WAIKATO NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 222, 5 January 1910, Page 5

WAIKATO NOTES.

Own Correspondent.

"Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow. The year is going, let it go, Ring out the false, ring in the true." Most of us heave a sigh of relief to know that 1909 is no longer with us. It has been a mixed year locally. We have suffered from the worldwide depression; we are recovering along with the rest of the Dominion, and with the. coming of .1910 we all feel that better times are in store for Waikato. The present season, in spite of a nearly diy December, has been almost a record one for butter production, and generally things are improving all round. The New Year came in very quietly here. „ The churches held watch-night services to welcome the new and speed the passing year. Hamilton was dead on New Year's Day. There was absolutely n'othing doing and no sign of life beyond the exodus of excursionists and picnic parties. The weather was showery but not unpleasant, the rain which had fallen the previous day being badly needed.

Beekeepers will be interested to luarn that the Waeranga Experimental Farm is rearing for sale specially selected Italian queens, and has published a leaflet giving prices and instructions. The industry is rapidly spreading in Waikato, and a number of people are now exclusively engaged in profiting by the habits of the little busy bee.

We have had a perfect eighth plague in the numerous mason bees which have invaded the district. This industrious little insect builds, an elaborate series of clay chambers behind any suitable furniture, such as pictures and books, or in keyholes or spouts, - or again, amongst clothing. You go for a working suit, which has been hanging up for a few days, and shake it, dislodging dozens of stupified spiders placed in the clay cells by the bee. Or you take down a teapot, not in daily use, and find it won't pour. The busy bee has been at work there! Whooping cough has been very prevalent amongst young children in Hamilton these past few weeks. The attacks have been generally mild but the ailment is very contagious unless strict precautions are taken. A small fire occurred in Hamilton on Thursday night, destroying a small building containing a chaff-cutting plant, belonging to Mr Millen. Building and plant were valued at £6OO. What is the cause of the disparity in prices of Danish and New Zealand butter? A difference of-15s per cwt in favour of the Danish article. Various writers give various opinions, and I give mine for what it is worth.. Immense quantities of -Danish butter go direct to the North of England for retail sale. In winter the price rises to Is 3d to Is 6d per lb. If at wholesale Danish fetches 120s to 127s per cwt, then there is a margin of profit when it sells retail at 140s to 168s. New Zealand butter, on the contrary, is practically never sold "neat." It is used for blending. Immense quantities are whisked into Devonshire, where it is mixed with the local article and sold in fancy pats a«. u "Clotted Cream" butter or "Devonshire Cider" butter, or whatever fancy name the ingenious blenders care to give it. Still, our butter should fetch just high a price as Danish.