WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 244, 5 February 1898, Page 3

WHATAWHATA.

DroCght and Kikes. -The above is about the most appropriate heading f>r a district repoit at the present time, 'owhat little vegetation tho drought hue spared to us the firo seems determined to have. During (he pist week or two fires have been racing all over the ne:thbourhoocl, nnd though no preat indni dual damage has beou done, much useful stock feed has. been destroyed on the runs and swamps. On Wednesday a fern fire swept over tho Tuhikarama ecd of the district, burning a quantity of fencing posts on Mr Wathatns farm, and on the same day a big bush fire w s raging on the (dope of the H'karamata range, near Mr Noble's farm, while every swamp sent up its c'oud of smoke. Id fact everything seems to burn jus now, and once started there is no teldng where a fire will cud. The drought is becoming a serious matter ; springs aud creeks are dry, ami grass paddocks look more like enclosed deserts than anything else. Root crops are almost a, lailure. Several settlers, among them Mr. M. Fitzgerald, who regularly grow quaoti ties of carrots, parsnips, mangolds, etc., report a complete failure this season, what few seeds germinated being promptly eaten by insects. The eirly turnips, that looked so well a few weeks ago, are now assuming that hard blue tint which indicates an extreme lack of moisture, and the success of the late (main) crops depends entirely upen the rainfall we may have during the next few weeks. Fkost.—On Thursday a sharp frosfe cut down what struggling pumpkins and melon plants were left on the low-lying lauds.

Milk Sumx—The supply of milk to the creamery is falling away very rapidly owing to tho scarcity of grass and extreme dryness of what little feed the cows get. Green maize would be just the very thing in a season like the present, but the job is to grow it, for even maiz? needs moisture. Milk Qoestion.—The skim milk difficulty has been very much in evidence at our creamery of l»te, scarcely a morning passing without some suppliers having to go short of their proper quantity of skim milk, for no other reason apparently than that someone else has taken it. At other establishments the matter seems to be better arranged, and some different system will have to be adopted in Whatawhata if the milk-supp yinz busi ne.-s is to contiuue popular with the settlers. Grain CROrs.—Grain crops are being harvested in capital condition, and, though light of straw, are well headed, und the sample of grain should be firstchs>. It is to bo hoped that prices for

cereals and chaff will keep tip, eo a* to compensate the farmtr somewhat for the many drawbacks of the present season, but, judging by the remarks of dealers and purchasing agents, we are not to to surfeited by anything like fancy prices. even lower rather than last season being spoken of. With this eud in view, no doubt flour, oatmeal, etc., etc , will shortly make a sharp drop—it is now taking place—in the mirkcts, and continue so until the bu'k of the grain is in what is termed " second hawk," when the customary rise will occur. Of course, this move is, on the part of commercial people, regarded as reasonable, if mt proper, and only what might be tx- • pecteel from sharp business men ; but when even a suggestion is thrown out that producers should combine to protect themselves against such transparent trickery (the proper term for this commercial custom), the idea is scouted as wicked, if not blasphemous, and directly opposed to the law of supply and dc nr.ind, which, like many other laws, may be said to be chiefly notable for its adaptability of adjustment to the requirements of the lich a« against the poor. But lam wandering, as the poor farmer generally doe 3 when he dreams of independence and better times, and must hark back.

SiiEF.r. Sheep have done w< 11 throughout the district, being about the best stock in dry weather. So far there is no talk ot luug

worm, lambs being healthier than for years past, and in addition to this, flockowners a*-e now fully alive to the value of drenching lambs about weaning time. A good dose of Sonjtt, costing a shade over one penny per head i*, for wtaued lambs, the best investment a sheepowner ever made, aad there can be no question that with fairly good management and a judicious use of such drenches as Sonjet, the heavy mortality among lambs, so sesious a matter in former years, is now practically a thing of the past, even poor stunted lambs going through tho winter with a death rate of not more than one or two per cent , while on good lambs its beneficial effects arc quickly noticeahle. The Hotkl.—Preparations are being made to start the new hotel, and, no doubt, once in hand Mr Geach will spare no time in putting the place up.—(Own Corre.-pondent).