CARTERTON NEWS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10558, 13 February 1912, Page 5

CARTERTON NEWS

(From Our Own Corerspondent.) Mr H. MfcPhee's threshing plant has just put through an excellent crop of oats on Mr Colin Campbell's property at Clareville. In May last five acres were put down in Tuscan wheat, and eaten off by ewes and lambs in August. The crop has just been threshed, and yielded 50 bushels to the acre, in all 8 tons 11 cwt. The wheat has been sold at 4s per bushel, and straw 3os a ton, giving a return of about £l3 per acre. It is compulsory—not optional—for farmers to keep their lands.clear of noxious weeds. At a recent sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Martinborough, a farmer at Pirinoa, named Jas. McDougall, was charged by Mr S. C. Ivens, Inspector of Noxious Weeds, with failing to clean his boundaries and lands of gorso. Defendant pleaded guilty. In evidence, the Inspector stated that every con--sideration had been shown the defendant, and he had done his best to induce the owner to clean his land without prosecution, but no notice had been taken by defendant. He asked that a substantial fine be inflicted. His "Worship agreed . that every leniency had been shown - to the defendant, and pointed out that men could have been put on by the Inspector, and the work done at defendant's cost had he chcsen to do so. A fine of 40s and costs was imposed, and a warning that on lU'xt. appearance in court oil a similar charge, the maximum penalty would be imposed, was issued. In connection \yith this case it will be remembered that tho Whangamoana Estate, a portion of which is farmed by the defendant, was cut up about four years ago. At the time of the sale the estate was badly over-run by gorse, and a few weeks later this was declared a noxious weed by the Featherst-on County Council. A considerable area of the gorse countrj has been cleared during the last few years, and portions which were under dense gorse are now under cultivation. The South Wairarapa Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Association have applied to the North Island Association for July 17th and 18th for their forthcoming ■ show. . The Association has not entertained the proposal of the Hastings Society to obtain the services of a judge from Australia on the score of expense that would be entailed.