RAGLAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6712, 23 May 1883, Page 6

RAGLAN ITEMS.

The weather here for the last week has been really delightful. Every morning since Saturday, the 12th Inst., there has been a very hard frost. In some places ice as thick as aboard was to be seen by the early risers. Sparrows are very numerous on the fresh sown lands in this district. One settler tried, the experiment of sprinkling his grass seed with kerosene, but I do not know the result as yet.

In the neighbourhood of Karioi Mountain pigeons are very plentiful, and are in fine condition. A great many have been shot, both by the natives and Europeans. Pheasants are numerous and destructive here, and I don't; think there are many " crack shots " to thin them out.

There has been some talk of a Cheese Factory for the Raglan district, and I believe by and by it would pay well. I see by the Herald that these establishments are gaining a great deal of attention from country people. Te Mata would be the best place for the erection of a Cheese Factory, as it is central, and situated about the junction of four roads. I have no doubt that when the Raglan and Kawhia road is open for traffic, there will be a considerable settlement formed at Te Mata.

Mr. J. Pearce, the contractor for the erection of a new school at Raglan township, is proeeedingly rapidly with his work. Tamiti, a King native, has been suffering from an abscess in the abdomen for a long time, and your correspondent received a letter from a gentleman in Auckland to ask him to come to the hospital for treatment, but he is very reluctant to trust himself in the train, and says he knows he will soon be better. He is a fine specimen of the Maori race— about six feet in height—and has six children, all nice looking, and well made.—[Own Correspondent.]