LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 February 1911, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

prolonged absence of rain had worked havoc with his crops gonernlly, and, like lii.s neighbours, lie is looking forward anxiously for a change in the atmospheric 'conditions.

The drought is being keenly felt by dairy farmers on tho Ihakara Reserve. A farmer was heard to remark yesterday that his herd was only yiolding 3001bs of milk a day as compared with OOOlbs in the height of tho season. His rape crop had 'been practically mined, while the maize was only a poor lot. The

A large area of green flax, ■belonging to Messrs Craw and Scifert, respectively, was Tjurnt yesterday, between Linton and Tokomaru. Tihe services of over iifty men were required to prevent the fire from .spreading into Linton. It is stated that the beginning of the fire was occasioned a week ago by a. spark from a locomotive.

Levin Domain Board met yesterday afternoon. Mr Peter Stewart presided, and there also were present Messrs J. Prou.se, 11. Proiise, M. Fosella, F. 0. Smith and P. Arcus. A 'balance sheet of the position to the end of the fiananoial year showed a credit in the bank of £3 11s Bd. During the year 250 trees wore planted, and a drain was made ; also the grass was cut. Mr- W. 0. Nation had tendered his resignation as a member of the Board, and it was received with regret. It was proposed by Mr Fosella, and seconded by Mr Smith, that Mr Peter Stewart bo re-olected chairman. This was carried by acclamation.

The bush fires down the coast have subsided considerably, and there is no likelihood of further damage to property unless another gale arises. The conflagration did its work very thoroughly, and has made a clean sweep of many farms. In some cases even the shelter bush was destroyed. Tho grass, and even the soil, is still burning, and will continue to do so until rain sets in. Rain is urgently needed, as no steps can be taken to re-sow the clearings until after a day's heavy rainfall at least had quenched the fires. Settlers have had a very trying time, and many are quite exhausted with tiheir efforts in combating their vigorous foe. Never (reports the Tafanaki News) in till© memory of those who havo had much experience in bush country have the fires travelled so quickly.

In the Ohau district rain is very badly wanted. A Levin farmer stated yesterday that as he had plenty of water on his land his herds and flocks were not in want of feed. Very different was the tale of an ■Ohau settlor. "There is no- water —or hardly any—in the Ohau river," ho said, "and my tanks are almost dry." "While he attributed! this state of things to a considerable extent to the weather, he added, ''The Levin people are taking our" water away for their own purposes. I Lave never known such a scarcity of water." Smaller farmers' bore out these statements, the general opinion being that unless heavy rain soon comes there will practically be no feed in the Ohau district. LONDON STUDIO.—Advt. Pink's timely tale of bandsmen's ways has set some people by the ears, but Truthful Fred, stillbravos their gaze and nothing recks for critics' sneers. With boot and shoe sales well in view, he strives for equity and truth, and always gives good value, too, to man and woman, maid and youth.—Advt.

Berries 2Jm in diameter were mentioned fast night in, "UnttV article In grape culture. This was a mistake. The words ehouffl have been 4iin in circumference. As illustrating the dryness of" th© season it is apropos to record that there are many ™tave trees d ewt around The * giwth has suffered particularly severely.At the Levin stock sales yesterday one thousand fats and two-tooth wethers from Hawke's Bay were sold at satisfactory prices by Messrs Ualgoty and Co,

Mr J. S. Fowler, selector to the Horowhenua reps., is interesting himself in procuring a shield tor competition amongst the senior clubs in the county. So far his efforts have met with a large amount ot success. The milk supply to the various factories in the district is rapidly diminishing, and at the Manakau creamery there has been a drop of about 200 gallons during the past fortnight, the total received now being 560 gallons. One supplier is losing milk at the rate of SOlbs each day. Unless rain soon falls, the outlook for the winter will be gloomy.—Mail.

Farmers at the Levin stock sales yesterday commented on the low price that beef is fetching. "Cattle are dead low," remarked one; but he went on to say he expected! to see a. rise within <v month or two. Oattle, he said, were too far back in the country and the' dry weather was an item that could not be overlooked. February is generally regarded as the cheapest month in the year, because feed is short, and this month there is a pronounced shortage in this direction.

William pears and gigantic plums blushing with diffidence over their •wtraordinary size and quality were left at our office yesterday by MiMarco Fosella. of Kawiu road. They I'ormed excellent proofs of this district's prime capacity for fruit growing, and they wore sampled hy our staff with a relish that recked nothing for the gj-een-oyed, greengaged ■comments which this- paragraph is sure to evoke from the smooth-faced outside contributor to Wellington Freelance who reads this paper so "arefnlly and misrepresents it with equal care.

Mr D. Gardner, of Koputaroa, like other farmers in certain parts of the county,, has not felt the absence of rain to anv appreciable extent. His land is well watered, and he has olenty of feed. "The country round Paiaka bill," bo remarked yesterday, "is as good a.s can be found on the coast. Though this is the driest reason T can remember during the twenty years T have been in that locality, we really cannot grumble. The swamp has always proved a. God-send to us. and to-day we need grow nothing in addition to grass, and we have plenty of it."

A large flaxmiller from the Koputaroa district, in course of conversation yesterday with a Chronicle reporter emphasised the fact that the flax milling industry was in a very parlous state. "The only thing we can look for at present," he humorously remarked "is a cyclone in the Phillipines. That would bo their misfortune and our salvation. The Americans," he went on, "are now using machinery and are putting on the market a second-class article at at very much cheaper rate than they -used to." So far as he knew there was only one island in the Phillipines turning out good quality stuff. The outlook generally was very gloomy. The men who bad been paid off had. of course, left the immediate countryside and so had lessened the spending capacity of the locality.

The dual programme provided by the Levin Amateur Dramatic Soriotv for next Wednesday night, the 22-11(1 of February, will be both instructive and amusing. The celebrated balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet," with fancy costumes of the period, nnd stage setting tof the quaint order of that day, .should he nn interesting attraction. Mrs Charles Banks, one of the most painstaking performers of the socioTv. is to make her first appearance in a. Shakespearian part, that of Juliet, wit.li Mr Obarles Archer as her lover Romeo. The farcical ec-wedy "Julius Rattle's Honevmoon Troubles." is of the .same order of play as "Charley's Aunt," and that also will bo a draw no doubt. The characters in this piece will he taken hv M!iss Maud flnrr. Miss Mabel Sutherland and Mrs diaries Banks, Mr Oharles Banks, Mr Arthur Grover, M Sheldon George, Mr B. Signal and Mr Charles Archer in the name part. Mr John Phillips is assisting Mr Ar"hor in the manipulation of the lighting and musical effects for the balcony scone. Mr Kear.sley leads the orchestra. The box plan will be o]>en at Phillips's.

Statements having been ina<le that Mr J. S. Fowler, selector of the Horowhenua reps., was about to visit Pa.lmerston to discuss, at a conference, the question of tho amalgamation of the Manawatu and Horowhenua Rugby Unions, that gentleman declares that the rumour is absolutely without foundation. Ho says that ho would not attend such a conference, hecause to begin with, he has no authority to do so. Mr .l<Wler is not in favour of the proposed amalgamation. A prominent Levin football player yesterday stated_ that it would be a bad tiring for this town and county generally if such amalgamation took place. He believed tiliere.wouldhea unanimous vote against it._ There is no doubt that this view is the one that is held ■by footballers and the football public of this county.

Mr W. H. Jackson, headmaster of the Masterton District High School, has received a letter which was posted on the ill-fated steamer Eastern, from "Master H. (Bertie) Ah Lop, who went to China with Iris parents some months ago. Tho boy, with his two brothers, who were born and educated in Masterton, have rein China, and have secured responsible positions. "Jimmy" Ah Lop is working as a clerk in H.M. Naval Yard, and is receiving a salary of £7 per month, which is reckoned very good for China. The writer of the letter, H. Ah Lop, is with a Hongkong firm of general merchants "and' commission agents. In concluding an interesting typewritten missive, ho says: "My father has gone back to New Zealand, but he does not want us to go back, as he thinks we can make a better living over here."

Pork is a subject of considerable importance to New Zealand! farmers, and especially to dairy farmers who by (reason of their by-products are enabled to grow pigs more cheaply than any other farmers. It will be interesting, in view of the attention the question of exportation of pork has received and the possibilities averred to lie before the industry, to note that according to an exchange, a table of exports of bacon, Drams, and pork from the United ■Statos for over forty years shows ■that the shipments of 1909-10, ■amounting in round figures to 344,000,0001bs. _ were smaller than for any year since 1874-5. Many years ago the total exceeded 816,000,0001b and after great fluctuations they reached tthe maximum of 967,0000001b in 1898-9. Since 1905-6 they have not reached 640,000,0001b. Evidence all round indicates that the food surplus of the country has passed its climax, and will continue, of course with fluctuations, to decline. The American population increases much more rapidly than the production of food in the United States.

Tlhe Perkinsonwho won the B Grade euphonium solo competition ab the New Zealand Brass Band competition in Palmerston North this week was formerly a member of the Levin Brass Band. Hβ is now in the ■Wellington Tramways Band, which won the B Grade competition.

In the second test selection at the band contest at Palmerston .North yesterday, Wellington Garrison was first in the A Grade, witib 210 points, Waihi Federal second, ana Petone Municipal third. In the a Grade Wellington Tramways was first, Gisborne City second, and Marten Royal third. In the aggregate (A Grade) Wellington Garrison came first, Waihi Federal second, and Wanganui Garrison third.

Wellington, after a tie on the 24st ihead, defeated Wanga-nui in the contest for the Duthie Cup (howling), played at Wanganui yesterday. Levin is to meet the Palmerston Club, next Wednesday, at Paimorston North, in a match for the valuable Dixon Cup now held by a. Palmorston North rink. The Levin team will be W. H. Wilson, W. Palmer G. P. Brown and -T. Pollock (skip).

The moteorological office last evning issued the following weather summary and forecast:—Present indications are for a falling barometer, especially in. the North, but a rise is probable in the South shortly and" southerly and easterly wind may be anticipated, probably increasing everywhere, especially in _ the North. "Warm and humid conditions are probable, increasing cloudiness and rain will probably follow gonerally.

Another instance of the futility of paying the average Maori for liis land in cash lias just come under our notice, says'the Wanganui Herald. A Para-para road native lias recently been paid several -hundred pounds as Ins share of the proceeds of the sale of a certain block. Tf lie returns to his pah. the communistic lial)its of the race will at once assert themselves, ho will hare to share the money out, and before long will liave none left. As be is hound to lose it in any case, he has determined .to get rid of it by bavins; a pood time in town, and ns usual, is spendinsr it on gorgeous clothes and all manner of extravagance. "Money no good to a Maori," he said, when someone spoke to bim on the matter. Tnerefore, as racial custom will not allow him to make a sensible nse oF it he is travelling the same- old road that many have travelled before bim, and when the muter comes and the money is gone* he will do the annual up-conntry native starve on potatoes and sowtbistle. Truly the native is a perplexing problem.

A legend has been going the. round (says an exchange) concerning the advent in the Masterton "dry" area of a sort figuratively known as "The Droppers," whose mission it was to administer stimulating l ; liquids to seeking pilgrims. The plan was to "drop" bottles of malt Honor or spirits, as the case might ho. at a. spot agreed' upon by the. pilgrims— hence the name "droppers." Tt was thought at one time that the story was a fnhle, evolved in the minds of versatile Masterton residents who found -time bnuTing heavily on their hnmK biit apparently it was not all imagination. The sect is said now to have a depot just outside tihe Masterton electorate, nnd the liquor, purchased in quantities allowed hv law, is placed there and then carted into Mnsterton, and "dropped" in quantities, also prescribed by law. to the-order of the thirsty souls who like to gaze into beer when it is long, and the whisky when it is neat. Beer fetches two shillings, and whisky ten per bottle, and it is stated that the turnover is of such a handsome nature, that every Snturdnv nieht the association declares a dividend Fnder the articles of association. duly attested hv a Inwver. nobftdv mnv be snppliod with tho precious hVmid unless he is a member, and a veiled but perfectly significant allo. gorv to those concerned, coupled with mvstic signs, enables one "dropper" to tell another. There 's nlso said to ho a secretary, a

chairman of directors, and a committee, whose solo duty is to sop ■that all liquids are paid for and "dropped" in the right places.