EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1660, 29 January 1906, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

POTJAWA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Jan. 22. The weather here up till now has had nothing of summer in its composi- | tion, although warm enough at times, still hardly a day has passed without rain for some considerable time ; for i instance, a heavy downpour fell at midday of nearly two hours’ duration, having all the appearance of a thunder- I storm, although there was no thunder in evidence, naturally the effect of so much moisture at this season of the I

year, is that there is a phenomenal growth of grass everywhere, conse- I I quently stock of all sorts are in the pick of condition. I A fine mob of fourteen hundred odd I I fat lambs, the property of Mr Fraser I and Mr Mclldowie, went from here | last week, the majority being destined for the freezing works, also a consignment from Mr Baker, for sale, will I ■ staH to-morrow. |

Unfortunately the potato blight has made its appearance in the district. Most of the settlers are taking time by the forelock and digging the potatoes before the disease can reach the tubers.

The Whangava natives, under the advice of Mr Fraser, school teacher, are diligently spraying their later sorts of potatoes in a hopes of checking the ravages of the blight as much as possible, and it is to be hoped they may be successful, as the failure of the main crop would be a very serious affair to them ; in fact to all and sundry. The Whangara school re-opens on Monday, the j29tb, after the summer holidays, when Mr Fraser hopes to see a full attendance of old pupils, and as many new ones as possible.