The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908. FRUITGROWING INTERESTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2176, 28 April 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1908. FRUITGROWING INTERESTS.

The presence in Gisborne of Mr. AA’. A. Boucher, the Government Pomologist, should stimulate interest- in the work the Agricultural Department is doing on behalf of tho fruitgrowing interests of tho Dominion. As a- matter of fact considerable ignorance exists in this jhstHct concerning the scope of that work. For sbme time now the Department has, at its various experimental stations, been conducting exceedingly valuable experiments in the growing of various classes of fruit trees with a view to discovering thoso which are specially suited to different districts. This, of course, is work that can never bo left to the private grower, who will naturally only cultivate .those varieties whicli are known to be profitable, leaving to others the losses that are bound to occur while experimenting. Y'et it is only by practical experiments founded on the latest scientific knowledge that the best results can be obtained in orchard work. As the result of the Department’s efforts in this direction, the Government experts are now in a position to give valuable information to orcliardists in all parts of the Dominion as to the class of fruit trees that are likely to yield tho best returns in different localities. Perhaps tho most striking work that has been done, however, lias been that connected with the combating of the various posts that are such a scourge to the fruitgrower. For many years Mr. Boucher has been conducting experiments with a view to enabling the farmers of tho Dominion to prevent tho tremendous wasto that is caused annually by iusects that xirey oil tho trees and their fruit. Considerable success has been achieved in this direction, and it is a matter for regret that the- benefits of the work accomplished have almost entirely failed to reach Poverty Bay. Thus tho Department lias discovered a, treatment by whicli the codlin moth .can bo almost completely exterminated from an orchard. It has been so successful that in many orchards in the Auckland district where tho pest liad practically been ruining the entire crop, its damage has been reduced to one per cent. Splendid work has ben <iono in keeping the fruit fly from. getting a hold of Dominion orchards. It- has been introduced to our parts, but fortunately Air. Boucher’s staff lias been equal to the occasion, and the übiquitous insect, which has absolutely ruined huudreds of orchards in Australia, has made little headway here. Extraordinary vigilance, however, has. been required, and other portions of tho Department’s wonc have to some extent suffered in consequence. AYhilst on the subject of pests, it should be mentioned that the orchards of Gisborne and the surrounding district are in a disgraceful condition, and, as local' consumers knew, it is an extremely difficult matter to purchase a- case of sound fruit iu the town. There is scarcely a pest known in New Zealand but flourishes hero, and there is no serious effort made to check their depredations. That his state of things should exist is, of course, a reflection upon our farmers and the district generally. Probably no part of the Dominion is more suited for the growing of fruit, and if local orcliardists would but make a scientific study of the work, growing only those varieties which are profitable to market, and keeping their orchards as free from disease as possible, the industry would quickly assume very important dimensions. In this connection we would suggest that the time is ripe for the formation of a- local horticultural society, whicli would include in its membership all who are interested in orchard and garden work. Such a body could accomplish very useful work by having occasional meetings and discuss-

ing tho noeds of the district from an horticultural point of view. Frequent visits from Government experts could ulso bo arranged, and stops taken for members to hear addresses Irom such men ns Mr. Boucher, Mr. Jacques, the canning export, and Mr. Isaac Hopkins, tho Government Apiarist. Tliorc is no question but that in the years to come Poverty Bay will bo ono of tho cliiof fruit-raising centres of tho Dominion, and tho occupation will prove quit© as profitable as any othor connected with the cultivation of tho soil, but that time will bo long delayed unless local orcliardists are prepared to go to a little trouble at tho present time to place tho industry oil a proper footing.

The Gisborne Orchestral Society will liold its annual meeting in Townloy’e ilall to-night at 8 p.m.

The Postal Department has forbidden tho transmission of money orders and correspondence to tlio National Agency, Melbourne.

Since the introduction of tho Syd-liey-Melbourne telephone the rocoipts iiavo averaged about £OS per week. The toleplione is shll being worked at a loss, because, in order to pay its way, over £7O a week would Jiavo to bo taken.

A movement has been on the tapis for some time past to bring about a federation ol : tho trades unions of Poverty Bay, and it. is understood that ah next Saturday’s meeting of the Typographical Union notice of motion will be tendered to givo practical effect to the scheme.

Mr. Frank Harris, who is a candidate for the vacancy on the Gisborne Borough Council, advertises his address to tho electors in the “Times” this morning. Mr. Harris claims to he a mail of progress, having served the ratepayers on other public bodies, including the Harbor Board, and asks lor a continuance of their confidence. At a sitting of the Old Age Pension Court yesterday morning the following renewals were grantedAVilliam Miinro £26, John Carron £l9, Janies Jackson £2G, Bridget Roo £2l, Jaiio Meltae £22, Elizabeth Martin a. 26, Thomas AValmsley £26, Henry Edward Grccvos £25, Robert Stewart £26, Napia To Paka £lB, Hoera Ngaungau £lB, Honarieta Mangere £lB, Bulimia Toliu £lB.

The Salvation Army Harvest Festival was continued last evening, when Brigadier Albiston delivered ail address upon tlio Army’s work in reforming inebriates on BolPs Island. The lecturer described the of reclaiming drunkards both in New Zealand and Australia, and at the close was warmly applauded. Tonight the festival will be brought to a close by a sale of produco.

Amongst tho offenders for drunkenness at the Police Court yesterday moaning was a- young man, who, several years ago, after having gone through the Boer war with ono- ol the Imperial regiments, wont Home, expecting to come into possession of an estate valued at £16,000. TTnfortunately for him, extensive litigation ensued, and ho eventually only received some hundreds of pounds. This so disheartened him that ho spent his portion in a rather riotous manner, and finally drifted to the Dominion, where lie continued bis dissolute habits, with the result that lie is now enjoying His Majesty’s hospitality lor a period of 14 days.

From the “Lyttelelton Times”: “As a farmer and as a man,” said Mr. Kennedy to Mr. T. B. Howson, before tho Conciliation Board, “do you think it would be right t 0 let the .Farm •Labourers’ Union dio out now tliat it. has reached its present strength?’ ‘I think that the sooner you bury it the better for New Zealand and all concernod.’ ‘Supposing that there is no chance of burying it?’ Opinions differ on that. I think it’s oil one crutch already, and when it gets on to tlio other it will soon be knocked over.”

Says the “Mauawatu Standard” : —A popular Scot, known to his friends by tlio familiar name of “Kiltie,” who arrived in Palmerston for the Caledonian Society’s sports on Easter Monday, wended his way to tho Show Grounds by mistake, and looked vainly for tho sign of a familiar kilt among those who were present. Needless to state, lie found none, and when he was told that ho was in the iiresence of the Methodist Bible Class campers,-the well-known wrestler, wlio is said to know no fear, fled incontinently and made, all linsto to placo a safe distance between himself and the campers.

iSomo idea of the importance of providing ample facilities for the convenience of the members of the crews of the American warships when at Auckland may be gleaned from an account of a. recent visit of American warships to Rio de Janeiro. Extracts from this report, which were quoted at a recent meeting of citizens in Auckland by Air. Prickett, American Consul-General, showed that at* the currency exchango established at Rio de Janeiro no less than 80,000 dollars were changed lor Brazilian money. 'The free facilities provided for letter-writing were also largely availed of, some 11,000 sheets of notepaper and 0000 envelopes being U6ed by the sailors in connection with their correspondence.

Air. Fawcus, one of the Auckland delegates to the meeting of the National Defence League, called attention recently to the employment of foreigners in our mercantile marine. Ho said that in Auckland quite 60 per cent, of the sailormon belonged to other than British communities. Air. Fawcus, himself an “old salt,” (lid not attempt to decry the seamanlike qualifications of these men; but ho vchomently deprecated their employment on the score of cheapness, when there were British-born sailors who wero capable of manning our boats, and plenty of boys and youths within the Dominion, who, if given tho opportunity, would gladly learn to “hand, reef, and steer,” and qualify theinselyes for a seafaring life.

It is not merely jtjio Maori himself wlio is the personification, of “Taihon”.(remarks the N.Z, Timcp). Laws affecting the race seem to have been framed in the same spirit-, and there is often interminable delay in bringing native matters to a conclmion. Some years ago a Maori in the Ty ilpo district was offered £lO an acre for five hundred acres of splendid flax which he owned. Being of an industrious turn of mind, and' believing that if the pakeli.a could make money out of if piter paying £lo' an aero, thero was something in it lor himself, lie declined the offer, and proceeded to raise money by mortgage to erect flaxmills for himself. It took him four years to get the matter concluded, and now that lie has erected liis flaxmrll the price of hemp has fallen far below the paying point, and lie is a ruined man.

Technical education is proving itself a. great factor ip social life, and the rising generation of girls are learning the names and uses of the many varieties of utensils required in the modern kitchen. Later they will remember that Parm-11/s ironmongery is the place that mother recommended. This week it*s Flour Sifters #£ lOd each, at Parnell’s Popular Saturday Sale.

Dr. Coker wishes to notify his patients that his day telephone in No. 32, instead of No. 313, as previously

He went to the butcher, also tho ! baker; He went to the grocer and cabinetmaker ; He even inquired of the new undertaker; And asked the distiller and brewer! And all of them said That for colds in the head, And the best for the chest as proven •by test Was Woods 1 ' Great Peppermint

Tho Gisborno Harbor Board yesterday decided to at onco take legal proceedings to recover all over-duo rates.

Tho following extract is taken from tho Gisborne District High School Magazine, and is given as printed: “James I. was very unclean in his habits;’ ho never washed his hands and married Anno of Denmark.”

Tho Gisborno Fire Brigade last night held a very successful trial with tho To Arai water. One team worked ICniti, and ono team Whataupoko. The pressure guugo at Whataupoko registered lOOlbs, and a good jot of water was thrown right over Dr. Williams’ two-storeyed liouso from tho far sido of tho road. At a meeting of tho Brigade, hold subsequently, Supt. Townlcy presented ex-Fire-'man A. Wallace with three gold bars won at the recent local competition.

A press telegram from Wellington last night says: Tho marblo bust of tho late Mr. Seddon, executed by Mr. Nelson Illingworth, was placed in the main entrance to tho Government Buildings to-day. Its permanent home will bo in tho Parliamentary Library. ' Tho bust stands upon a pedestal of polished green granite, upon tho front of. which tho. name “Seddon” is inscribed in bronze. Tho height of tho bust with its pedestal is 6ft Gin.