DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUNGAREHU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) We have had an exceptional run of splendid weather for this time of the year, altogether unlike any previous year for the same months (May and June). Tie fine spell conduced to keep our local factory going. It is at present receiving supplies every third day, and indications so far promise a short spell this season, as there ore some farmers who report early dairies this year. Top-dressing on the coast Is now becoming general, and in spite of the high prices farmers find that It is impossible to get decent returns without using it freely, and no doubt the necessity will became more marked every year. Farmers would gladly welcome a few shipments of the eighty to a hundred million tons of ptosphate that are at present lying Idle on Nauru Island. It is only reasonable to suppose that in the near future farmers will be receiving supplies from that almos*. Inexhaustible source at much cheaper rates than they are now paying. The clearing sale carried out by Newton King, on account of Messrs. Bates and Kimball at Okato on July 6, drew a good attendance. There were present buyers from as far distant as the Waikato as well as Taranaki. The coastal district has of late earned a name for the quality of the dairy stock raised, which no doubt brings outsiders to the coastal sales. Taken all through the sale was a very good one. The property business is rather quiet along the coast at the present time, and land agents are finding it much more difficult to dispose of farms than during last year. Vendors of house property seem to have also drawn rein. Very few properties are now offering, the demand being greater tian the supply. “House to let” is a thing of the past.

Judging by the general condition of stock in th 6 coastal districts there should' be both a good lambing and calving season. Sheep and dairy cattle are wintering well in most places. At most of the clearing sales the tone for dairy cattle has somewhat improved, and many satisfactory averages have been recorded. The Jersey, however, is the dominant breed, and most of those in quest of dairy stock like to see it well evidenced.

Generally speaking, there is a strong forward movement in the cattle market with every indication of a continuance. Forward conditioned cows, which a short time back were entirely neglected, have quite suddenly jumped into prominence. Good sales of young cattle have also been recorded.

Speaking of the season’s prospects in general, they are decidedly good. A factor which should count well in favor of farmers this season is the improvement in the standard of cows milked and the advanced methods which are being generally adopted.

The visitors from the coast to the Winter Show at Hawera last week speak highly of the arrangements. The organisation of the show throughout was excellent. The society is to be congratulated on its success. The Warea Hall is at present undergoing improvements, the cost of these having been met by a number of socials, etc. On Tuesday evening, sth inst., a local resident entertained a few of our soldier settlers and other friends to an evening, when a most enjoyable time was spent. A varied programme suitable to both he elder anti the younger members of the company was indulged in and keenly enjoyed. Recent cables referring to the drop of prices In America have led us to hope that prices in New Zealand would soon show a corresponding fall. This unfortunately is not likely to be realised yet awhile. Criticism of the existing high price for land, and of tie holding of too much land in blocks by large owners was made by a visitor to the coast recently. “It is a fallacy to think,” he said, “that the large areas were the only ones that produced good livings. There is a farmer near my place, who has twenty-six acres in grass. Ten acres of this ar« in lucerne. Last year this man took £7OO from h’« nlnpft. and most of it was profit," ho,