It must eventually become a large fruit-growing centre, holding its place with Nelson and Central Otago. The soil and climate are ideal. Fruit, particularly apples, pears, and plums grow at Garston without special cultivation or great attention.
The samples being exhibited serve to show what Garston can produce. The fruit consists of apples of the Emperor Alexandria variety, Solway peaches, greengages, and yellow Magnum Bonum and Black Diamond plums.
The fruit is very fine in shape, colour, and flavour. It was grown on the property of Mr G. A. Wraytt, not in a professional way but simply in an ordinary household orchard. The development of Garston as a fruit-growing district has not yet begun, but that it will come is evident from the fruit already produced there.
■ For months past it has been the hobby of a small coterie of women and men in Wellington to hunt out men of alleged German nationality or descent, or sympathies, who are in reinforcement drafts.
At first these statements were made in secret, and a great deal of gratuitous advice was offered to Ministers - especially the Minister of Defence, - but the advice was not accepted. More recently charges against certain men have been made openly.
Names have been mentioned, and the Minister of Defence has been abused for his refusal to regard the warnings of these ardent women patriots. One of the gentlemen whose name has been mentioned was a junior officer in the Tenth Reinforcements, but he is not going forward with the Tenth just yet.
He proposes, instead, to remain behind to take such legal proceedings as may be necessary to vindicate his good name. This he is doing, not because of Government compulsion, but of his own application, and his request was granted.
The news that this foolish and German talk, founded mostly on myth, is at last to be taken some notice of is welcomed by some patriots; but it has caused something of a stir amongst people who have allowed themselves to be persuaded into becoming associated with a certain society, of which the heads have been the chief disseminators of these foolish fables about Germans in our forces.
■ The Foveaux Strait oyster season opened on Wednesday under calm weather conditions, which ensured a good supply reaching Invercargill.
The first launch from the dredging grounds reached Bluff at 7.50 a.m. Most of the cutters got out of port well before daybreak, and were hard at work at dawn. The oysters are in splendid condition (says the Southland Times).
Despite the comparative poorness of the Melbourne market, as the result of the infrequent steamer service, the oyster merchants are looking forward to a very good season. The keen competition manifested last season between the rival firms, and the reduction in price for ‘‘quantities'', produced a large demand from the interior, and the same demand promises to repeat itself this season.
The Western Star states that Captain J. Roderique left on Tuesday to inspect a new bed in the straits further to the westward. It is his intention to work from Riverton and supply the Western district.
- ODT, 7.3.1916
