Speaking with several district farmers on Friday, a Balclutha Free Press representative gathered that they would appreciate more State assistance to individual planters.
The majority of farmers, said one, have plenty of bare patches of poor land, which are of no use for ordinary cultivation, but which would grow good timber, and if the Government could be induced to give assistance in the way of trees, instruction as to planting, etc., there are many farmers who would be only too glad to plant out 50 to 1000 acres of trees.
Of course, some obligation would be required of the planter, and with a view to seeing that everyone who received assistance carried out his part, the department could send round an inspector about once a year, who at the same time might be able to render further assistance in the way of instruction as to the best methods of caring for the trees.
As an alternative to the scheme it was suggested that the Government might be induced to give assistance in the way of grasses or cereals which would grow on the poorer portions of land.
•Several passengers arrived at Auckland by the mission steamer Southern Cross, from Norfolk Island, last week. They offered interesting details of the conditions at present existing among the inhabitants of this isolated island.
Money is plentiful at the present time, as there are many ways in which it can be earned. The rain has of late been very severe, and the heavy winds have had a bad effect on the oranges and guavas, though the crops and lemons are doing very well.
An expert has recently been sent to Norfolk Island from Sydney, and he supervises the preparing of lemon peel and lemon juice, which is sent to Sydney by the steamers which call at the island every five weeks.
A freezing house has recently been erected on the island, and fish are prepared for the Sydney market, and they find conveyance in the regular steamers. There is plenty of fish, and it is easily disposed of.
•Mr C. Williams, 604 Cumberland street, has received cable advice that his second son, Bombardier William Cunningham Ashe Williams, has been admitted to hospital, wounded in the left arm (fractured) on October 2.
He was born in Dunedin 23 years ago, and educated at the Purakanui and Albany Street Schools. He was an engineer by trade, and served his time with Messrs Methven and Co., and, later, Wimpenny Bros and Reid, with whom he was working when he enlisted.
Having gained his third marine certificate, he was anxious to proceed with his studies, but, war having broken out, he left Dunedin with the 4th Batter, N.Z.F.A. Fourth Reinforcements.
He was a limber gunner while in Trentham, and left New Zealand on his twenty-second birthday. Arriving in Egypt, he was transferred into the 5th Battery, 2nd Brigade, when he left for Gallipoli, and was there until the evacuation, then going to Ismailia, where he gained his first stripe as bombardier.
On going to France he had the honour of firing the first shot out of his battery on the Huns, and has been continually behind the guns, except for a short spell in the horse lines, until wounded, having been fully nine months in the firing line between Gallipoli and France.
He was a member of the Alhambra Football Club, and also took a keen interest in yachting. His older brother, Private C. H. B. Williams, went with the Third Reinforcements, and was at Gallipoli at the landing.
He was wounded and sick, and sent to Lemnos Island, and next to Pont de Koubbeh Hospital, Cairo, where he slowly recovered, being sent home in September, 1915.
He then volunteered in the Medical Corps of the Fourteenth Reinforcements, leaving New Zealand on June 26. The last letters from him in England stated that he was well and fit, and hoped to meet his brother soon.
His younger brother, Private A. E. A. Williams, signed on for the Sixteenth Reinforcements, but, owing to a slight operation, he was kept back until the Nineteenth Reinforcements.
He is at present on sick leave in Dunedin, but hopes to get away with a later reinforcement.
- ODT, 20.10.1916
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