On Friday the Canterbury Company’s steamer Calm, outward bound, got out of the river channel and grounded when nearing Castlecliff. The vessel, however, had no trouble in getting off some time later, and continued her southward journey.
On Saturday afternoon, at about 3 o’clock, the same company’s steamer Storm stuck in the channel between the moles. Efforts to remove the vessel with the tug proved abortive, but she came off with the tide at about 4.45pm. Little, if any, damage was done, although the cargo shifted as a result of the mishap. The Storm arrived at Dunedin yesterday afternoon from Wanganui direct.
Ideal food for livestock
The preservation of fodder plants by means of ensilage has long been recognised as a most valuable means of insuring the farmer against drought and pestilence. In the North Island especially, silos are springing up in every district, and each season sees more dairy farmers transferring their allegiance from the old-fashioned dry fodder of the haystack to the more succulent and nutritious food provided by the silo. In almost all other dairying countries in the world the system has been adopted entirely, and all classes of farmers are using ensilage. Indeed, in most of the farms in Taranaki ensilage has usurped the place of the haystack, and has now become one of the essential parts of the years’ operations. The importance of this food for live stock generally cannot be exaggerated.
The making of plants into hay does not improve the nutritive qualities, but the preserving of the same plants by means of ensilage results in a big increase in the nutriment of the fodder and makes it much more digestible. It has been stated by good authorities that the processes passed through, and the changes effected, in the making of ensilage are practically identical with those which take place in the first stomach of ruminants.
Successful civic enterprises
The net profits of the trading department of the City Corporation for the first half of the financial year will be read with interest and satisfaction by the citizens. Even a protracted winter and an unusual succession of wet days apparently have their compensations, since the chairman of the Finance Committee of the Council traces their influence in the increased consumption of gas and electric light and power.
The Roslyn tramway service has unfortunately shown a loss on the six months’ working. The cable portion of this service has frequently been unsatisfactory. It supplies the one blot upon a record that is otherwise highly gratifying. The net profits of the other departments of municipal activity are as follows:
Electric power and light £23,582 9s 6d
Gas £12,494 17s 8d
Water £11,055 1s 9d
City tramways £6,650 12s 10d
Mornington tramways £941 9s 4d
The citizens are to be heartily congratulated upon results such as these which afford the promise of a return at the close of twelve months that will redound greatly to the credit of the city. — editorial — ODT, 16.10.1925
