WAERENGA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 125, 24 December 1915, Page 1

WAERENGA.

It has been decided that the annual School picnic will be held in onjuiiction with a ceremony to take place at the opening of the Waipuna bridge. The chairman of the School Committee, Mr J G Browne, has the n.atter in hand, and hopes to announce shortly that the celebratiun will take place in February.

The cutting of the hay and cat crops, which under ordinary conditions claims close attention from farmers, is much mote severe on l hem this season owing to the shortage of farm latour. The crops are very fair, tha effects of a congenial season being seen oa every hand. The only deteirent, and a severe one at that, is the caterpillar, which has made its appearance in some instances with deadly effect. In one case, a twenty-five acre crop which appears at first sight to have done exceedingly well has bad more than half its value taken away by the after effects of a visit from this insect robber The oat crops are averaging two and a halt tons, while two tons is a fair average for ths bay ciops. In some well-cultivated fields farmers are to be seen busily engaged in sowing turnip seed. Home separating has made rapid strides into favour and the daily output from this sourse is now 200 gallons of cream per day, which is forwarded by rail to Pukekohe, Frankton Junction and Auckland. Likewise the export of wool from the district is of a mangitude that was little conceived by the settlers some four years past, when the season's supply amounted to 12 baies, as against 200 tor the present season. One hundred and fifty bales have already left the district, and arrangements have been made tor the despatch of an additional 50. This increased asset hss necessarily brought about a big vehicular traffic on the reads.

Another cource of industry for which the disliict is gaining a name is that of stock raising. During the period between the Ist Novebmer and and laet Saturday 978 head of cattle were despatched by the Keilnay Department for Westtield. The pasture is such that with fair treatment the cattle can be said to "literally grow." With a view of havirg a permanent eource ot water supply laid on tj his house and pacdocks, Mr Charles Teddy has made arrangements to sink a bore on Lis farm. An expert made an inspection ot the farm last week and estimates that water will be heated at a depth of 43 feet. A windmill will be included in the installation, and the water will be pumped to the paddocks and the stables, as well as to the house for domestic purposes.

The Waerenga Patriotic Committee has foimed itself into a branch ct the Provincial Patriotic Leagu*, with all the old officers, viz., secretaries, Mr W Jefferis and Miss B Fregard, and chairman, Mr J W Taylor, acting in the same capan'.ies. The new body has made arrangements to hold its first function, a Leap Year Ball, in the Public Hall on the 21st January, iai6.

A magnificent response to an appeal for stock to asisst the candidature of the Queen of the South in the Carnival Queen Competition was made in nearly every instance by the settlers. Messrs J Keith and Bennett were deputed to collect the stock and hotb speak in high terms of the ready manner in which the donation?, including cash, were given. The stock was sold by auction, free of charge, at Uhinewai by ttbe Farmers' Auctioneering Company, and satisfactory prices were realised. Mr Bennett's list haa not yet come to hand, but Mr Keith's was as follows, viz. : Messrs Keith Bios, J W Keith, Nicholson and Charles Teddy, one fat cow each; W Carter, one cow and two calves; Anderson, one cow; R B Mawston and W Wallace, two young heifers each; Bennison, one young heiier; M Henry, one yearling Jersey bull and steer; J G Browne, A Couper and A Jacobs, one calf each; H U Frescott, one dog. Cash donations: B Reid, and H E Reid, £lO 10s each; J Jeit'ena and family, £10; James Freegard, £8; Mcßurney, £6; T McPherton and P McPhereon, £5 each; S Hamilton £2 2s; G Elliott and Fretwell Bros, £2 each; E Balls and S Hanna, £1 Is each; B Herrocks and J Bell, £1 each; Voase, 10a, A report has filtered through that Private "Clunie" Drake, who is a unit ot the artillery section of the Main Expeditionary Force, was wounded in the elbow at Gallipoli, and has been removed to hospital at Cairo.

While in the process of erecting a stack of oats last *eek, Mr Matthew Henry was the victim of an unexpected and likewise an unenviable experience. He was working on top of the stack, some ]8 feet from the ground, when a couple of sheaves became displaced, and glided out from the Btack at no mean pace, landing Mr Henry lengthways. The force of the impact waa broken by the sheaves, otherwise Mr Henry might have received Eevere injuries. ■ Mr William Baldwin, who was engaged working on Mr Prentice's farm up till last week, is now a member nf the Eleventh Reinforcement?, and is in camp at Trentham.

The silver cup presented by Lady Islington for ehootiog competition amongst the Senior Cadets has been won by Sergeant Jack Baldwin, of the 79th Company Senior Cadete, Te Awamutu, now ot this district. As

the cop is held by the ccmpany of which Sergeant Baldwin is a unit, the Defence Department made him the recipient of a medal suitably inscribed. The cup hss to be won three times in succession before it becomes the sole property of the winner. It has only been offered for competition twice and on both occasions the winners were different.

The competitions for the best flower gardens, open to the boys and girls of the local school, which have extended over a period of twelve months, concluded last weeK, when the awards were made. The winners were Miss Edna Teddy and Master Kobsrt Keid, who each receive a book presented by the schoolmaster, Mr Kendon.