DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 186, 16 November 1910, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

TARIKL - (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. A. A. Ward's champion cow "Lady Disdain," a 2-year-old heifer and two calves (one in a sack) were landed by the mid-day train on the lltli inst. The total cost of these animals, which represent the speculation of three of our local dairymen at Mr. C. Clarke's recent sale, amounts to a sum well over £3OO. Taranaki is the leading dairying province in the Dominion, and the bulk of the animals at this sale were bought by Taranaki dairymen, who should know something about the business, and who probably consider that the acquirement of the best milking strains such as the "Campanile 'Sultan" and "Yankee Sweet," though costly, is the only sure method of increasing the productive value of their herds. There are many who think the prices given for these animals absurd, and foretell the "Jersey craze" will pass and that there will be a big slump in prices. Prices of pedigree Jerseys, except perhaps for the very best strains, will probably go down in the course of a few years or Jess, but the value of the best butter-fat producing cows is more likely to go up, and until a breed can be found that will beat the Jerseys they must of necessity fetch top prices. A euchre party was held on the 10th inst. in aid of the Horti' altural Society, when Messrs. C. Young, Buckingham, Nichols, H. Judd, H. Strat%d, Shrieder, Heal, M. Jones, R. Jones',' T. Robinson, Stephenson and H. Stratford, junr., put in an appearance. The rest of the public, including several of our leading tribesmen, were conspicuous by their absence. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the play resulted in Mr. Shrieder winning the Ist prize, a handsome inkstand, and Mr. T. Robinson annexing the 2nd prize, a very useful shaving outfit. A number of fishing licenses have been ■taken out, and some of the keener sportsmen are doing well. Mr. 'Trigger" James, a young but very active fisherman, has accounted for between 20 and 30 fish, ranging in weight from 1 to 4i/ 2 lb. Some fine fish have been taken in the Waipukuiii, the largest being secured by Mr. C. Young, and scaled 5%1b. A good few Rainbow trout have also been caught in that stream. They were liberated the season before last, and evidently are doing well. The most discouraging thing connected with the sport is the undoubted evidence that poaching in its worst forms is being carried on in several of our streams. However, the perpetrators are taking big risks, as there are now so many good sportsmen about and on the watch, that their detection and, let us hope, conviction, is only a matter of time.