WALTON.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 153, 9 October 1919, Page 1

WALTON.

DRIED MILK FACTORY. A meeting of dairy suppliers was held in the public hall on Saturday evening for the purpose of receiving the report of a committee set up for the purpose of obtaining a dried milk condensory for Walton. There was a remarkably good attendance considering the state of the weather. Mr J. Lawson was voted to the chair, and explained the reason why the meeting had been called. Ho asked Mr A. Gillingham, ( chairman of the committee, to | give the meeting an account of the work done by the committee. Mr Gillingham reported various meetings the committee had had with Mr W. Goodfellow, and the various promises obtained, but of late rumours were going around that Walton would not obtain a condensory. He had written Mr Goodfellow on the matter, and had received a letter in reply which the committee considered was most unsatisfactory and unassuring, and in consequence the present meeting had been called.

Mr Lawson then gave a report of an interview that he had had with Mr Goodfellow that morning, in which Mr Goodfellow had said that it was not a fact that Walton would not receive a condensory as soon as the Waharoa factory was finished. Mr Goodfellow had said that the company had met with many difficulties that had not been expected and much delay had resulted.

A considerable amount of discussion followed as to the value of the promises obtained, and the discussion unmistakably showed the great dissatisfaction that existed at the way Walton was being treated with promises and yet nothing definite and binding given. Eventually the following resolution was . carried without dissent: “ That a more representative committee be set up to go into the dried milk question, as the present promises obtained are quite unsatisfactory, and if the committee is unable to obtain a definite and binding understanding from the heads of the Milk Foods Co., the committee should at once proceed to arrange for the establishing of an up-to-date cooperative cheese factory for Walton in order to meet the requirements of the district.” The committee was empowered to make the necessary arrangements for financing the local concern. A committee of eleven was then selected, with Mr J. Lawson as chairman and Mr A. Gillingham as secretary. The meeting recommended the committee to push things along at once.

Mr J. Wake has purchased Mr J. H. Whitton’s farm of 118 acres at Walton. Mr Whitton had possession for a very short time. Mr F. E. Harris, of Okoroire, has purchased Mr C. Trapski’s farm of 383 acres at Walton. The generosity and kindliness of the Walton people are proverbial. No settler leaves the district without being given an enthusiastic send-off and a handsome present. It is estimated that over 200 Walton men have been on active service. A roll of honour containing 109 names of men who have left Walton is being prepared. The roll, which is being prepared by the schoolmaster, Mr Jenkins, will be well worthy of the district.

Mr A. M. McKay has made a start with the erection of the Walton post-office. The foundations have been laid, and the office should be ready for opening before Christmas.

The recent heavy rains at Walton have done a lot of good to the grass, and the settlers are quite satisfied with the luxuriant growth that is now to be seen. Arrangement have been made for the metalling of the Piako-iti road from the station for twelve chains.

Mr G. Paul, who has sold his farm of 317 acres to Mr Hall, of Hamilton, entertained the settlers of the district at his house prior to his departure. Mrs Paul was made the recipient of a silver cake basket, as a token of the good wishes of the settlers towards Mr and Mrs Paul and family.

Considerable concern lias been felt at the delay in delivering of farm requisites in Walton. One farmer placed an urgent order

with an Auckland firm for two tons of manure. He was informed that the manure left Auckland on September 15th, and on October Ist he had not received it. Boautiful rain has been missed, and the delay might mean many pounds’ worth to him. He did not know the reason offthe delay, but thought the railway authorities were waiting until they got a full truck of goods for Walton. Speaking of Walton land, a newly-arrived settler commented upon the possibilities of the country if properly farmed. It seemed to him that many of the [settlers only half farmed their '.properties, with the result that j when the spring was a bit late they cried out that they were short of feed. They never profited by the previous year’s experience, and the cry is an annually recurring one. Asked what was the remedy for this state of affairs the settler said, “Constant farming. The secret of success is the plough. On my 400-acrU farm I expect to have a four-horse team going all the year round. For spring feed I grow western wolths grass, and you cannot beat it. It is much | stronger than Italian rye. On 20 I acres of western wolths I grazed 290 calves during the last two months, and usually at this time of the year I am selling off fat cattle. Farmers who spend half their time working on the roads cannot expect to make a success of farming.” The speaker said he was very pleased with Walton land, and in a year’s time expected to have his newly-purchased farm in first-class order.