DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

DURHAM ROAD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The little drop of rain on the 15tb. and 16th, ; though hindering haymaking operations, did ' no (material damage to oats and hay lying i out, but the turnip crops are showing up rej markably good, a fairly heavy thunderstorm I passed over the district on Sunday afternoon. The accompanying downpour and a ' slight fall of snow on Egmont considerably ' i reduced the temperature until about noon on ’ ! Monday, when It became hot again. Weed time is fast approaching and farmers wishing to keep a check on same will have to put in a tiresome period, cutting the blackberry plants known, and hunting out all corners, etc. for those new ones which are pro- ■ bable, while the bright head of the ragwort ! enables it to be easily seen'. Varied are the methods taken in regard to the latter, and the one in which the roots are pulled and the flowor part stuffed under a log or into a stump, is one which should be discontinued. ' It does seem hard that no assistance is given 1 by the Government, by means of legislation ' strictly enforced, to those settlers who really do try to keep their places clean. It Is rather disheartening and also decidedly an- ; noying for a man to look over his fence line 1 and see acres covered with ragwort year after i year, and as a rule the officials supposed to , look after this matter are slow to move. The ' true solution is to give the local bodies control of tte inspectors. From time to time I have had many queries as to the output, etc., , of Our local creamery. I have obtained the following particulars, which should prove of interest to dairymen : The number of suppliers is 17 milk and 1 cream; the highest individual supply is 15501b5, milk, while the smallest is 2|lolbs; t)e highest test is 4.7, and the lowest 3.7; the total amount received per day is 13,2001b5. W.'.th ■ regard to casein, 7 suppliers prefer taking their “skim” back, leaving the remaining 11 I suppliers responsible for the yield of 5001bs j dally. Our creamery manager, who acts in the j capacity of postmaster, informs me that the j convenience Is taken advantage of fairly well, ; there being a fair number of letters, etc., going out, but a considerable improvement : could be effected in that respect which would : add to the status of the P.O. The balance between the inward and outward mail allows i a big margin in favor of the former, and as the outward correspondence is what the value of the office is judged on, residents should bear this in m.'aid in future.

Mr. F. Wasley, well-known in the Inglewood district, but who has been in Stratford parts for some years, has taken over Messrs. Lowe Bros, interest, in a Norfolk Rd. West section. “Tommie” is just the lad to knock such places Into good “nick,” he having a thorough knowledge of air kinds of bush work necessarj’ for their improvement. I understand that it l,s probable that Mr. Tom Lowe will take over Mr. Hunter’s section on the Derby Rd., which has been idle for some years now. I hope that the probability turns into actuality, because it means a move towards putting into use land that has been regarded as “pluck” for many years. Given a good road, and there is a move in that direction in view, there is no reason why a comfortable living cannot be made in that part. I have seen worse land tackled, - which to-day is growing splendid pasture. I hear that a proposal Is likely to be put to Durham residents whereby the Bedford Rd., connecting this road with the Dudley Rd., can be opened and used as a means to get to Inglewood. There are two or three small

creeks to fix yp, one river to bridge (with all necessary material alongside), and almost 30 to 40 Chains of metal to put down to connect with that already om from tho Dudley end. If the proposal does materialise and is adopted, it will mean another step in advancing the district. Through this road not being connected right through we lost the rural delivery, being inaugurated some twelve months or so ago, and it would mean about 18 gigs etc. being taken off about 2% miles of part of Durhaun Rd., and 2 miles of the main road, both items being ones which bear on the road maintenance, and also to ease congestions.