DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 197, 18 February 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

MAKETAWA. (From Our Own Correspondent). The milk supply is 011 a rapid downgrade, and it is noticeable hereabouts that the same condition of the cattle, as mentioned by a paragraph in your columns recently and applying to other parts of Taranaki, viz., that they have put on flesh instead of ''talking through the bucket," is very prominent. Truly, the ''Madame" is still a mystery! The weather for a considerable time now lias been decidedly tricky, and many a field of hay and oats has had to lie out for a longer period than anticipated, thereby causing a deal of anxiety to farmers. Monday last was exceptionally hot, and extra endeavor was made to, in several instances, get the long cut hay under cover. A correspondent draws attention through your columns t® the need of reports from the Vancouver agent of the New Zeakuid Government in regard to market reports, and considering the interest taken in the London reports by the High Commissioner, it does seem strange we have nothing similar from Vancouver. One of the advantages of a daily paper could be greatly added to by the publication of the items under notice. Was the Commissioner withdrawn 1

The boulder contract for- Durham road west has received expeditious treatment at the hands of the contractor (Mr. W. Wheeler) who has taken full advantage of the suitable weather prevailing for that kind of work. The peculiar chirp of the cicada insect is very noticeable this year, and during the intervals of sunshine, from every tree a lfuge volume of "click clack" is heard. It reminds one of tile Taranaki ef 30 odd years ago, for it is a very long time since I have heard so many of the insects about.

It seems as if a great joke was being perpetrated 011 the people if one studies the vagaries of the weather—hot sun' shine spells, then thunderstorms and extra hard showers, all within a few hours—and I'm thinking the/settlers getting homewards 011 Saturday last will remember, in future, to carry coats, etc., as I am sure the drenching received will be borne in mind. The need for tree planting, or providing some sort of shade in paddocks, is made very apparent by the action of horses when pestered by the bot ilv. Horses can be seen this time of die yoar galloping around, shaking their heads and in many ways trying to rid themselves of the fly; it is noticeable if there is the least little shade afforded ,hy a hedge or tree, that the animal invariably makus for it ami will stand quiet for hours at a time, showing plainly enough that the troublesome fly does not have the .same effect in the shade as out in the sunshine. Considering the damage done t® horses (in many instances losses of valuable animals) T think the matter well worth consideration by the farmers. The esttlers on the top end of Norfolk road west are in a bit of a quandary. The school on Durham road is hardly a mile across country, but the river Maketawa (no small stream) is a serious obstacle. .Some years ago a combination of Norfolk and Durham settlers put a big log across to enable the children to get to the Durham school, but now the log is unsafe the Norfolk road children arc faced with a three or three-and-a-half mile tramp to the school, because of the dangerous crossing. The Durham Committee have been approached several times to assist • in erecting n swing bridge, and in turn have applied to the Education Board an <l have not received even a cursory notification in reply. It does seem strange that in a settled district (an old settled district like the Moa) such a handicap should exist, and it shows a regrettable state of indifference to the welfare of the children by the authorities. The welfare of half-a-dozen children is of as much importance | as that of forty dozen.