DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 167, 14 January 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

.\l AKETAWA. (From Our Own Correspondent). The weather (the all-important) 'has i been almost unbearable as regards Ileal. I'Vrst we are swamped with wet, then dried, in the gales, and. lastly just roastok A very heavy shower of rain fell late oil Tuesday 'night and ell'ected a marvellous change in the turnip paddocks- Dairy cows arc showing the ell'ect of. the excessive heat by curtailing the milk supply. Young stuck are thriving apace, and hay paddocks are showing remarkable growth. Several bay paddocks have been machined during the weed;, and turnip drilling lias not. been finished.

Things' are just a 'nit mixed thi-i.year. Steady rain set in on the Dili, and will no doubt turn out "just the thing' tor turnip paddocks, but detrimental to hay saving. Those farmers who, on account of 'bad weather conditions a month or so back were not enabled to clear for turnips as much ground as they wished, arc still busy stumping, etc., the line weather enabling good work to be done. It is intended to plant, spring feed. ,1 notice that Messrs Moratti Bros.. \v)ir are under contract fo Mr. I". Doduuski to stump, etc., ;i liD-aerc patch, nn.e made splendid progress. AiVyone requiring a. good ''stir-up"' is advised to take. a. ride in an empty milk cart on some of the. by-roads in the district, and Til guarantee he'll not do it again from choice. The dry weather has so loosened, the metal that, it. is very uncomfortable and also dangerous to drive at any rate. The main road seems to stand all right. That is one comfort, at all events.

During tile week huge columns of smoke, forming clouds of very fantastic shapes, have, been showing up over the country Ij> the east, and viewed from the land on the slops of Egmont (he sight at times is very impressive- Of course .we've been "at it'' one time or another, and it will be pleasant to hear that good burns have resulted. As regards our own part, clearing- operations are responsible for a very great amount of smoke, and as the timber being felled is v.ory dry a. lire, does a vast amount ot good ill a liltle. while.

Enquiries made on Wednesday last as to the condition of ill 1 . I!. Stevens, who met With a serious accident by being thrown out of bis trap recently, elicited the news that, the. patient was ''.lulus: a 3 well as could be expected."

Tlio Durham School Committee met on Monday night, two members living absent. flip quarterly returns showed llii! roll number to lip XI. A stntem-nt of receipts and expenditure fiuni-,ln_>d :>/ tins teacher regarding (.ho prizes, concert, etc*., -'iinweii ;i, credit of Its Sd, :.:i-:l a. return from the inspect gives Master F. Perrott. of I'ppor Norfolk road, a Standard VI. pass with competency. EAIIOTU. The Cow Testing As-ociation's retains for the month of liccemiu'r show tluit the ten best cows gave a return of 5451bs fat for the month, an average of 54'/.ll)s .per eow ami the ten lowest gave a return of '20211)3 of fat, an *tvernj»e of 20',/,U>s per cow. The average, association cow returned 2!)H>. The l>est herd of ot cows, belonging to Mr. A. \V\ Phillies, gave an average return of iiilibs fat per cow. the behest tains G!J%lbs. The weather has juKt been the Vi'lT (hing for hay making, Ikil. it is j-;i [. .<-f i'.: for the young turnip". The following is the result of the shooting for the ft urn Club's trophy, a travelling rug first and n hand big second, presented by Mr. A. Phillip*. The final shooting took place last Saturday week, when all hands were in very bail form, although the. day was everything to be desired: ■Seort llep. Tb fireon W 11l .1 lit) James VI" 108 7 11.") Oolnier .f 107 (I 113 Annis It loti t; 112 ■ iSurgenor W Ilil !) 10S Phillips W lIS 4 102 Messrs H. Phillips, J. Phillips, 11. Rasper F. Maker and F. Ward, failed to put in tJir number of shootings.