The importance of shelter

The provision of shelter-trees and hedges for stock depasturing on grass is a most important aspect of farming. As the animals spend the bulk of their time in the fields provision should be made, by the planting of adequate shelter belts or clumps of trees, to protect them from the hot sun and cold biting wind or driving rains. Such an undertaking would quickly pay for itself by means of increased production and a reduction of the numbers of animals sick. Even if trees are a long time in growing their presence on the farm even as saplings will greatly enhance the value of the land on the market. Having provided shelter for your animals, it is certain that you will also profit by an increase in the value of your farm.

Heather eradication

The Tongariro National Park Board has now definitely decided not to permit anyone to introduce exotic plants or animals without express permission from the board, and it has requested those acclimatisation societies which have been permitted to liberate introduced birds to free them as far from the park as possible. The board has carried a resolution that in its opinion the heather should be eradicated. The decision to eradicate the heather had been gained only after a great deal of discussion, and as a matter of fact it had been carried only by a majority of one. Even now there was a move to have the resolution rescinded. The Bruce Trust, which had hitherto made an annual contribution of £1000 to the park, had refused to contribute anything further, and had signified its intention of maintaining this attitude as long as the resolution existed.

Hydro scheme sounds doubtful

The Hon G.M. Thomson said it was interesting to note the Government had granted permission to a commission to examine Smith Sound and the region of Lake Manapouri with the object of setting up a nitrates plant in the country. The proposal would, he thought, defeat itself. It was a proposal to raise £5,000,000 and to burrow through to one of these beautiful arms of the sound.

He did not think the scheme would go far because he did not think it was a commercial proposition that would commend itself in London.

There were sounds with no great scenic attractions, but this particular sound was almost as beautiful as Milford.

Ten million NZers by 2026?

Before the close of the mid-summer conference of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture yesterday, the secretary (Mr G.A. Green) said that there were in Dunedin a number of people who were enthusiasts in the matter of the collection and preservation of our New Zealand native plants, and he suggested that they should get together and form an association for the preservation of our native flora.

"The population of New Zealand is now a little over 1,000,000, but I am sure that 100 years hence it will be over 10,000,000, and the preservation of our native flora is a most important matter."

Get up and dance

The new floor of the large tea rooms at the Wilford Tea Gardens, Anderson’s Bay, has been specially prepared for dancing, being thoroughly sanded with the electric sander. A comfortable lounge room for smoking is provided with large settees and easy chairs. Visitors from abroad are unanimous that these tea-rooms are the most beautifully situated in Dunedin, being surrounded with garden, lawn and native bush, and with an expansive view of the ocean, St Clair etc. — ODT, 29.1.1926