DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 301, 15 May 1911, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

MAKETAWA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Durham road creamery will start running every other from the 14th inst. The mild weather being favorable to the growth of grass has kept the supply of milk up wonderfully, and it will be interesting to Iciinw the total quantity put through tne creamerv for its initial year. Messrs McEwen Bros., who have brought Mr. J. Grant's section on the top of Durham-road West, intend to milk a large number of cows next year. I understand they take possession of the section on the 15th inst., and wish them all sorts of luck.

The Durham-road School Committee is evidently intending to cater for the physical development of the children under its care, judging by the presence of several large pieces of timber Iving on the ground. Mr. Geo. Mehrtens kindly donated several pieces of 9 x 0 for the purpose of erecting swings, Roman rings, etc., and the near future should see" a substantial outdoor gymnasium erected for the children's benefit. This is as it should be, and I have no doubt parents will willingly assist in the erection. Between forty-five and fifty farmers and others accepted the invitation of the Durham-road Farmers' Club to attend a lecture by Captain A. R. Young in the Durham school on Tuesday evening last. The fine moonlight night made a trip across country enjoyable to residents on the Dudley and Xorfolk roads, and a fair number from both places attended, as did several from the immediate vicinity of the Maketawa factory, on the main road. Tliat Captain Young well handled his subject, "Cows in health and disease," goes without saying, and his discourse was intorestng, instructive, and, at times, amusing, taking his audience with him at "the jump." By the aid of diagrams the lecturer was enabled to very plainly impress upon his hearers certain things tliey should do and what they should not do, and how mistakes could be avoided—mistakes, he assured them, that affected the £s. (1. returns. He tendered advice as to certain matters which only experience gained by personal work under advantageous circumstances could have obtained, and that good must result from such public discussion of questions affecting farming I do not think anyone will doubt. Captain Young spoke on the, symptoms, etc., of various complaints peculiar to the cow for over an hour and a-half, and then invited questions. The opinion was expressed that the lecturer had treated the different complaints in so plain and comprehensive a manner that the necessity for questions was obviated, and there' is no doubt as to that fact. Captain Young, in devoting nearly two hours to his Durham road audience, can rest assured that his action is very much appreciated. The promoters of the club, as one of the means to pass away the winter evenings, should feel gratified at the success that has attended this first public meeting. It is apparent that the officials of the Agricultural Department are only too willing to carry out the objects of the Department in helping those farmers wno show they are ready to do their "little hit." The next meeting of the club (which meets monthly at present) wiU discuss papers received from the Fields and Farm Division relating to experiments carried out on co-operative lines bv farmers and the Department, and showing the value of different methods of top-dressing pastures, different manures for maize, turnips, mangolds, etc.