MOUTOA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1010, 15 October 1912, Page 3

MOUTOA NOTES.

(Own Correspondent)

Messrs Smith Bros., who recently erected a new milking establishment, are at present milking between seventy and eighty cows with six milking machines, driven by a 4J2 h.p. motor engine. This herd can be milked in less than one and a half hours, a great saving of time and labour on the hand milking method. It is claimed, however, by many dairy farmers that machines are uot quite so reliable as hand milking. The establishment is equipped throughout with all the latest improvements in the nature of scientific dairy (arming. The inner and yard floors are of concrete. It is the intention of the owners to have uu artesian well put down to supply water for the purpose of washing out the yard. When this is done the establishment will he a credit to the owners and the neighbourhood. Their supply of milk to the local factory at prescut is practically one ton per day, and in the flush of the season it will be considerable more. Messrs Coker Bros., of upper and lower Moutoa, have also installed milking machines. A paddock of English ryegrass, owned by Mr W. S. Carter, which has been shut up for seed purposes, bears evidence ol the fertility of the Moutoa soil. The crop would bold its owu with any grown in any part of New Zealand.

Whitaunui Ltd., will be starting their fourth stripper shortly, they aiso intend erecting new and elaborate living accommodation for the employees ibis summer. The Poplar flaxmill, recently purchased by Messrs Ross and Co. of Foxton, will commence operations in about three months’ time. A new and powerful suction gas engine will be installed. The mill will be a two stripper one with all the latest improvements and accommodation for the employees. I regret to state that four cases of typhoid fever have occurred at the Maiti tlaxmill. It is to be hoped that where millers have not provided a good supply of pure water lor their employees that they will be compelled to do so immediately, and it is to be regretted that the Government Inspector’s report went so far as to say that filthy conditions prevailed in connection with eating and living at some of the flaxmills.