DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 3 April 1913, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

| MAKETAWA. The ilaketawa Suppliers' picnic to-day given line weather, snould easily prove the most successful yet held, ami certain it is those interested in promoting the same have not spared any eri'ort 10 that end. Visitors are expected from a big range of district, so the day's outing should prove enjoyable. On the evening of Friday last we were visited by what may be termed a miniature Yankee tornado, and while it lasted things "hummed." Apple trees in full , bearing were blown up by the roots, insigmis shelter trees snapped off, and a nice lot of maize planted for seed, and which had attained a height of 13ft. levelled to the ground. I have not heard of damage to buildings, though many , persons were anxious on that account. ', Generally, the weather has not been !' too bad, though latterly we have had a fair amount of wet. The milk supply, naturally, is diminishing rapidly, though several farmers have managed to "hold { their weight" by the use of catch crops, j etc. * -

The very interesting little yarn as told by 1 a dairyman to the '"Vows" representative at Stratford has evidently aroused a deal of discussion, and the correspondence resulting in "News" columns is just a bit edifying. There is not the slightest doubt there's i\ lot to be said for and against both sides, but until the dairyman leaves no loophole by having things pertaining to the milking and care of milk as perfect as can be, the managers must get the best of the argument, and until" the farmer carries out such necessary improvements he may as well "dry up." There is, again! no doubt that the man who tries to attain the ideal "with respect to supplying a. milk of perfect quality as far as his means will enabie him, is in a certain measure punished or handicapped by the man obsessed with the get-rich-quick idea, and who does not care a brass farthing so long as his milk can just pass muster. Considering ddie importance it is to the whole Dominion, the' farmers should have an inspection of appliances erected for the proper handling of milk on the farms and subsidise those who show willingness to erect or have erected suitable means for the turning out of a good quality' article. We hear a, lot about assistance in herd testing, and,the importance of such. but. evidently (per Mr. Cuddie's circular), the most important—and the most neglected—is the care of milk. At. all events, considering the serious state of affairs as shown by the experte : . something radical must be taken in hand and that quick. The remarks of the Trade Commission, and the pointed evidence of those on the Forestv Commission nnent the bush scenery, the need for afforestation, the need for preservation and such like makes good reading to those who recognise that as human beings there is a duty to posterity .that in a large degree is neglected by the present ijeneration. There have' been in the Moa district in the past many beautiful spots reserved on farms by the owners, who have had an eye to' the beautiful, etc., but which, on'account of the spread of weeds (particularly blackberry) have had to be destroyed, and the question exercising those who follow the trend of latter day investigation is how best to conserve what is left, and plant out further plantations for future, benefits when one is to contend with the blackberry pest, considering the present slipshod method of controlling such. T have bcten informed that pinus insignus do not allow a strong growth of blackberry when once the trees attain a decent height. One gentleman who planted n creek with sycamores told me some time back .that thev wiped out the '■nigger" completely. ' Readers can probably supply information re this matte*,? and it should lie interesting. There is another matter that will, in the near future, "come home to roost"— i.e., the removal of boulders from the rivers and the consequent erosion of the banks of such. Nature hns a levelling process of her own, and, maybe, takes a considerable time over it.' Imt man need not hasten matters. Rather let him devise means wherebv the' levelling process is slowed down, if not completely stopped; Just hand this prophecy, or whatever you call It, down, to the voung'un. old man!