A MOTOR CAR TRIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 172, 14 April 1908, Page 3

A MOTOR CAR TRIP.

' TOUR IN WAIIJATO AND -BAY OF ■ PLENTY DISTRICTS. . : ' THE FARMING OUTLOOK. : (BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. I Napier, April 13. Messrs. W. L. and S. Luxford, of Palmerston North, who have been on a. three weeks' automobile tour in tlie Waikato, Waihi, and-Bay of Plenty districts, arrived in Napier late yesterday afternoon, having accomplished a'run of 120 miles from Taupo in 9J hours. ..Tho Messrs. Luxford were interviewed by a Dominion representative with ; reference to the outbreak 'of sleeping sickness amongst stock, in the Bay of Plenty.• ' ■.

: "We made exhaustive: inquiries," said Mr. S.. Luxford. " Farmers say it is almost unknown now, in the district. There is no doubt that it was . greatly in evidence at one time, and affected an area of about 800 square miles. Tho cause appears to be a mystery, • but from remarks farmers made I am inclined to think'that the illness was caused by odours from the soil in newlydevcloped 'bush country. Sheep and cattle used. to thrive till .they reached a certain age; then they--would become languid, lio down, jind if they were-not moved -to other pastures, outside of the belt of land affected; they would die. It is somewhat curious that this belt was in the form of a triangle; the apex of - which extended towards Mamaku on the- line of railway running into Rotorua." Farmers: have no recollection of this sickness : manifesting itself in'.. very early days: ; As I stated before, the cau& of tho illness appears' : to be a mystery. Post mortems havo b6en: held, on'scores of, carcasses, and veterinarians have learned nothing from them.- At the..'preseni time cattle and sheep in th,e .Bay .ol'.'iPlenty aro looking sleek and healthy, and 'farmers express the ppinioii.'.Jthat ■ tho : sickness has!.: about died -out."' ,T'~ ' • r ." ;

; In -the course ; of '~furthe'i; conversation, Mr. S. Luxford-'. stated .that ho and his brother were much a]armed at the number of rabbits seen on Native lands in tho Taupo district. . The rodents wore .seen running about oh an average of one a minute for miles, and it seemed a great shame if they were allowed to devastate tho country., On the : road to Taupo there ! were seen many herds -of wild horses, with flowing mains and tails, ■: careering- over tho plains . liko steeds demented. . Asked,- their opinion regarding the farm prospects of: the district through which they had passed, the Mesks. Luxford said, that tlie' dairy stock in the AVaikato were in very poor condition, but fat stock ;were - looking remarkably ; well. -The drought/had given the . 'Waikato- farmers a- bad' time, ■ as in pther'places;, but.'the -Northprners were wonderfully optimistic.- ' Apparently they were not .'troubled over the forthcoming' winter. The maize crops in the Bay of Plenty: woro magnificent. /.Pastures.were looking splendid everywhere, while the turnip crops in the Waikato were superb.- . ' - / Mr: S. Luxford ; thought tliat,-. with its capabilities, the land was cheaper in tho-; Waikato and Bay of Plenty than almost anywhere in this portion of the Island. .The travellers commented faivourably upon the now-sanatorium whioh. the Government is erecting at Rotorua, and which is now about throe parts completed. . The roads were fairly good for motoring, except near Atianuiri, Titiokuru, and Pohui ascent. Titiokuru, the steepest hill : on tho, journey, between Taupo and Napier, was safely accomplished without the aid., of a' horse, which Vj-as sent along by.Mr. Bodley, if Pohui, in case of accident. It was very cold -at the top of tho mountain. There was an icy cold wind, and immense clouds skimmed along just above the party, which experienced a most uncanny feeling. The Messrs. Luxford left Napier this afternoon, and expect tio reach Palmerston North to-morrow morning., v.