BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 88, 25 March 1902, Page 2

BUTTER.

ANCIENT AND MODERN. U " Mahoe " in a recent issue of the j Auckland Herald contributes the fol-1 lowing interesting discourse on our| staple product: I have just accomplished what a few yt-ars ago would have been thought jcmutlliug of au enterprising explora tory journey, but which is now, at least in summer time, not much mora than a pleasant drive. I mean a trip froiu JSTew Plymouth by Tongaporutu, Mokau, and Awakino to the railway station at Te Kuiti, whence you arv whirled ia a few hours to Auckland. In that journey you see a oonsiderabls extent of what miy be called the new portion of the provincial district of Auckland, the country which is now being Battled chiefly by farmers from T.wnski and tho South, and which I believe will prove one of the most productive areas of the whole colony. Much of the land will stand comparison with the best of Taran=iki, and even with the superb lands of Rangitikei. The dairy industry suits it uxactly, and will do for this new district in five years what would in other circumstances have taken fifty years to

accomplish. AU the time I was absent from Auckland I lived in two atmospheres - " butter " and " sport." When those around me were not talking butter they were talking horse-racing. I ought to be learned on both subjects. But I must give tho preference to butter. New Zealand is now standing on butter. We have been told on high authority that our export of dairy produce will soOo amount to as much as the whole sum required to pay the interest or. our indebtedness, and as that would require at least the fine round sum of two millions sterling, the amouut is easily kept in memory. There ne«r was anything like the dairy in-

dustry for the spread of the best class of settlement. A few aeri'B of grass (at.d the new country I speak of is unsurpassed in the wot Id for grass), a few cows, with acreame'y at hand, and th« settler can use the labour of all his family and be ia much the same position as if he were closa to thu market of a large town. And it is the best class of settlement, too. A large area is not requited where the land is good. When the grass grows amoagst: the stumps of the nswly-cleared land the cows find abundant pasture where crop* could not be gtown. A large district need not be occupied to furnish a creamery—a very few settlers are sufficient. And so the very best kind of settlement may proceed by Kwps and bounds, unhindered by labour complicatiOcs. In view of the mighty importance of butter to this colony, I feel liko giving >. hint to our Government. Wo h«ve lately h,>.d a new series of postage stamps made, and if outsiders are to judge of Few Zealand by these tliey would thii.'k it a country of burning mountains and inaccessible soowy peaks. Why should we not put a cow on our stamps ? A fine cow ready to yield her supplj of milk, which can be made into rich buttor or cheese, is better than a barren peak piercing tbe clouds. The cow means peace and plenty. We might also have oce denomination of stamps witha sheep on it, especially if wool continues to rise to something lika the old level. In the play of " Our Boys," which wrs popular some years ago, there is a character who is made somewhat ridiculous and undignified as the " butterman." He has mado a fortune in butter and bacon. Ha said that the Government went to war to r.uss the pricts of the commodities he dealt in. Money peured in upon him, just as it may do upon some persons in New Zealand in consequence of th'i war, and of the demand for oats in South Africa. He was not ungrate-! ful, and declared that whenever he saw I a pig he felt inclined to raise his hat toj it. I protest I felt something of hi" spirit of veneration when on my travels I saw a herd of cows in a milking yard, or passed a butter factory. I have heard of lands in which the cow was worshipped, and I call upon all my readers to be reverential to the animal which is doing more for New Zsaland !afc the present time than all the politicians in it, although that is perhaps not saying much.

Perhaps as I hare gone so far I may say a few words upon a subject which probably has not occurred to any of my readers, and that is the history of butter. The Jews in ancient times used butter a great deal as an article of food; the Greaks and Romans did not. But whatever may have been s*id of the Jews during the most violent Judenhetz, nobody ever hinted that they did not know what was good for them. The earliest mention that I find of butter is in Genesis. The scene is one of dramatic grandeur: " And the Lord appeared unto Abraham by the oaks of Mature, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day." Then wo are told of the visitors, of Abraham directing Sarah to make ready a meal, and the narrative proceeds—" And he took butter and milk and the calf which he haddrested and set it before them, and he stooii by them under the tree, and they did j eat." Butter is also mentioned in j Deuteronomy, in that beautiful song of Moses, where he speaks of '' butter of kine, and milk of sheep," as ainougst the choicesS gifts of God. N«fc we have that scene where Jael drives a nail into the depths of Sisera, and v glorified for She deed in song. In this we are told: "He asked water, and shu gave him milk; she brought him butter in a lordly dish." In the Proverbs it

ii said: " For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter." They had then a very primitive way, as they put the ; milk into a akin and rocked it to at.d fro; they knew nothing of creameries and butter factories.

Trains leave New Plymouth station to-da connecting with steamers mentioned belo as follows:—6 a.m., Takapuna (from north). 5.15 a.m., Botoiti (troin south), 11.15 a.m., Takapuna (for south); 8.20 p.m. Rotoiti, (for north). A passenger car will be attached to the goods train leaving for the breakwater about 3 p.m. The best medicine known s SAN"t>»a & Bons' Bocalypti Extract, and its en.iaer>t powerful effects in coughs, colds, in- j suenza, the relief is instantaneous. s 'ir

nerioas oases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling -no inflaiAmation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of lungs, swelling etc., diarrhoea, dyhentery, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. Sandkb & Sons' Kocalypti Extract is in nso at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe, patronised by bis Majesy the King of Italy; crowned with medals and diplomas at International exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this ap roved article and reiect all othor.—Advt.

As the shop for Engagement Kings, Wedding Rings, High Class Watches at moderate prices, Wedding presents, and in fact a thorough up-to-date stock of Jewellry, Klec troptated and Silver Goods, we recommend J. H. Parker's, nextßailway crossing, Devon|street, New Plymouth. N.B.—Please note a f*w of the leading lines and prices iu advertisement in page 2,—Advt j