TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2548, 8 November 1888, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Watti.k Bahk. —Mr Johns, who is nothing if out enterprising, recently stripped the bark off some wattlo trees und sent it to Mossrs Ireland lirm., in Auckland, to ascertain its value. They dried and ground it and found it very good for tanning purposes, being very rich in tannin. In its green state it is worth £(i Oh 8 I per ton, supposing all the bark grown to be of the same standard as that sent down by Mr Johns. He roughly estimated the returns from an acre of wattle to be about £3 per annum, and in making this estimate lie said he believed he was under the mark. The expense in planting would be trifling as the only actual cash outlay would be for tiie seed, which he says should be sown late, say the latter end of October, so as to avoid the risk of frost. By the following winter the trees would be strong enough to stand the frosts of this climate. As regards stripping the baric, judging by tho time it took him to strip the few hundred weight lie sent down, he thinks a man could strip a ton a day, and the trees cut down could be renewed from

the nursery, thus keeping up a continuous supply. As population increases so would the demand for bark, so that it would not be likely the industry would be overdone, at any rate for a very long time. The trees could be so planted that it would take tea or twelve years to cut them all down, as only a certain number would be thinned out each year, and the supply could be kept up, as already stated, from the nursery. I'driners might do worse than plant some of their spare land with wattle. £3 an acre would be a very nice return to get. Wksleyan Bazaar.—A bazaar in aid of the Wesleyan parsonage fund will be held in the hall hero sometime in December. As some of tho members of that church are actively canvassing and securing promises of support the affair should be a great success. Thu last one they held here was very successful and netted a good sum. The Rev. Mr Griffiths is working hard for it. Like a wise man he knows the infiuencs of the fair sex whom he has enlisted in the work, aud when he goes round to ask for assistance he is accompanied by tho ladies, so that success in getting contributions is assured. Okange Culture. —Mr Hutchinson,-of Orakau, has grown some very fine oranges in his garden. They are large and, for fruit grown on a young tree, well flavoured.

The skin is rather thick, but that is the case with the fruit of all young trees. liomous grow to perfection in many parts of this district, but, so far as we Icnow, oranges have not been much grown, but the case in point shows that they can also be cultivated successfully. A Cuhious Occuhuknce.—About twenty or twenty-five years ago lampreys were very numerous in the Waipa River and its tributaries, but they disappeared suddenly. and were not seen again till this year, when they again apoeared in vast numbers, many thousands being seen in the Waipa at Otorohanga. The natives, who are very f.ind of them, were surprised attheir sudden re-appearaace, great numbers of the Maori--, young and old, were busily employed catching thein. Where the fish went, and where they came from in such groat numbers so suddenly, is a mystery. Rabbits in the King Country.—Your correspondent from being a sceptic as to tho existence of rabbits in any great number in the Native Country has become converted sinco Mr Oldham recently showed him a pile of eight thousand skins in the basement of Mr Ellis's store, at Kihikihi. They were brought in by the natives, who receive a bounty of 3d per skin. Besides these there are 5,000 more at a place called Kapanga, and about 4,000 at other places to come in. Some of the simple-minded (?) children of nature tried to score a point by catching rabbits on European territory, and offering the skins for sale, but the Inspector was not to be caught as easily as the rabbits were, so the natives had all their trouble for nothing. Another innocent Maori, with an eye to business, brought in a lot of heads, which he offered to the Inspector, but the trick was too palpable. The skins are classified ; the small ones aro burned, and the others are sent off to the London market for sale. Native Chops.—Your Alexandra correspondent drew attention to the fine appearance of the wheat and oats at Whatiwhatihoe in a lata-issue. We were there a few days ago, and noticing the excellent crops asked a native if any manure was put to them. He said no manure of any kind was used, and that the ground had been cropped with potatoes and maize for several years. It is strange how the natives manage to grow crops year after year without bonedust, but there they are to be seen and the fact remains that no fertilisers of any kiud are used.