WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 233, 11 January 1898, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

Farming Matters.—The late change in the weather, with a much needful rainfall, was welcome to both man and beast. The pasture? arc again showing a slight green tint, while turnips that were sown early, and which were languishing for want "of moisture, are now going ahead at a great rate. Considerable areas are being ploughed for turnips, chiefly swede?, and during the next fortnight the drills will be hard at work. Oat crops are fast ripeirng, the binders being now at work on the early-sown crops. Iu some instances good yields arj being obtained, but anything sown late has ripened prematurely, even on the best land, and in some cases will scarce'y pay for cutting. Milk.—After falling away to the extent of fully one-third, the milk supply at the civamery is moving up a bit, but no great fljw of milk can be expected at this advanced stage of the season, and, taking it all through, milk yields will be light for the present season. The remirks iu your resume of the past year re future prices for m'lk arc favourably commented upon by suppliers generally, and, in view of the circumstances, considerable disappointment will be felt if a rise is not obtained next season. Some suppliers are suggesting holding meetings at the creameries, and also a mass meeting of suppliers at some central p'ace, so as to discuss matters and ascertain the general opinion before any decision is come to. In any it does seem singular, considering the extent of the interests held by milk suppliers in the da'ry industry, that some closer and more workable union among themselves has not been devi.ed. At present each creamery has, so to speak, a lone hand in coming to a dec sion on dairying matters, and though tlrs system may be pleas'ng to a few who wish to have the milk tested this way or that way, and, it may be, have tha uvlk weighed or measured as their fancy directs, its weakness is shown only too plainly when a big question between the bu'ter manufacturers and the milk suppliers has to be deeded, and you might very well have addei to your remarks, that the first step towards the same results as are obtained elsewhere would l.e to establish a strong and workable system of united action among our milk suppliers themselves. Hotel.—Although the Whatawhala Hotel is not yet an accomplished fact —indeed, a brick has not been laid—matters are in a progressive state. The licensee, Mr Gcach, has purchased all interests in the license and land, and will at once commence to rebuild on the old site, and hopes by eicgetic action fc'j have a first-class building up in time. The inconvenience and loss to himself, through want of accommodation during the Lite holidays, and particularly at race time, must have been very considerable. Late Races. —Referring to the races, no mention wa? made in your report of the large contingent of visitors fio:n Hunt'y, who came up iu Messrs Walsh Bros.' steamer in the record time of hours from Huntly to Whatawhata, arriving in time for the first race. We hope to see our Huntly friends annually. Koad Wokks.—The difficulty of getting' road works carried out of late is shown by the length of time that some contracts have been let by the Newcastle Road Board and are yet unfinished ; indesd, some of them are not even started. The Board have other works still on hand to carry out, but the chairman considers it almost useless to call for tenders until tin bulk of the harvest work is over, in which he is no doubt correct. —(Own Corresponden').