DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1919, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

DURHAM ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent)The splendid Tain which fell on Sunday night and Monday last was very welcome, for the previous fortnight was none too good for the growth of crass, the nights being cold and the days, though warm, being of the dry cutting wind variety. On nil sides can be seen busy preparations with the plough, etc., while oats, sowed In the early autumn and fed oft lately, are making roraarkabl6,hendway. The late winter can be said to have been of a very mild character. I understand that Mr Frank Dodunslii has sold his farm to Mr. W. Officer, and that'the latter has expressed his intention of increasing the herd considerably. This will be welcome news to creamery suppliers. On tho other hand, many .suppliers have signified their intention to milk less cows this season, the rtason being that dairy cows are extremely high-priced, and also that with rearing their own heifers for nest year it would bo unwise to get rid of what you know to buy what you don't know. It may be all right. Your Makclawa correspondent, in his report anent the New Zealand Farmers' Union meoting, stated that tho next meeting of the branch would be held on OctoboT (Ith. This Is \ incorrect, as it is on fhe 10th., when the meet- I ing takes place. The evident interest shown j by farmers in the district to the need for i combination is surely gratifying to all thoso ( who recognise that by r.cting in a body is the ) only means by which farmers as a class can J obtain justice and consideration. Still, there ■ are too many, as yet, who are willing to take i advantage of the other chap'a trouble and ex- ' pense without any contribution to either by j themselves. This is not as it ought to be. ] Tho fact that at tho last meeting a good mus-', ter of members decided that thero should be >. in, vacation regarding meetings is a good .' augury for the future of the branch. j An "attempt i = being n:ado to obfttin the re- j opening of the postal sen-Ico for the three j su!>-Twt offices hi ihe Maketawa district, and ; I Jv'-?ve a netitir-n is to bo circulated shortly, j ape i'. is hoped every settler in the area af- \ feetca will see U- It thai his name appears ■ thereon. Some years ago a move was made ; to get this road district connected up with telephone, but tho humbug Attached to tho matter, and the outbreak of war following on, checked negotiations. It Is ouito possible that another try will be made, and it is hoped By many that with tho advent of new blood in the district a more successful result will be brought about. Although formed late In the season the Maketawa football club, which is composed largely, of Durham material, is evidently destined to welcome a real live organisation. Tho boys are keen on plenty of practice, and recently met a married men's team, which defeated the bachelors by 2 points. On Thursday next, at 130 pm, the Maketawa team will meet tho Midhirst club in Mr H. Marshall's paddock, a most suitable place on the Mountain road, and, given a tine day, tho garao should draw a good attendance. As showing the need for close supervision by fanners regarding their pastures, the following should be of more than ordinary Interest :—A sick cow belonging io a local farmer, after showing puzzling symptoms and not responding to medical treatment, died. A 'post mortem of the beast revealed that the liver was enlarged to throa times its proper sine, that the lungs were easily twice their size and had grown to the side of the body, practically pleurisy. The heart had shrunken into a small wrinkled mass and the operators discovered it to have been perforated by a small piece of wire about 2% wichts long. This wire was evidently a piece of strand of wire rope used years ago (about rl) by (he sawmill-logging plant, and had been taken by (he cow into her system while feeding, it had evidently worked from one ventricle through tho wall of tho heart at the apex back Into the heart and out again; in fact, the apex showed signs of old and new lacerations' that proved that tho beast had been sult'ering for years, and the wonder is that it had lived so long as it did. A wellknown • vet considers tho affair as being well worthy of record, and farmers would do well to see that pieces of glass, staples, wire scraps, and such like articles are not left lying about the fields.