TE KAPUA NOTES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 28 July 1916, Page 5

TE KAPUA NOTES.

AN INTERESTING CONTRIBUTION. i (Own Correspondent.) Since last time of writing the weather here has been very mild, in fact, warm. Certainly there has been a lot of rain, but not chill, and we are told that the country needs it. Wattles have been in bloom some time, and konini has been seen a mass of flowers, and taken altogether it is unquestionably the earliestfspringtime known ,in these parts. Ond-Ydd settler of Tai.hape has remarked-that ,it is the,-mild-'jest winter he has known for 25 years. ■A few lambs have appeared and ft is { sincerely hoped the genial -weather-wili • keep up, for if so, without doubt a record crop' of-lambs will - eventuate ■in j Te Kapua, and as sheep are now- very 1 valuable, favourable conditions mean I much to the sheep farmer, j % this matter it may nbt j be out of place to invite discussion on I that banefhl disorder whigh carries off the best lambs of the flock —in fact, a year or two back it caused a gloom | over the sheep raising commpiut-y of | Taihape—a close 1 ' relationship to infantile paralysis. yy A number of the best and fattest lambs are seized with great pains in the back, become convulsive, and in a little while die, with foam of a pinkish hue at the mouth causing! much disquietude to the owner. Several Te Kapuans visited the Taihape Winter Show, some being exhibitors. Our Mr Field was unfortunate in not securing first prize with a chamj pion Black Orpington rooster, as this 1 exceptionally fine bird was suffering t from a recent illness which spoiled his ! appearance and also his chance. Mr | Field was successful with other birds, j One man visited the Show and gave j his opinion as beiiig! reminded of the [ early days -when the place was all ! bush and the commotion was made by I the chatter of the wild birds when they i were in great numbers; now, sad to say, they were very few. The crowing and chattering of the poultry awakened old memories. : On entering the Hall a Red Crose collection box of appalling size confronted one. A keen calculator estimated the capacity of this box as capable of holding one ton of gold. From thence, proceeding into the hall, unwary persons would be trapped at every turn. One man asserts, but possi ibly he got it wrong, that he was 1n- ; duced to take a ticket for a handsome ; gent’s, night shirt. The writer wonders if that man who won it would be considered handsome by wearing it, no matter bow hard a face he possessed, and if won by a lady what class o£ night shirt it would then become. Theft there were various sheep in stalls foj? clever and scientific persons to calculate the dead weight the live weight, and the two combined, so that without a doubt the intellectual one who should successfully work out the correct weight should he given a fine gift and an illuminated testimonial, j Mesdames May and Kennedy, of Mataroa, visited Te Kapua on Saturn day last on behalf of the Red Cross Fund, collecting sheep. It is noticeable that redoubtable settler, Mr., Dick Cleaver, heads the list with 20 fat sheep. Local men will have to look to their laurels as this stands a long wayahead of anything given so far.