DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 330, 4 March 1910, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS

j TIKORAXGI. I j (From Our o\vn> CVivre.-poivViit). The Maoris have returned from the 'great korero held near Hawera. and are, no doubt, pondering over the platitudes of the Hon. James Carroll. For masterly inactivity it is probable that tliitf honorable gentleman can not be equalled, but it is a remarkable thing why the people of this Dominion torerate him and his "tuihoa" policy. To those conversant witn the real state of affairs it is ridiculous to bo constantly hear that the natives have not enough land, whilst it is evident that they are now in possession of more than they will work and keep free from noxious weeds. The one solution of the difficulty is to individualise, for until this is done the Maori will never have any inducement to farm. Nor would the pakeha work and tsil and improve a piece of land if he knew that at any time all or any of his relatives might calmly elect to share the fruits of his labor. Bui place the Maori on equal terms with his white neighbors as' regards rates, taxes, and all other obligations pertaining to ownership, give him a Crown grant, and remove every restriction save one—that before registering any transfer proof should be required that he is receiving fair market value—and it is probable that most of them, at any rate, would realise their responsibilities and lift themselves from the rut into which they have fallen. On the other hand, if they failed in this respect, what can be expected from , them under the present communistic I conditions? —for the idea that the i Maori is always going to loaf about and ' draw fat rents from pakeha tenants should be repugnant to the senses of a democratic people. There is altogether , too much drivelling sentiment in connection with the native land question in New Zealand, a sentiment that is of no real benefit to the natives, and is assuredly a menace to the successful settlement of enormous tracts' of land in this island. ■ With characteristic enterprise, Mr. J. S. Cole has installed a milking-machine, which, I hear, is giving every satisfaction. Mr. C. Foreman also is now engaged in fitting one of these machines in his shed. The recent rains have been most beneficial, and the pastures are looking as green as in the spring. Indeed, the season so far has been one of the best experienced for years. Proof of this may be found in the fact that the daily output of butter at the -local factory is 'i only two boxes' less than at the commencement of the new year. Wi|h the introduction of the milking-machine, thereby obviating to a very great extent the labor difficulty, and the topdressing of pastures, which is greatly increasing the carrying capacity of land in this district, the prospects before the local dairy company are extremely rosy. A few of our milk suppliers sowed rape this ■ season for summer iced for cows, and it was intended to fully test the capabilities ot pasteurisation as a means of eliminating the feed flavor generated by this torage. Unfortunately, the quantity ol' rape-fed milk was not sufficient to make a separate churning, but it was clearly demonstrated that, mixed with tlie res't of the milk, the feeding of these cows on rape was not injurious to the flavor of the butter in any way. Whether it is possible to make good butter if all the suppliers fed their herds ou rape is a problem which we have yet to solve. Some large orders are being sent away for basic slag, although at a meeting held here it was- seriously stated and alleged authorities quoted that, •'provided enough of this fertiliser was used the land would become poorer.' 1 However, wc evidently have not used enough as yet, for it is an inuisputable fact that great increases of milk invariably follow a Jiberal use of basic slag.

The picire In connection with t'he Wesleyan Church was held in Mr. R. F. Lye's' grounds, and, as usual, was an unqualified success. The tables, which were laid In t'ue bush, were presided over by the Misses West, Vosper, and Lye, assisted by other willing helpers. Mr. Don. Watson was. I hear, entirely successful in his after boring rights in this district, and already some of our residents, in anticipation of huge are, very laudably, studying Carnegie's system ot divesting himself of superfluous capital. Writing of Carnegie reminds me that the annual meeting of subscribers to the local library has been held, and the outgoing officers unanimously re-elected. The Government subsidy was not to hand, being probably 'withheld until after the 31st instant in order to s'well the surplus.