WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 303, 18 June 1898, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

Weathkb and Farming. The late lengthened spell of frosty weather is just another phase of the extraordinary season we are experiencing, und people are about tired of expressing astonishment at anything in the shape of abnormal weather. As a beneficial result of the dry, hot days and frosty nights, the roads are fine and hard—as good indeed for traffic as at any time during the past summer, while springs, water-courses and swamps are as dry as ever. For autumn sown grass, however, the hard frosts have been most unfavourable, large quantities 6f the young plants beiug lifted right out of the ground, and left to wither in the hot sun, and where grass-seeds have been surface-sown, and consequently, are less deeply rooted, the injury is proving much greater. Our settlers are hard at work ploughing, harrowing and in a few cases are drilling in the first of the grain crops in the shape of dun outs, for which work the weather has been most favourable. The great difficulty has been the scarcity of chaff and oats for horse feed, aud also for seed, which is owing to the lengthened absence in the Ohaupo district of Messrs Taylor Bros, threshing' and chaflinc plant, settlers having been greatly put about in consequence, though those, having grain and chaff for sale, will not lose anything by the delay, the markets having shown a strong upward tendeucy. Messrs Taylor Bros, are expected back next week, and will have about 300 stacks of grain and 150 tons of chaff to deal with, the handling and carting of which will make things more lively for a bit. Clarke's Gully.—The Waipa County Council are losing no time in putting in a large wooden culvert at Clarke's Gully, where the pipes were lately washed away, the timber, kauri, now being carted on to the ground ; Mr Fawkes having the contract to put it together, and as the weather is most suitable, with no water running past the place, a few days should see it completed.

Rate Collecting.—The action of the County authorities in the matter of collecting rates is, however, not viewed quite so favourably ; the addition of interest and law costs to the amount owiug for current rates being a novel, and somewhat startling, experience to many ratepayers, who have been in the habit of taking matters rather easy. In some cases as much as 25 per cent has been added in this way to the amount originally demanded for rates, and, as all this has taken place during the current year, it seems rather stiff, and is a new departure in rate collecting. However, the Waipa County Council and other local bodies cannot carry out their duties to the best advantage if the rates are not promptly paid. To use the words of one Councillor, "Hundreds of pounds, in the shape of Government subsidies, have been lost to the Waipa County funds through the rates not being paid in time, and this loss, of course; really falls upon the ratepayers, who have to make up the amount by taxation among themselves. There cau be no question that the action cf the Waipa Council, though, perhaps, irritating at first, is in the right direction, and will be followed by the local bodies. Take our Newcastle Road Board for instance, which has, out of its small income, some £l2O in rates (current and arrears) still owing, and, through the non-payment of which, the Board will require to complete contracts in hand to borrow money from the Bank.

At this juncture one is remiuded of a pithy remark made many years ago by the late Major Jackson, who, when member for Waipa, was sympathising with one of his constituents, who had arrived at a railway station with farm produce, but was just too late to book it, (though the train was stilt there). I was caueht like this once, said the Major, but never again. " How did you mauage it," asked the settler, thiuking, probably, that the Major, trom his exalted position, had some occult iufluenee over the Railway Department, and might impart the valuable secret. " Easily enough," replied the Major in his bluff style, " I took d—n good oftre to get there in time," the sense of which remark will be apparent to mauy a Waipa ratepayer just now. To complete the story, however, the Major, who was one of the best hearted men that ever lived, did exert some private influence, and the settler's produce was sent on ; and, more than that, instructions were shortly after issued by the Railway Mxnager that perishable farm produce should always be sent on by train, even though it arrived too late for weighing and booking. Influenza. —I regret to report that the influenza epidemic is rife in our district just now, a number being laid up with it. After the sad fatalities that have lately occurred in connection with this complaint, people are beginning to regard it as a much more serious affair, and justly so, the great danger apparently being in getting out too soon after recovery. While on the subject of the influeim and its victims, it may be added that your sympathetic reference to the lamented death of our head printer, Mr Hooper, will find an echo in the hearts of all who knew him. No one could do business with Mr Hooper without respecting him, and to those like the writer who, many a time and oft, have had reason to be gratifful for his kindness and thoughtfulness, the feeling was a far deeper one. Our comrade may have left us, but it will be long ere we forgot him. —(Own Correspondent).