WHATAWHATA

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 267, 29 March 1898, Page 2

WHATAWHATA

Weather—The late change from mild weather to southerly wiuds and frost, though the litter sm far lias been light, is by no means welcome to our settlers, as it means a decided check to growth. All hopes of a good autumn growth of grass have pretty well been abandoned, the cold nights having a very chilling effect upon bar? paddocks. Frost setting in so early in the season is regarded as an indication of a long and severe winter, and as fodder supplies are none too heavy, stock may have a somewhat hard time, and it is little wonder that cattle, particularly young ones, are cheap in the markets. Wheat turnips have escaped the ill effects of drought and fly, and are growing steadily, and thosi settlers are fortunate who ha<'e good breadths of them, as with a little hay or straw added a large number of cattle or jheep can be carried safely over wiuti v on a paddock of swedes. Clarke's Gully.—The Waipa County authorities have at last decided to put in pipes at the gully at Clarke's Bridge (two sets of two feet pipes), and the job will be completed durine the present week, Messrs Mawhinney Bros, now b ing at work at it, so that the ordinary traffic will be resumed on this road once more.

Tkndebs—While on the subject of roads, I may mention that some feeling has been caused among our local contractors owing to the Waipa County Counc 1 letting so many works iu this distiict without calling tenders. As cases in point, the draining work lately thrown up by Hckey on the Hamilton Swamp Road, sanding the new road in the Whatawhatu township, and putting in the pip.s at Clark's Bridge, have, it is alleged, been given to one contractor without the others getting a chance. It is not that the Couucil have chosen In - different workmen, for the Messrs Mawhinney will be hard to beat for doing honest work, but still other ratepayers would like to have a cut iu for some of the road works, possibly to square Mr Charles Bowden's little rate account.

.Sekiohs Lot's.—Mr \V. W. Higginson has, I regret to say, lost a valuable medium draught mare, and without any apparent cause. The animal was iu ordinary work during the early part of the week, but suddenly became dull and dlooping, am' though physiced and car-, fully tended, it died on Saturdaj' morning. Losses of this kind are hard to bear these times, when so little is made out of farming or creameries, especially during the past season. Milk Supply. Bvfcniog. to the latter, a very small quantity of milk is now being received at the local creamery, and it is suggested to run the separator every second day after the Ist April. Takiug into consideration the number of cows milked, the season now drawing to a close has been one of the pooiestyet experienced, both for milk yields and butter percentages. Had the rainfall been even a normal one, quite 1000 gallons per day would have beeu recorded for the best spring months. However, mere favourable circumstances may be our experience uext season.—(Own Correspondent).