INTERPROVINCIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 76, 1 April 1910, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

♦ The objection made by some Australian station owners to the employment of married couples blessed with "encumbrances" is apparently shared -by some pastoralists in New Zealand. Enquiries made at a labour agency by a Christchurch Press reporter elicited that great difficulty was frequently experienced in placing married couples on stations when children of tender years j had to accompany their parents. In a great many cases the married couples have to occupy rooms in the homestead, and the employer does not, in view of that fact, welcome the presence of their children. Another objection is that the ■wife's time is fully occupied in the discharge of her household work, and this would be neglected if she had to attend to young children. When there is separate cottage accommodation the objections to the presence of children are not so pronounced. It is interesting to note, also, that married couples cast an appraising eye on offers which come their way. Their two principal requirements are • that the station should be within moderately easy reach of a school, and that the services of a doctor can be secured with reasonable promptness. Places which do not offer these amenities are seldom considered by married couples with "encumbrances." Diseases among root crops are particularly pronounced this year throughout the district, says the Hawera StarThe potato blight wrought, much mischief, a blight also attacked the tomato plants and shrivelled- them long before they ordinarily should have ceased bearing, and lately turnip crops have come under a disease that rots them away wherever it puts in an appearance. The Pahiatua School, which was burned down the other day, was about thirty chains off the water main, states a Wairarapa journal. The board had been, asked to have water laid ' on, but had replied that it could not afford the cost, eioo. 1 A Wairarapa .resident, who recently acquired property in the Waikato district, writes to the Age as follows : — I have been really surprised "at the capabilities of the soil in this territory, after the adverse opinions I have heard expressed in the past. It is certainly not the fault of the soil if one" does not' succeed, but the fault of the methods adopted. Any of the progressive far-, mere in the Wairarapa would make big money out of almost any farm in this locality, and it is therefore not _surprising to hear that a number of them, intend coming this way as soon as they are in a position! to clear up their affairs at your end. The climate is simply perfect, there being a maximum of beautiful sunny days, and yet ample rainfall for all,- purposes. The nights, too, are cold and bracing. Now that the new postmistress has been appointed, postal matters at Carluke are working admirably, but the official is certainly working under great difficulties (says the Pelorus Guardian), The road from Carluke to the main road at Robertson's mill (where the coach exchanges the mail) is roughly about a mile and a half "as the crow flies" (but as the postmistress has no wings she has to go "as the road goes"), but at the best is unfit for women because of its | rough nature — it is simply a bush track with a fence or two, numerous logs, and a very shaky swing bridge across the Rai River by way of variety. And on a hot day, with a 301b mall-sack on her back and sundry small ones' dangling from her arms,- the postmistress looks more like a pack-horse than a Government official. And this is her programme every day, wet of fine, for £45 per annum, in. i the winter the track will -often > be imiiassable.