WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 286, 10 May 1898, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

Weather and Crops.—At last we have something favourable to say of the weather, which, of late—has been simply perfect—particularly for out-door work, the bright, clear days and cool nights being exceedingly pleasant ; whilst, at the same time, a good growth is observable in all vegetation. The rain—though light—has been sufficient to soften the laud for ploughing and working up, a good deal of which is now going on. The warm rain on Saturday and Sunday will give a fresh start to the grass, and should the autumn continue mild, a fair amount of feed will be available in the pastures ; though, perhaps, not of the most substantial kind. Turnips have gone ahead wonderfully daring the past week or two. Some good crops may now be seen on several farms. Mr Jos. Charlston, junr., has some nice fields i f swedes and soft turnips on his hill land on the west side of the river, and the success of these crops, following on those grown by Mr Moffatt on that gentleman's highest hilltops, hitherto regarded as poor land, shows clearly that the large belt of fern country lying between the river and the range could be profitably handled by turuipgrowiug for the first few years, almost the whole of it being ploughable. Creamery.—Owing to the advance of the season and the small quantity of milk received, our creamery runs every second day only, and will closb down at the end of the month to the great satisfaction of most of the milk suppliers, who have had a hard and unprofitable season. Potato Crop. —On the Native Peninsula, near the township, the Maoris are now taking up their potato crops, fair yields being obtained. As usual the growers are selling w hat they can off the field, and in consequence of the general scarcity of potatoes, are doing a good business at from 5s to 6s per bag, the tubers being good eating, though nob quite pedigree Derwents. Entertainment.—On Friday evening last the Rev Dr. Hosking gave one of his popular limelight entertainments in Iwersen's Hall, a fair audience being present. Road Work.—The road forming and sanding lately carried oat in the township by the Waipa County authorities, is a most satisfactory piece of work, though having, perhaps, more crown to it than the late county engineer would have countenanced. However, it is the only way to make the road carry traffic in whiter on our heavy, clay flats, and with the improved drainage, which has been carried out by the Newcastle Road Board, our main road should be in better condition during the coming winter than ever before. Struck Gold.—With much pleasure I leirn from a recent copy of the Australasian that Mr W. Corboy (eldest son of our well-known settler) has struck sortiething good in the West Australian goldfields, where he has been prospecting for some years, the reef he and his mate discovered being thickly encrusted with gold, 20oz. of the precious mttal being obtained from 201 b. of stone. The paper states that almost the whole of the residents in the Pilhara district have gone out to the fini, which we hope will be the means of sending Willie back to Whatawhata with a snug pile in his pocket. Mr Lang's Meeting.—Comparatively few of our residents were able to be present at Mr Lang's meeting in Hamilton, but the full report which appeared in the Argus answered the same purpose. The speech is generally regarded as an able and straightforward one, worthy of our member, who by his consistency in political matters has gained a high place in the esteem of his Waipa constituents. The Argus Extras.—ln closing I may just mention that the enterprise shown by the Aegus people in issuiug extras and-publishing the latest information respecting the progress of the war, is favourably commented upon, the intelligence usually being much fresher than that contained in the Auckland papers. Much of the advantage, however, is lost to us owing to the very inefficient mail service we have to put up with, only two mails a week reaching Whatawhata and the West Coast districts from Hamilton. The time has certainly arrived that three mails a week should be received, and such an alteration would mean but a trifling addition to the cost of the present mail service, which is carried out most efficiently and cheaply by Messrs Sutton Bros., and it would be a great boon to Whatawhata and the Raglan districts.—(Own Correspondent).