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DISTRICT NEWS.

MAKETAWA. I hear that Mr. John Donibroski, who recently sold liis (H)-acre farm, has purchased Mr. John Wheeler's farm of 100 acres on the Durham road, the price not being disclosed. The usual fortnightly dances during the winter season for the Norfolk dis- ' trict will commence on Friday next. So ; far as I can gather no attempt has as ' yet been made to inaugurate winter ' amusements for the Durham district. It is to lie hoped that the younger ones | will not let such, lapse. I have several times drawn attention ' to the mean and contemptible actions of Home who, thoug-h they appreciate the ' News so long as someone else pays for i it, are very 'backward in sending their 1 names as subscribers. They much pre- ' fer sneaking the other fellow's paper. ' No matter where the Durham bundle ' may be left, be it at the station or at the factory, it is bound to be tampered with. One of these days, Mr. Reader, i you will have the pleasure of knowing ' the names of such "articles." [ Tile weather of late has been something abominable—light S.E. winds, with cold, sleety drizzle, obtaining on ' the upper portions of ■•lie roads, lower down raw, bleak conditions prevail. The very heavy rain experienced a few days back played "old Harry" with the roads, and it is as plain as a pike-staff that a new system must eventuate very quickly or else we on Durham road will be "in the bog." I cannot understand the position taken .up by farmers nowadays who rate themselves to provide good metalled roads, and instead of uoi ing- all they can to conserve them, just ! do the opposite and expect the road rate to keep' it in the 'best of condition. I They forget the fact that a 10ft road ' of fl'in metal has its limits, and also forget that the dry time in which they coiild use. the sides of the road is when the metal should be used the less. They forget, too, that using the sides would mean less expense in shoeing and other wear and tear, hut—talking of paradoxes, ,the Taranaki farmer is a big one! I was pleased to see the return published by your Omata correspondent, and it shows' what can be done, and no doubt will be done more generally, by the adoption of an improved feeding system for dairy cattle. lam unable as yet to give the returns as promised of a Kaimata herd. I might say that it is Hard to get dairy farmers to give their individual experiences for the bene-' fit of tho whole. All may not have' the same opportunities, but at tho same time I maintain that the publication of such items must tend to encouragement of the industry. Notwithstanding the action of a number of Maketawa suppliers in leaving that factory for the Midhirst combination, I understand that the supply at

tin; former lias resulted in a good increase. in tlie butter made for April over and above that fur April of last year. The Makotawa district lias too much land tied up for other than dairying-, which, if devoted to milk production, would put that concern into a much hotter position and result in much benefit to t'he whole community. A ' large area of land also is still in the ■rough stage, which, being gradually cleared, will surely result in increased milk production, and again benclit the factory, but as set oil' we have the aggregation curse, whereby one .man can increase his holding by buying up the next section, and so on, willi the ultimate intention of going in for sheep. One with half an eye can see what that menus to the small man us ;regards expenses in factory running. I Other parts of the North Island can give instances as to the effect of such both [in connection with factory and school, [and it seems a great pity that in the : interests of t.lie district and the whole '•Dominion that splendid dairying land should 'be turned into sheep country, I and also that a large amount, of the 'same kind of land should be tied up by speculators who, like spiders, are waiting for the increased values made by the community as ft whole. A big and radical alteration is wanted in our ilaml laws. The beat of it is that the small men can see the QTile, but will

not stir one bit to cause an alteration to be made, and they seem to forget that they have the power to see it done if they will but pull together. I fancy the adoption of rating on the unimproved value system would just about sttr things the right way. • The dairy instructor or expert under the direction of the Technical College, whose salary was guaranteed by certaim : dairy companies, has given several lectures in the Maketawa factory. The lectures have not been as well attended as perhaps they might "have been if ' proper notice had 'been given the residents. The mere fact of putting up : a written notice at the factory and , creamery is not sufficient, and one would

have thought that the initial meeting, 1 was worth an advertisement in the ( paper circulating every morning in the district. Personally, I knew nothing about the lectures until three of the required number had been given, and ' therefore cannot say that the opinion expressed "that one hasn't missed much" is a correct one or not. Certain it is 1 that from hearsay I must say things are not what I expected. Returned Territorials from the Takapau camp have many and -varied tales to toll of the doings while there, and from all accounts the authorities responsible will have to Keep their weather eye open next time. Fining men and otherwise inconveniencing them for paltry and sometimes unavoidable offences, inaugurating petty punishment j for breaches of "made on the moment" regulations without giving the men a chance of explanation, and generally riding roughshod over the feelings of the men is not meet encouragement of the defence idea. One of these days the "big beetles" will cause such a rumpus with their cantankerous capers that the public, whose purses are pretty well stretched now, will wake up to know j "what for." f

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19140515.2.75

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 294, 15 May 1914, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,052

DISTRICT NEWS. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 294, 15 May 1914, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 294, 15 May 1914, Page 7

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