PONCAKAWA NOTES.

Te Puke Times, Issue II, 15 April 1913, Page 3

PONCAKAWA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The weather still continues dry, although we have had one or two downpours, quite insufficient for requirement?, although enough to save the turnip and maize crops, which had got to a fairly critical stage. The pessimistic had predicted no crop, but since the rain turnips have m:ide a wonderful recovery, and average crop's may now he looked forward to. Maize will no doubt bo materially pinched unless frosts hold off until later than usual. Kumi-kums, which are now almost universally sown with maize and turnips, have stood the drought well, and a good yield can be looked for. • The milk supplies are easing off considerably, lu:t suppliers aver that the returns have bten satisfactory, considering the trying period they have just come through, and arc satisfied that the district will stand dry weather as well and better than most Darts of the country. Farmers, however, would do well to provide more green feed for their cows in dry weather, and not trust too much to Providence always providing a favorable season, / /Prices for butter-fat have been /ivellimaintained throughout the season, and some of the largest cheques mid out by the Bay of Plenty Dairy Association have come to this end of the district. In one or two instances the amount has been considerably over £100, while several approached that sum very closely. property sales have here recently. Mr $ .Olairo, has purchased acres from Mr ; managpr of kuistfalftsla, .JTauvcently owned ; : whilst Mr Dick, of 4 has purchased a portion v; '6f $v| Dougall's run. The last on" rhe? list is the sale of the Otnmarakau estate of 3000 acres, in the estate o? the late Mr Chayt ir. this having been purchased by Mr Abbott, a well-known merchant of Auckland, and a large land-owner on the Coast. I understand it is Mr Abbott's intention to cut this up into dairy farms, for which it is particularly suited, and erect a butter or cheese factory on it. A good deal of new country is being put under cultivation this •year, and since the rain farmers are busy sowing grass-seed. Where scrub once ruled supreme smiling pastures are now to be seen, while swamp lands are being steadily reclaimed and grassed. Messrs Bond and Bell, of Auckland, who recently secured 2000 acres on' the estuary of the Waihi,; have some twenty men employed draining and generally improving the property, and it isregettable to see the Government portion of. this fertile swamp of several thousand acres lying idle and unproductive, waiting for the release of the dredging machinery from . the Rangitaiki swamp. Stock continues to soil well, especially fats, which are in t steady demand, and buyers are clearing all that is availabh at Satisfactory prices. A draft /if millocks from the property/ofMessrs Ball Bros. avera?ed/>vei' £10\per head on the We/t'ield mark¥. while a line of wether? from Messrs Griffin Bjw?.' made £1 p?r head at the Hamilton market, wmmmmm