DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 207, 21 January 1913, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

MAKETAAVA. (From Our Own Correspondents). Splendid weather has been experienced and regular rush lias been on with haymaking. the hum of the mowing machine being continuous-. The area for hay is yearly becoming greater, and machinery must be used to-cope with the .shortness of manual labor which at this time of the year is painfully short. 1' have seen an illustration of an appliance used in Canada whereby the hay-rake is used in conjunction with a v.ijggon, and the hay by means of a lift keeps two men constantly packing on the vehicle. A machine of that description would handle a large acreage, and the wonder is that a combination of farmers do not obtain one or two, as it would, I think, settle the labor difficulty. j The Pa tea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing Co. has appointed Mr. Geo. Mattock as their buying representative in the Irglewood district, and things in regard 'to store and fat cattle have started to '•hum." Mr. Mattock has had many years' experience with. Mr. S. Pratt and 'others, and his appointment by the company is a wise selection. The experimenters with millet report failure, and, from what I can gather, ifarmers in other parts of the Dominion v ho had a trial at the new (to New Zealand) fodder, plaint have had similar exipcriences., The expert on the New Zeals lid.. Dairyman being appealed to, states that the plant should do well, but that the reason for failure was that it had been planted too early. By taking advantage of the Agricultural Department's cooperative, experiment scheme much could (be learned and, loss obviated —but thai blessed rut is evidently too deep! Judging., by the immense column of smoke from the sections on the Upper Norfolk, road' on Friday last, Officer and Co.'s section, on which a large quantity of bush had been felled, must have received a'good burn.- Last, season the weather was not at all favorable, and only a fair burn resulted, but this year the run of fine weather and other favorable conditions should bear a satisfying result.

At tiijies one hears Parliamentary candidates, public men of various bodies; editors of many papers, and here and there the farmer bloke agitating that ! roads should be provided to sections or blocks of land being being taken up, and 'it would be interesting to hear the opinion of these "experts" as to how the land |on the upper part of Norfolk road should !be roaded in order to allow the settlers jegress for their produce. Here we have ian area of considerably over 2000 acres jpart in occupation and part bush, "and only six miles from a dairy factory-arid 'railway, .and Inglewood borough a little 'diifance 'further, yet those settlers al: |readv living in the part mentioned are, jone might say, no better off than tliosp. in the .so-called backblocks one hears .pt 'continually! Surely our "patriotic"' .and'expert road board and county councillors bnn formulate a working scheme whereby this land'can be added to the producing area, for it is evident that the Christian neighbors who have their own end served jvill not lift a little finger for the benefit of their fellows. The land! laws of the, party in power, and previous to the entry of theLibfrals nil tier Ballanee,;,etc.,. pw a lot 'to answer for. for'they enabled a; large area of this' land, to be,

ocked up by a syndicate for timber puT.loses; allowed also to grow weeds of .11 descriptions" that are a menace -,-fco he jest of the district, and now that he odd 'corners are being turned over

tor land- suitable to a poor man's purse pxese parts are receiving attention by would-be settlers who show rare grit in

tackling such, but whose difficulties are added to bv the absence of good roads. <t)f cotirse, the "man who thinks lie knows," and who, perhaps, is on a nice <Jry section, says the land is no good, but, you see. worse has been satisfactorily worked, and the men who have iaken up the land in question should be helped, not discouraged.

; RAHOTU. • On Wednesday and Thursday last a; niost successful sale of work was held jn the Raholu Methodist Church to celsI brate the opening of the new vestry, which has been built to meet the needs' | a growing congregation, and more particularly of the Sunday School. The vestry. Which is a niee commodious room, 18ft by 20ft. was formally opened on [Wednesday afternoon. A notable fenlure was the presence of the Rev. J. White,, who had come up specially to participate in the opening ceremony, and jWas accompanied by his two sons and his daughter. The Rev. J. White was {the first Methodist Coast missionary, and ;jspent several years in the district. He. Avas deservedly popular among all-sec-tions, and was heartily welcomed back ' fby ipany old friends. The Rev. J. W. Griffin, superintendent of the circuit, presided over the opening ceremony, which jwas largely attended, and introduced 1 the !Rev. White, who made some appropriate remarks re the uses of the vestry. On being handed the key of the yestrv bv 'Mr. T. P. Hughson, he formally declared the vestry opened. The sale of work vas then merrily proceeeded with. Mrs. Featherstone had charge of the drapery' stall, Misses Boniface and Stewart the fruit and lolly stall, and Miss GTentworth ' the .bran tub. Mrs. T. P. Hughson and Miss Hughson presided over therefresh-i mcnt room, which was charmingly situated ip ,a, nicely decorated marquee, and' did big business. In the evening a toneert was. held in the church, the : Rev. Fcatlierstone presiding over a -'-'packed l audience. The White family provided most- of the entertainment. The Rev. J. White gave some very interesting experiences of the establishment of the Methodist- mission on the Coast, pointing out how it had grown in a few'years under his charge from small beginnings until there were three churches and a parsonage in the district. He also referred to the help that he had received in the very early days not only from, his own congregation but from other de-; nominations, instancing particularly Mr. ; M. J. Macßeynolds and the late Mrs MacReynolds. The following programme Was rendered:— Hymn, "Stand up for Jesus"; 1 violin solo, "An Evening Meditation," Master Sydney White; duet, "Watch-' man, what of the Night?" Messrs G. H. and 11. T. White; song, 'Gleaners' Slum-; her," Mrs. White; recitation, Miss Mary, Fisher; song. "The Yeoman's Wedding Song,"' Mr. H. T. White; Organ solo, "Rever**!," Mr. G. H. White: song, "Sing. Me to Sleep," Miss Oxenham; recitation."The Eve of Waterloo," Miss Robertson;; song. "The Land acros* the Sea," Mr. G. H. White; organ solo. "The Hallelujah Chorus," Mr. 11. T. White. An apology, was received for the absence of the Rev.j ■Griffin through the illness of l'.is wife] At the conclusion of the concert the salo of work was continued, as it was also on the following evening, when various competitions were held. Altogether the re-i suit was most successful. ,