DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAI-TOI-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. Jas. Phillips (chairman of the local dairy factory) returned from a trip to the Auckland district on Friday last. In the localities which he visited, he reports there is an abundance of feed, and the prospects for next season seem most favorable. Mrs. Mcßae, who last season disposed! of her farm at Wai-tol-toi to Mrs. Rockett, and has since resided in the district, on Saturday last left on a journey to Sydney. During her sojourn in XVai-toi-toi Mrs. Mcßae formed a large circle of friends, and her departure will be regretted. Next Friday quite a number of Frontiersmen from the Atl Awa troop will journey to New Plymouth to take part In the encampment which will be held at the racecourse, and they look forward to having an enjoyable outing. There may be several rifle shooting competitions, and as there aro one or two good shots in the troop, some of the prizes may find their way up here. The fine weather which prevailed during the Taranaki Agricultural Association’s Winter Show drew a large number of visitors from this end of the district, and Mr. Arthur Smith’s "country express" was well patronised. A number of Children from the Mimi school attended on Friday, and it is pleasing to note the intelligent interest they took in the various exhibits. As the management cater strongty for the juveniles, It must be gratifying to have their efforts appreciated, and it augurs well for the success of future shows that such is the case. It would be a good idea if the day set apart for the school children was understood to be a noliday throughout the district, and those in authority combined to make arrangements, so that all the scholars should have an opportunity of being present. The collection of native plants, pressed, named and mounted, exhibited by the Mimi school, and collected whilst under the superintendence of Miss P. Murray, was favorably commented upon. Such exhibits form an education to the children who assist in collecting them.

Mr. R. H. Pigott, of Urenui, scored a first in the Carrot Field Acreage Competition, with 87.7 points, and I understand the area unuer cultivation on his farm at Kaipikarx redacts great credit as to the manner 1n which the field has been attended to. Carrots grow exceeding! j- well in this district, and are considered by many to excel the mangolds in feeding value, though of course there is more labor attached to them. In the Seed and Grain Farmers’ Class, Mr. Pigott was again successful in the yellow maize with another fine exhibit.

The Waipapa branch of the North Taranaki Dairy Company was successful in securing first honors in the class Tor one crate of N.Z. cheese (cheddar) wldte or colored, suitable for export.

In view of an increased milk supply during the coming season the White Cliffs Dairy Company are now busy enlarging their factory, and Mr. D. Wyllie (returned soldier) Is carrying out the work of an extension to the making room to enable another vat to be installed ; also a crate room, and a cottage for the assistants. The same builder has recently completed for Mr. A. Smith, the genial bus proprietor, who now carries a dally mail to Pukearuhe, a new four-roomed cottage with bath rbom and pantry, built with konko, and lined w!.th plaster board, the whole presenting a very attractive appearance. A commodious garage has also been The usual fortnightly dance in aid of the Hall funds was held in Urenui on Thursday evening last, and was well attended. Mr. W. Murray (assisted by Messrs. A. Gilliver and A. Ross) carried out the duties of M.C. splendidly, whilst Miss A. Terrill presided at the piano in her usual capable manner. Extras were contributed by Mesdanies Bleakley and Colson and Mr. L. Spurr, and during tlie evening supper was handed round. The value of papa as a top-dressing for pasture has at different periods been somewhat strikingly, illustrated in the Uruti Valley. On occasions of heavy floods in the Mimi river many of the flats in that locality became covered with pai>a slush etc., and though many of the settlers lose the use of the land for some time afterwards, this is more than counterbalanced by the luxuriant growth of grass which follows. Perhaps this is as well, as more than one farmer lias given it as an opinion that continual grazing with dairy cows takes a fairly heavy toll of the land, and that sooner or later top-dressing with artificial manures would have to be resorted to. The result of the experiments being carried out in Wai-toi-toi will be interesting, as it is quite evident there is some substance In papa that develops a wonderful growth of grass suitable for butter-fat production, and that is what farmers are after at present. •Mr. Curie, Government dairy inspector, at a recent meeting of Wairarapa dairy farmers and factory managers, made some very trenchant remarks as to the need for Improvement in New '"Zealand’s butter and cheese. Amongst other matters, he stated that the dairy factory manager found it easier to accept all kinds of milk rather than ruffle the feathers of a supplier who was forwarding poor quality milk to a factory, they (the managers) were now asking that steps be taken to effect an improvement. The first step would have to be be combining of all district factories into an association based on the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all. and assuring that no supplier offending at one factory should find shelter at any other factory. Steps would require to be taken to educate the Ignorant and compel the careless and indifferent to realise their responsibility to t(je industry and the Dominion. An Individual instructor, with full power to compel observance of necessary rules, would at the present time seem the only solution of a difficult situation. This is a matter which has often been spoken of privately in this district, and local companies might do worse than discuss the matter, with a view to ascertaining if such an instructor could not be obtained to combine this* with the testing of dairy herds. There is no doubt that many a factory manager, rather than offend an influential supplier, often takes In milk that is far from conducive to making a good article, whether butter or cheese, and in the end has had to suffer for doing so by the loss of his position.

New Zealand would appear to be going "dry” —not in a prdbibltiloned ser(se—•but from want of water. A week or two ago it was mentioned that the well at the Urenui Hotel had for the first time on record refused to respond to the demand for water, and after a week or so of rain was still in the same mood. Another instance has been mentioned of a well in Waihi, which some four months ago contained 25ft of water, and is now practically empty. A southern paper also has the information that the river Clutha has fallen several inches, and is navigable whth difficulty.

A prominent settler in this district is reported to have received a private cable from Mr. Massey containing the information that he and his colleagues are formulating a policy which will place an effective damper on the "go-slow" tactics, which are at present being carried on both in the Old Country and in the Dominion. Should the Prime Minister succeed in bringing back a means of curing this evil, his (if it cost twice as much as the amount may come to) will have been productive of an immense amount of good, and. will tend in a great measure to do away with the present high cost of living.