DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

NORFOLK ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondents). The result of his invitation to the settlers of the district to attend his lecture at Norfolk Road school on Tuesday evening, 23rd inst. must have been distinctly disappointing to Mr. Sergei, the agricultural instructor of the Taranaki Technical College, for there was i.nly a very small gathering. No doubt the roughness of the weather and the absence of the moon partly accounted for the siualliieos of the audience. However, those who could have come and did not, have themselves to blame for missing a very interesting evening. Mr. Sergei prefaced his address by asking his hearers to try to attend his winter course of lectures regularly, pointing out the advantages of so doing. Then to show that good had resulted from last winter's series of lectures, he gave particulars of several instances where farmers who had heard his addresses and followed his advice had benefited by so doing. As one instance he spoke of Mr. W. B. Fussell-, of Waiongona, well known as a keen and successful farmer, who had adopted his advice to use rock phosphates, with most satisfactory results to all his crops, swedes especially showing the benefits of their use. H« further reminded his hearers how he had in his last year's addresses insisted on the need of lime for our soil, and recapitulated the arguments he then used in favor of its use and in proof of its necessity. In this connection, he gave as an example of success following the adoption of his advice, the case of Mr. G. Marsh, .of Egmont Village, who took the first jnizc at the New Plymouth show for swedes, and stated that they were grown on limed land, whereas the part of the crop grown on land not limed had been only indifferent. Another need that he had urged last winter on the attention of the farmers was that for deeper and earlier ploughing, and more and more thorough cultivation than is now used in Taranaki, and gave instances of the good results got by acting up to his advice. All this preliminary or introductory address was very interesting, but it curtailed the time available for the main subject of the evening's lecture, "The Pasture." Once launched on this subject .Mr. Sergei held his hearers in close attention. He discussed the methods used in various parts for keeping old pastures in good heart and for laying down cultivated land in permanent pasture, but all through the address was the note of lime, and the roller was insisted on as indispensiblo when successful pasture growing was attempted. The values of the different grasses were discussed in a clear and pleasant manner, such as to sink far deeper into the inner consciousness of the average "cocky" than the stilted style of the trained, theo-etical non-practical lecturer. After the lecture proper was concluded, Mr. Sergei had a kind of friendly chat with those present, going over and enlarging on some of the most prominent points of his address. Altogether the blacklog stickers who stayed at home missed a very pleasant and in-t.-ructive evening's gathering.

RAHOTU. A banquet was held in the hall on Monday evening, over 150 being seated, on the occasion of farewelling five of uir soldiers, viz : Lance-Corporal Hopkins, Ptes. Sharrock, Baker, Ward, and Harrison, who are all home on furlough. Captain Hawkins was also present. Mr. T. P. Hughson presided. A toast list was discussed. Mr; T. P. Hughson jnr., mentioned the loss to the district by the death of Mrs. Wilcox and moved a vote of sympathy, which was seconded by Rev. Featherstone and carried by all standing in silence. Songs were given by Messrs. Hvans, Illingsworth, T. Hughson, -lr. and Manning, and a recitation by the captain, which was encored. Pipes, fountain pens, and wristlet watches were presented to the soldiers just as little momentos from Rahotu. Many thanks are due to. Mrs. Cahdish for providing hop beer for the toasts, which was very much appreciated, also to the ladies for the way in which they laid and decorated the many tables A letter has been received from Signilman WrigH, who is in Egypt, and who seems very fit. Private W. Surgonor, who is a prisoner of war in Turkey, also writes that he is well and passes the time at shovelling gravel. He is being paid and finds his own food. The Ruhotu Cheese Factory have decided to pay out Is 3d for this month. Milk is down to two vats every second day at the factory now.