DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1916, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

, (F.om Our Own Correspondents.) MAHOE.. Owing to the recent downpour of rain considerable damage has been done along the Opuiiake-Stratford Road. Several slips occurred, putting a stop to the traffic. Some of the factory uppliers had to go to Rowan owing to a wash-out, making the local factory about one vat of milk short. Many had to mi:k by hand through the waterraces being, washed away. The farmers are now busy putting in their autumn crops. One had the misfortune to, have to put in his seed three times through the rough weather, but the cattle- arc all looking well, and there is abundance of grass everywhere. .The takings at the late school concert, after all expenses were paid, amounted to £lO, which were handed over to the Stratford Wounded Soldiers' Fund,. i

' DURHAM :EOAD. The teacher at Durham School has been notified by the Education Board that, on account of the falling off in attendance, the assistant teacher will be transferred elsewhere. The roll number shows 39 pupils at present, and Sad the settlers on Upper Norfolk Eoad persevered in their efforts to obtain cross-country access, the extra children would have prevented the removal of the assistant, though I am given to understand it is probable the removal of another family in the course of a week or so will lessen the number by three.

Kitchen gardens are very backward in respect. To make matters worsnjfc-4 black slug has been playing high jinks in many places, and many are the devices used to cope with the night-worker. The appearance of cleaned paddocks —in fact, pastures in general—is very pleasing at present, and grass growth during the past month haajbeen simply wonderful, but the veaUnpt-v.'ell, to describe it beats me, though I may say November .ast year was somewhat similgg in many respects. MTxflr speculation is caused by the fact that the Maketawa River, which has always been admired as being the cleanest in the' district, is at present running water almost milk-white. Opinions are varied as to the cauw, and it has been suggested that probably the heavy rains have caused big slips, unearthing either a liino-bed or a white clay deposit. A prospecting party is mooted. A ■social i.i licl.i;; arranged for the 13tli 'prox. in a? Durham School, in order t > obtain jrizes for the schoolchildren. Mr. Eort Dodums'-.i a few days ago lost a brood mare, together with her foal, valued anywhere between £35 arid cOiO.

Ploughing and stumping are simply impossible at prascnt, and. many acres already turned over cannot be worked or prepared for sped. Tlie outlook is none too promising in regard to whiter fodder, unless a rapid lmnge oeeuis in tlie weather conditions. The exceptionally heavy .-aiM of last v-'eek have been responsible for considerable damage to the country lying at tlie foot of Mount Egmor.t, tlie various rivers having cut and scoured away .. very large amount of ground. Tlie Ngatoro, at Dudley P.nad, is reported to have clianged its course in many" places, while the Ngatoronui at Durham Road has also straightened many curves. The Makatawa also lias played similar pranks, and the quantity of j stone shoved another stop downv*:ds is beyond computation. As the are so deepened by the renoval of stone lower down for road puvpos.E, the consequences are now becoming apparent, and the question of the future is one that should 'oc seviou:ly considered. Various eulvcrli across Durhr.m F.oad were quite inadequate to cope with the wate.r and in consequence water in several instance; v.'ent over the road, happily without serious result. Cattle-crossings in clearings cv*r(lowed, as also did tlie drains, while tlie roads v.ere so deluged that tin binding was completely washed away, and damage of other nature caused. The clearings were practically a sheet of water, but such is the quickness of drainage that a little over 24 hours after the rain ceased not a .particle of water was visible.

Farmers relying simply on a ford for their cattle were put to a groat <lo.il of trouble in getting their cows to the sheds. In several cases cows 'hart to be left for several milkings, it being impossible to get near them. In one instance several eows were swept av.'nv, but turned up again two <lnys later. These are little tilings the man on the land has to grin anil bear once or tv.ice yearly, and those who think they are hardly done by by the cost of butter should just have a "go" for a while, and then perhaps the case of the dairy iarmer would take a diflerent aqicct.