WALTON.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 155, 23 October 1919, Page 1

WALTON.

The withdrawal of Dr Knight's herd from the Richmond Downs estate has bad a serious effect upon the work of the Richmond Downs cheese factory. A year ago there were eleven suppliers at the factory. There are now six suppliers. The number of cows supplying tbe factory has been reduced from 450 to about 150, while the quantity of milk received has fallen from 750 to 360 gals. Referring to the position yesterday, one of the directors mentioned that the factory would continue to carry on. There was only one vat in use, and this necessitated the employment of one man instead of two. Less coal was being used, ft was hoped that dairying would he taken up by some of the purchasers of the sections on the estate. ■ i

Mr J. Lawson, of this district, has just obtained delivery of his yearling Jersey bull from Mr C. Dormer, of Cheltenham. It is a sonofWaipilco Myrtle, who produced 562.49 lbs of butter-fat as a senior two year old- It is very dark in colour and undoubtedly well grown for its age, and shows every indication of developing into a very fine beast. The editor of the New Zealand Dairyman said at the time of the purchase, “ Mr Lawson is to be congratulated upon his enterprise in purchasing such a well bred bull to head his dairy herd-” Deer poaching has been prevalent at Walton for some time past. Some years ago deer used to be frequently seen ofl the lower levels d Js® i?jy.Kwlju^S^TTr^' sfat'e and on properties near the factory. The depredation of poachers have reduced their numbers very considerably, and few are seen now on the estate. They are believed to bo still fairly numerous well back in the bush.

A truck of prime fat steers grown by Mr J. Price, of Matamata, on his property at Walton were sent forward to Westfield yesterday. The beasts were in particularly fine condition, Messrs Thrupp and Henderson are engaged on a 70 chain road metalling contract on the Piakoiti Road. The road is being considerably widened and improved. A meeting of farmers was held at Walton on Saturday night to further consider the proposal to establish a condensory for dried milk in Walton. A communication was received with respect to sugar of milk, but it was decided to defer consideration of this. Mr W. Goodfellow, manager of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., wrote suggesting a conference with regard to the dried milk scheme. It was resolved to appoint a deputation to wait on Mr Goodfellow at Hamilton on Oct. 28th, the deputation to report to a further meeting. Several settlers at Walton have been busily engaged for some time past in farming an area of several hundred acres of swamp country lying in the vicinity of the railway station. The land has been given over to rushes, and has the appearance of never having been worked. A great change has been wrought over a portion of the area by the plough and the drill, and grass is now growing where rushes abounded a few months ago. The need for work by a drainage board is evident in those parts. A move was made in the direction of forming a board some time ago, but as one settler put it, “ people are dreadfully slow in moving hereabouts.” Several important drains have been filled up, and the work of keeping them open is too much for. the individual settlers. It is suggested that the assistance of Mr F. W. Walters, of Waitoa, might be obtained to form the board.