WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2842, 30 September 1890, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

SruiNi; has mine again, and meets on all sides with a hearty welcome. The late genial weather has caused a quick growth of gmss, and stock of all kinds, including tho all important dairy cow, is enjoying, what is technically known, as a good bito. The past winter has been the mildest experienced for some years. Any produce remaining on hand, has been recently cleared, by our settlers, at good prices, and altogether a better tone prevails. The butter factory is again in full swing, the present supply being a trifle under 200 gals.

It is somewhat significant that those settlers within reach of the factory, are growing; very little produce, many of them not more than sufficient for their own uss. In fact there will be nothing like the amount of grain on tho Waipa this season that there was last. Tho reason given is, as an experienced farmer recently remarked, that it is hard to find one who has made a pound out of last year's crops, with tho exception of potatoes. Theso offer a field for profitable production, if the freight and charges could be brought within reasonable limits. From £1 5s to £1 12s per ton for freight and selling charges is altogether too much to take out of produce that frequently sells at fro'n i' 3 to £4 per ton. The general opinion of growers seems to be that the freight? charged by the river people, viz., 5s per ton from Whatawhata to Ngaruawahia, and proportionately from other stations on the river, is not too much, particularly as it includes loadiug into railway trucks; but tho high railway charges, than seven and a-half per cent, for the city auctioneer, with loss on bags, makes it mount up. l'otato growing on anything like a largo scale, under these conditions, is too risky and uncertain to meot with much favour.

HousK-uiiKEDiNG.— It seems after all that we are not to have the stallion Bonny Prince in the district this season, negotiations having fallen through. There is a good opening on the Wai pa for a good clydasdale, or perhaps Shira horse, for I hear many expressing an opinion strongly in favour of the latter. It is rumoured that Mr Noble, of Kaniwhaniwha, intends visiting the South in the autumn for the purpo.se <if Retting a real good draught. If he should do so, tlifcre is no question as to his receiving a large measure of support.