GENERAL NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 196, 28 November 1910, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS

The number of Maoris and half-castes attending the Government Native schools is 4121, mission schools 231, and public schools 4434. Very dry weather lias been experienced in Marlborough, and if rain does not fall soon there will be no crops and no feed on some stations. Many farmers have a deep-rooted preI judice against dandelions. A Wairarapa ' agriculturist gives it as his opinion, however, that the weed which has hitherto been rejected is not to be despised. He holds that it contains many of the elements which are needed to enrich the soil, and that when ploughed in it is decidedly beneficial. Tme farmers of Idaho have recently been advised by one of their number to plant "nothing but college-bred wheat." By this he means seed 'that has been obtained from the agricultural colleges. The advice is due to his own success in getting a yield of sixty-three to the acre from such wheat, as against only forty bushels from wheat that has not enjoyed the benefit of a higher education. A circular has, been issued by the secretary of the Labour Department to those farmers who agreed to employ boys to be brought from Great Britain. The circular explains that Mr. Sedgewick, who originated the scheme, found great difficulty, on his return to England, in securing the money to defray the cost of the lads' passages. However, he ultimately succeeded in securing the capital, and selected fifty boys who were, in his opinion, up to the requirements of the New Zealand farmer. Every effort was made to get the lads out to the Dominion in the early spring, but the delay over financial matters rendered that impossible. A cable lias been received by the -Department to the effect that fifty boys will leave England by the s.s. Athenie on December 8, arriving in the Dominion on January 8, 1911. Before ambarkation fehe lads will be examined by the High Commissioner, who will satisfy himself that they are not only physically sound but also fitted foi> the work they are intended for. The circular asks the farmers concerned if they are still willing to engage the boys on the terms already made public. ,