Dec. 22.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 4808

The area of oats grown for chaffing is probably larger than for the preceding two seasons, the Marlborough production being estimated at 7,000 acres to 8,000 acres. A considerable quantity, in localities affected by insufficient rain, intended for threshing has been used for chaff.

The areas of turnips and rape have been increased in some districts since the returns were collected by crops of these plants being sown on land which had been occupied by cereal crops fed off or harvested early owing to dry weather.

The dry season in the principal grain-growing districts had the effect of checking the development of the crops to such an extent that some were fed off by stock, and some ripened prematurely and were cut for chaff. The cocksfoot and rye-grass seed crops have also been greatly diminished by the same cause. The rains since the middle of November caused a great improvement in the remaining crops and the pastures.

AREAS UNDER OR INTENDED TO BE SOWN WITH CERTAIN CROPS ON 20TH OCTOBER, 1910.

The Counties of Waiapu and Cook are included in the Hawke's Bay District. The Counties of Amuri and Cheviot are included in the Canterbury District.

THOS. MACKENZIE,

Minister of Agriculture and of Industries and Commerce.

Notice fixing Closing-hours of Grocers' Shops in the Borough of Parnell under the Shops and Offices Act.

WHEREAS a requisition in writing, signed by a majority of the occupiers of all the shops in which groceries are sold by retail in the Borough of Parnell, has been forwarded to me desiring that all such shops in the borough shall be closed as follows: 7 o'clock p.m. on four days in the week, 1 o'clock p.m. on the day of the statutory half-holiday, 10 o'clock p.m. on Saturdays, 11 o'clock on the evening preceding Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and 9 o'clock on the evening preceding any other public holiday: And whereas the Parnell Borough Council has certified that the signatures to such requisition represent a majority of grocers within the Borough of Parnell:

Now, therefore, I, Thomas Mackenzie, acting for and on behalf of the Minister of Labour, in pursuance of section 25 of the Shops and Offices Act, 1908, do hereby direct that from and after the 22nd day of December, 1910, all such shops in the Borough of Parnell shall be closed in accordance with such requisition.

Dated at Wellington, this 21st day of December, 1910.

T. MACKENZIE,

For Minister of Labour.

New Plymouth Borough Council's Abattoir made available for the Purposes of Fitzroy Town District.—Notice No. 1459.

In pursuance of section 15, paragraph (f) (i) of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908, it is hereby notified that the abattoir established by the New Plymouth Borough Council for the district comprising the Borough of New Plymouth has, by agreement between the said Borough Council and the Fitzroy Town Board, been made available for the purposes of the Fitzroy Town District, and that the New Plymouth Borough Council is the controlling authority of the said abattoir.

Given under my hand, at Wellington, this nineteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and ten.

THOS. MACKENZIE,

Minister of Agriculture.

Result of Election of Trustees of a Drainage District.

Office of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 21st December, 1910.

THE following result of the election of Trustees of the Judea Drainage District has been received from the Returning Officer, and is published in accordance with the provisions of the Land Drainage Act, 1908.

HUGH POLLEN,

Under-Secretary.

Judea Drainage District, County of Tauranga— George Hamilton-Grapes. Ernest Edward Denham. David Taylor. Abraham Barke. William Harvey.