Livingstone 6; Savage 6 v. Steel 3; Wilson 6 v. Jopp 4; Sproat 6 v. Lynskey 2.