Makerua Plains

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

Makerua Plains

From Our Own Correspondent Mr and Mrs J. Oxenham are Wellington visitors to tho Plains, staying with Mr and Mrs J. D. Aitchir.on, Tane road. Mrs C. Young, with Audrey and Robert, left during the week lo spend a holiday in Tauranga. Messrs Eric and Norman Taylor were Otaki visitors to the district during the week-end . Having concluded an enjoyable tour of the North Island with tent, and motor, Mr and Mrs F. Unsted are now homo again in Kakerua Plains. Mr U Hunt and Miss Rona Hunt, who have been guests of their sister, Mrs C. Young, Opui road, returned home to Tauranga early in the week. Henderson’s corner on the Opiki side of tho Rangitano toll bridge was the scene of an unfortunate mishap on Sunday last. A motorist failed to negotiate the sharp bend and came to grief in a nearby drain. Apart from cuts and abrasions it was understood that no one was injured, but tile car was damaged extensively, the windscreen being smashed. The monthly meeting of tho school committee to have been held last Monday evening was postponed until a later date. Business to be discussed will Include the annual picnic arrangements. Opiki Farmers’ Union The Opiki. branch of the Farmers’ | Union, under' the leadership of President ! B. A. Normaji, held its monthly meeting on Monday last. The attendance numbered some 8U members, several being Interested enough to come from as far ar Shannon to be present. Mr Norman in trodueed the speaker for the evening Colonel Closey, who spolco at considorabk length on the economic position of farm ers in regard to the compensated price; for farm produce. Mr Closey ably die coursed on his subject and illustratec various points with the aid of a nutnbei of graphs. So completely did the speake gain the interest of his listeners that hi was still explaining when tho clock strucl midnight. Mr L. Best, of Shannon, pro posed "that the farmers of the distric support whole-heartedly Colonel Closey'; plan of compensated prices for farm pro duce." This was seconded by Mr G. All ■wright and carried unanimously. Mr O. Niederer, organiser for the Farm ers’ Union, reported on the organising o the Makerua Plains and gave the mos satisfactory information that the roll nnv stands at. 40. Tho membership has heel doubled in Opiki in a very short periot and It Is to be hoped that this increase in numbers will continue until every far mer in the Plains is a member of thbra.nch. Supper was served by member; of the Union at the conclusion of th< meeting. Hero and There in the District. Despite the kiddies’ love of holiday ant freedom from the watchful eye of "teach er,” many aro getting just a little tirec

of too much of a good thing. Parents, n doubt, will be very glad to see their rest less youngsters off to school again next month. Haystacks have sprung up like mushrooms—seemingly in the night; but In reality during the past two weeks, when farmers have taken every advantage of line weather to gather in the harvest of the fields. Stacks in every shape and form adorn the landscape and a very picturesque as well as practical addition they make to the countryside. Late crops are still being harvested but the majority of farmers have finished this work for the season. As far as is known, the hay-making has been done entirely without outside labour, neighbours forming into gangs to help one another with the work. Contrasts are often seen. For instance. In one case a tractor-sweep swiftly brings in the hay whilo the. huge stacker makes, comparatively speaking, light work of stack building operations. On the other hand, old-fashioned ga*e sweeps gather In the harvest, which is then forked by hand labour to the stack. As to the finished articles, they both turn out the same good hay for winter feeding purposes. The blackborry season promises to be a good one and this will probably attract visitors to the Plains in duo course.