DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1919, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

' I '•■' DURHAM ROAD. '. \_)'s (Prom Our Own Correspondent.)' The difference in weather conditions fills .year to what obtained for tlio samo period of the. previous season in much marked, the advent of spring being eually several weeks In advance. On two occasions wa had very threatening' Indications of a recurrence of last season') harshness, but, happily, they were of short duration, the show which fell not lying on the ground longer than a few hours. The mildness of the winter will result in many large sticks of dry fodder being held over in the case of hay, wnlle In regard to oats, I believe it is the Intention of owners to put them to chaff purposes. Those settlers who last year used llmo, with superphosphate as a follower for top dressing wore evidently satisfied with the results obtained, as this year a considerable amount of the above materials Is being used, last year some exceptionally heavy crops of hay were obtained, and there Is no reason why the same should not apply (his season. Regarding the carriage of lime on the railway, those ordering lime are under a serious handicap, notwithstanding the assurance given the secretary of the local Farmers' Union by the Minister of Agriculture that such material would receive all assistance In transit as "essential." When lime leaving the Napier works on August 11th. could not arrive hero before the 25th., and other trucks leaving n day or so after the 11th have not as yet put In an appearance, It does not show much for the "consideration" promised. But as Is the case all over the place—the farmer must simply take things as they are ladled out by the authorities. Troper combination amongst farmers would cause a different way or treatment—and still they can't see HI One hears, occasionally, a lot of palnv.»r that the farming community should receive assistance In many ways, and telephonic advantages Is supposed to be one of the things In which help Is to be given, but, like most of the benefits we are supposed to receive, the humbug and expense attached to the Initiation of the same precludes their adoption. In the towns, penny In the slot (or some such idea) la In vogue, and I have no doubt the installation >of such would cost as much as the average connecting up of many side roads In the country. When we have to pay up to the hilt for "benefits" promised by the Government, I should like to know where the benefits come In Too much, froth—llltie jetton, and the people themselves are to blame, tack of combination as a body of taxpayers Is the chief reason, and it cannot bo denied. The young fellows in the Maketawa district, which comprises all roads between Inglewood and Rugby. Road, recently formed a football club, .and, judging by the enthusiasm displayed, the combination promises to become a permanent one. I understand It la the intention of members to have as many practices as possible from now on In order that next season they Can lake part in any matches that may be arranged. The recently formed branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union for the Maketawa alstrlct promises to become on important means of discussing matters of Interest to the of the district Independent of the broader Issues affecting the welfare of tne farming community as a 'whole. There is no gainsaying the fact that by meeting together and discussing things In genernl much benefit must accrue to any body, be U farmer or Industrialist. The latter has long recognised the value of combination, but the farmer —ln the past, at. any rate—has shown a rcmarkoble apathy In this respect. There are many farmers In the district mentioned thai have neglected to put their names in a> numbers, and It seems that In their case the old apathetlo attitude Is dying a hard death. Our postal facilities, in fact those of the whole district (Norfolk Boad, Maketawa factory, and Durham Road), have been wiped out In a single blow, and the settlers intend dealing with the matter In the near future in order to see if the authorities can reinstate the service on more up-to-date lines. Too much was put upon the good nature of residents In the past, certain Individuals being expected by the Postal Department for a nwro plttonce to go to all sorts of trouble for the delivery of malls. The district mentioned Is simply the suburban part of the Inglewood borough, and It Is a decided shame that the Interests of the public should be so neglected as at present.

The examination of the Durham School is Axed for the 14th. Inst. The attendance recently Ims received a rude shock by tho removal of a number of children to other districts, which the new arrivals failed to counterbalance. The near future should show considerable attention in the surrounding district, judging by indications of, .lettlement of many Idle sections, and It should mean restoring the school to its former status. The school resident question, which has been a sore point with both committees and teachers In the past, has at Inst been Anally setled bv the Department deciding that the building bo condemned and house allowance allowed In future.

The local creamery Is now running everv day and the milk supply Is dally Increasing. There are several suppliers who are as yetJ not forwarding: milk, their herds not coming » profit as quickly as others. Considering that milkers calving In July and August have to he fed' on turnips and dry fodder, and also that the term "discriminate feeding of turnips" should be followed by farmers mere strictly than ; obtalna at present, opens up a hlg question as to the advisability of having cows come to profit before the latter end of September or In October. Certain it is that the pioneers cannot adopt the method practised W older countries, in which it i« claimed 'urnlps do not taint the milk. No doubt our time with respect to that will come. It Is hardly Just that many men who take all sorts, or bother to turn out a good article for the butter maker to operate on should here to suffer for the enlarged Idea some others have of "discriminate feeding." Another factor to consider is that If cowa nave July, August and September on turnips and hay before coming to profit they go right away on the young growing grass In good condition, and give good results both In milk and fat from the jump, whereas those calvjng July and August have to meet adverse weather conditions, and, In the majority of cases, are not In the best of form for proper production, and need all they can get to find the necessary heat and power to build themselves up, wSh a consequent restriction In the bucket yield. The latter end of September and In October Is when the pasture gets along, and I'm sure If farmers will giro the matter serious study they will recognise the force of the above contention; cows calving in October can be milked right up to Juno Instead of, as has been, being almost dry during the best months of the year. Certain feed can be grown to foster the milk supply In the autumn, but It seems that turnips is the only stuff that can be relied. on for the earlier period men« Honed, and, of course. It means the production of an article that moans ruin to the reputation of the factory product. WAI-TOI-TOI. I (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. J. Johnson, who has been confined to tho New Plymouth Hospital for some time past with an attack of rheumatism, is, I am pleased to say, now quite recovered, and Is back home again. There 1s to be a euchre party and dance In Urenul, in aid of tho District Memorial Fund, which. I am given to understand, still requires some £3O to purchase the granite monument which is to be erected. A "hard,up" basket social is also to be held shortly, and will no doubt further augment the funds. Mr. H. Grelg, wno' has now disposed of tb» balance of his Whitecllfts property, is holding a clearing sale at the homestead, Pukearuho, oij Thursday, when a large number of cattle and, sheep, together with a considerable collection of farm implements, will be offered. I hear that the property has been sold in Ave lots, at prices ranging from £SO to over £7O ner acre, and that the new owners Intend to milk thereon. If this Is so. It will be a welcome addition to the local dairy factory, which, though small, Is In a flourishing position.

Mr. Perkins paid his usual fortnightly visit on Friday evening lust, and his address was listened to with much Interest by those present. The accompaniments to the various hymns were ulayed by Miss Iteeves, the church organist from Wajtara, and were greatly appreciated. Tlie high prices which have been ruling of lata for dairy cattle were fully maintained at Mr. Newton Kind's sale at Urenul on Monday, and any lines which showed a touch of quality fetched big figures. Pigs were also "hot stuff" and the prices realised for some of the storei were distinctly In favor of vendorß.