DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1921, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAI-TOI-TOI—URENUI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Th© Wai-toi-toi dairy factory opened the new season, on Friday last, under the managership of Mr. T. Taylor, and for the present will run on every alternate day. Though the supply was rather limited, it will no doubt increase rapidly, as more cows are coming in daily. Thanks to the mild winter we have' so far experienced, there have been very losses of stock, and as there is a good amount of spring feed, the prospects for the coming season are fairly bright, more especially as good offers are being received for the output. Several new suppliers are expected, and as there is room for four vats, a much larger suwly than has’‘hitherto been received can be dealt with, and this at very little higher cost tkan it takes to run the factory at present. Increased supply means less cost In production per lb of butter or cheese, and consequently a higher pay-out at the end of the season. The smallness of the supply has been somewhat of a drawback to the factory in previous years, and though it has been steadily increasing, the amount of milk taken in Is still far short of what the district should produce, and the building of such an up-to-date factory deserves. No matter how economically a factory may be carried on, it is the distribution of the cost amongst a targe number of suppliers which eventually tells the tale, and to ensure the best results it is essential that every acre of unilk producing country should be utilised, and this more especially at a period when it would' seem that butter-fat will have to be the chief means of carrying us through a somewhat diffichlt financial crisis. i

During the past week, Mr. Buckley, lately of Kaimiro, who has purchased the upper portion of Mr. Zimmerman's Walrtoi-toi estate, arrived with his herd of cows. His cowshed is In the course of erection, and shortly a residence will be built. In the meantime, Mr. Buckley and family are residing in a dwelling on Mr. Zimmerman’s portion of the farm.

On Friday last, the teachers of the various schools Jn the district assembled In Urenui to receive instruction in physical drill. Owing to the boisterous weather on Friday last, Mr. Gould, of Waitara, did not visit Wal-tol-toi as usual.

Cadets are reminded that Sergeant-Major Bell, from New Plymouth, will be present in Urenui on Thursday next for the purpose of putting them through a course of drill. The following day (Friday) will be devoted to the territorials.

An ingenious water wheel may be seen at work on Messrs.. Johnson Bros.’ (returned soldiers) farm at the Mimi. It has been constructed out of an old windmill, the fans of which have been straightened, and around the rim have been attached a number of half kerosene tins, which serve the purpose of buckets. The wheel Is driven by the water supplied, from a small dam, and is worked on the breast principle. To it Is attacnea a windmill pump, the water being elevated to a height of some forty or fifty feet, and will be the means of .supplying several paddocks with the fluid without which no dairy farm can be worked successfully. The idea has the merit of utility and cheapness, and will be a big asset to Messrs. Johnson in dry weather.

Encouraged by the manner in which the public answered their appeal for support at the recent, euchre party and dance, the Urenui Library Committee have decided to again endeavor to raise further funds for tte purchase of new books by holding a social and dance in the Urenui Hall on Friday, the 19th Inst. Through the money raised by the . euchre party, the committee have been enabled to secure a number of new volumes, and that public Interest Is being awakened is evinced by the increased subscribers’ list. The purchase of books now-a-days is, however, a costly matter, and further funds are still required to make the catalogue attractive. No doubt the public will show their appreciation of the efforts of the committee and the energetic hon. secretary (Mrs. L. M. Burrell), to place the library on a sound footing by attending in large numbers at the forthcoming social, at which some first-class singers have promised to assist.

Ai recent visitor from Banks Feninsula states that there is a more plentiful supply of feed there than has been the case for some years, and that tiie dairy herds generally are in first class condition. A record season has been experienced, and one factory hhs paid out 3s per lb for butter-fat. The stocks of cocksfoot which had accumulated for the past two or three seasons have been nil cleared, large shipments going to France. With the probable high prices for both cheese and butter it is expected that the coming season will be equally as successful as the one just ended. The strong gales and heavy rain squalls which have prevailed during the past days have practically put a stop to much outdoors work, though tte necessary feeding out and attention to stock have had to be attended to. In this locality we have fortunately escaped much damage—an overturned duckhouse being about the only casualty recorded so far. Many young trees and hedges have Men considerably blackened by the strong winds, but no doubt they will recover as milder weather prevails. Salvage parties have been on the look-out on the Wai-toi-toi beacb for signs of the floating wharf reported in your columns a few days ago, and supposed to land somewhere north of New Plymouth, but a rlonu log, out of which some 100 posts were split, besides several smaller pieces of timber, and a couple of dead cows were the only finds of any consequence.

A fodder which might with profit be grown more extensively than is at present the case in this district Is cabbage. That they can be grown successfully has been proved by many farmers who have followed tie practice of mixing a few packets of seed with either swede, carrot, or mangold crops, and the success attained by this method is a sufficient guarantee that they could with advantage be relied upon as a main crop for autumn or winter feeding. As a milk producer they are quite equal to mangolds, turnips, or rape, and have the advantage of not tainting the milk to any appreciable extent. When stripped of their leaves, they may be stored, and if protected by straw, drumhead cabbages l ave been known to keep for several weeks, but the better system is to cart them direct from rhe paddock for consumption. When fed to dairy cows they should be given just after m.’lking, and when this is done a considerable proportion of the whole ration may consist of cabbage without imparting any disagreeable taint to the milk. Bullocks or sheep also do well on cabbages, and if minced are much relished by young lambs. I understand one farmer in the Inglewood district makes it a practice to grow some four acres of cabbage every season, with most satisfactory results, and farmers in these parts might do worse than give them a trial, more especially, as two or more feedings may be obtained from the crop.

WHAREHUIA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) In spite of the rough weather, the settlers turned out in good numbers on Friday night to the concert and dance in the Stunlej’ school, for the purpose of augmenting the amount of the local hall fund. Mrs. Bianchi and orchestra rendered various items, which were much appreciated. Mr. Vincent (a host in himself) delighted the audience by his varied performances. Misses Forbes and Mischefski were well received in their Dutch song in costume, for which they were justly •encored. Mr. A. Breen, who is always enjoyed, was heard to advantage in ‘‘The Trumpeter,” and in response to prolonged applause, rendered in capital style, “The Mountains of Moume." For her splendic pianoforte solo. Miss Forbes had to respond to an encore, playing a classical selectior well memorised. At the conclusion, Mr. S. Hart (chairman ot the hall conwnittee), moved a very hearty vote of .thanks to the performers, and to Mr, J. Fry day, who generously motored the orchestral party out from Stratford. After supper, which was as bountiful as usual, tte floor war cleared for dancing. Later on in the evening a waltzing competition was held, creating much in' .re"'

Messrs. P. Harkness and T. Cookson, who kindly acted as judges, had a. difficult task in , assigning the prizes, several couples being recalled, and finally the prizes were awarded to Miss Molly Breen and Mr. A. Breen, Miss Lash and Mr. W. Johnston being highly commended. The lady’s prize was a handsome suede bag, the, gift of Mr. Gaffaney, of Stratford, the gentleman receiving a razor strop. Dancing was enjoyed till a late hour, and Mrs. Bianchi and orchestra, who supplied the music free of charge, were voted, ‘‘Jolly Good Fellows." On Monday a band of eleven willing workers, under the supervision of Messrs. R. Forbes and S. Hart, made a splendid start with the building of the hall. Given fine weather for the next fortnight, the hall will be a feature in the village in that time. Next Friday night the Warehula social club are availing the>mselves of the generous offer of the Midhirst Hall Committee to hold a social and dance a( Midhirst to raise funds for our hall. Several Stratford artists have promised their assistance, and, with Mrs, Bianchi and orchestra supplying the music, an enjoyable evening is assured. The young men of the district are getting into form in anticipation of sports to be held on the opening day of the bazaar. The secretary for the bazaar reports good work being done by the ladles, who are deter- j mined to make the Ist and 2nd of September red letter days in the history of Wharehuia. Once more the familar rumble of anilk carts is heard, the local factory having commenced its season on Friday, the sth.