WHATAWHATA

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3062, 1 March 1892, Page 2

WHATAWHATA

Bachelors' Ball.—l had fully determined to draw the line at any more entertainments, at least for some time to come, but the receipt of a piece of pasteboard, conveying the hon. sec.'u compliments and an invitation to a bachelors' ball on Friday evening, shook this resolvo—(l may here mention, for the guidance of promoters of future entertainment*, that invitation cards, got up in good xtyle, are turned orit at very low rutes from The Waikato Times office)—particularly as I know from experience that bachelors, though not much account at some things, say nursing a baby, are generally opital fellows to ge.t up an entertainment. The ball on Friday was fully up to the standard. There were just enough present to be pleasant. The music, provided by Mr P. Meredith (piano) and Mr Poole (cornet), left nothing to be dehired, and the comestibles were so good that, though I am not quite clear upon this point, if they were the handiwork of the bachelors themselves, there will be no occasion for any change in their condition, at least so far ai cooking ia concerned. Mr C. Broonifield efficiently acted as M-C. Educational.—ln school matters a new era appears to have «et in. A very capable teacher has assumed the command, and the attendance has already rallied wonderfully, the present roll being the largest we have had for some years. Miss Higginson has been appointed sewing mistress. Some necessary repairs are to be effected to the teacher's residence, and, judging by the shaky feeling in some portions of the school floor, I should eay that more house blocks are required. Root Crops.—Though the settlers in this district have never gone in very largely for turnips, the heavy soil rendering the feeding them off neither so convenient nor profitable as upon lighter lands, some good crops are being grown this year, Messrs Fitzgerald, Kempthorne, and others having good patches of turnips. Potatoes are also a good crop along the river, Messrs Calder's

and Bruce's crops promising an enormous yield. Very little mention is, however, now made of a good potato crop, the wretched prices so often received having, so to speak, knocked the heart out of people in respect to potatoes. Stock. —The improved prices now realised for cattle have given much encouragement, and wherever cattle can be kept cheaply—as they can along the Waipa, where, in case of hard weather, there is always a good run at hand—nothing should pay so well. I heard the other day of one settler (Mr Geo. Swanaon) selling his calves, mixed sexes, in the paddock at 303 each. That's good enough.