KAIKOHE NEWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 254, 17 January 1928, Page 12

KAIKOHE NEWS

DAIRY PAYMENT On January 20, the Bay of Islands Dairy Company, Ltd., is paying out the sum of £l,llO in advances for butter-fat received during the month of December, the rate of advance being Is Id and Is lid a lb. The butter-fat received for the month of December shows an increase of 8 1-3 per cent, over the same month last year. The make of butter to December 31, 1927, was 277 tons, as compared with 229 tons over the same period of the previous season. HERD-TESTING The following are the Bay of Islands Herd-Testing Association’s herd averages for December, 1927:—Association average, 1,686 cows, 7441 b milk, 4.34 test. 32.38 fat: highest herd. 59 cows, 8871 b milk, 4.64 test, 41.22 fat; lowest herd, 31 cows, 5381 b milk. 4.38 test, 23.56 fat: highest cow, 1,2451 b milk, 5.6 test, 69.72 fat; lowest cow, 2251 b milk, 3.5 test. 7.87 fat. The committee has decided that all

cows in milk 100 days during the season will be included in the • herd averages” which will be made at the end of the year. The management committee is making arrangements for the speymg of cull cows within the association. This will achieve one object that herdtesting is out for. The low-producing cow will finish up on the butcher’s block,’ and not, as has often been the case in the past, in the dairy pens at the local saleyards. WEATHER AND MARKETS The continued dry spell with the blistering blizzards has had its effects on production. This month’s summary indicates just what is taking place, and if drought conditions continue, the decline will become even more marked. Unfortunately the market values have taken a sudden drop. In this connection it is, perhaps, interesting to remember that, at the same period last year, the carryover of stocks was a potent factor. GENERAL ITEMS Mr. Lavery, Wharepunga Road, had a very unwelcome New Year gift on returning home from work to find his residence of five rooms and contents in ashes. The origin of the fire is a mystery, and Mr. Lavery is a heavy loser, as the house and contents were only insured for a small sum. Mr. Sanders has completed the erection of the Catholic Church which will be “officially” opened next church Sunday, in February, by Coadjutor Bishop Liston. Good progress is being made with the public school teacher’s residence. The Public Works Department is spreading the second layer of metal on the deviation of the Kaikohe-Taheke Road, completed last season, when the first course was laid. There is only a break of about two miles now unmetalled between Kaikohe and R&wene and Hokianga Heads. The Post and Telegraph Department has now completed the reconstruction of the line between Kaikohe and Rawene. This permits of three excellent circuits for users of “toll.”