MOKOIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 September 1924, Page 7

MOKOIA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

THE NEW SEASON. The farmers are again A'ery busy, and herds are rapidly getting into profit for another season. The season so far lias been fairly good, and though there has not been much growth until a few days ago,, the pastures are beginning to look much better, ancl, provided we get some' mild weather and no more frosts; feed will soon be plentiful.. Tlie local factory has been in operation since the latter end of July, and the milk is gaining in quantity daily. Butter was made for the first month, but cheese is now being manufactured. There have been no sensational prices offering in this district this year, and, as our chairman remarked at the factory annual meeting the other day, the necessary earnings will require to oe aone on the farm by increased production. There have been great quantities of slag and other manures distributed throughout the district this winter, and it is to be hoped the results of same will prove satisfactory in every way.

SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION LECTURE.

On Wednesday evening Mr R. B. Wood, Government vet., gave a lecture to a fair number of the members, the general outline of which was the proper treatment of dairy cows. Mr Wood in his breezy way kept bis audience keenly interested for about three hours, and much useful information, was given. In the course of his remarks Mr Wood gave his opinion as to the manner in which to dry cows off at the end of the season. He recommended that cows in the later stages of their milking period should be milked once a day to within about a couple of months before calving, and then turned out straight away. He did not believe in milking every other-day or every third day and so on until a cow was thoroughly dry, as after several personal experiments and tests he had found that a cow can dry herself off better than anyone, and in every- case he had tried very satisfactory results had been proved. The idea might be worth the consideration of fanners, and save a lot of useless handling of cows when they could well do without going through the ordeal of milking in its final stages of the season. Another point stressed by the speaker was that it was a mistaken policy when making ensilage to make it in wet weather. A lot of people seemed to think that ensilage was more easily made than hay because one did not need to study the weather, but the correct way to’ make ensilage was to select a nice dry day just the same as for cutting bay. If ensilage was put in on a very wet dav a sort of acid, akin to prussic acid, was formed, and proved very harmful to 'animals when being fed, in many cases proving fatal. At the close a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker, and MiWood has promised to come later on and give a demonstration on a. cow carcase.

TENNIS CLUB ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Mokoia, Tennis Club was held on ■ Tuesday evening, when a fair number of member s attended. Mr G. S. Lander, secretary, submitted his report and balance-sheet, which was adopted. At the beginning of the season there was a debit balance of £2 0s 3d, and at the end there was a credit balance of £2 15s 10d, which was considered very satisfactory. • During the season the club bad played six inter-club matches, winning five and drawing one. the scoi;es. being 755 for and 489 against. The following office-bearer,s were apnointed for tlie ensuing year: Patrons, Mr ancl Mrs D. S. Richardson; pvesi-1 dent, Miss Morecraft; vice-president, Mr A. Tidswell; secretary and treasurer ancl captain, Mr L. E. Bell; vicecaptain. Mr N. Hunt; auditor, Miss Morecraft: committee, Mesdames S. and A. Tidswell. Misses Elsie and Doris Agostineli ancl Jean Lander. Messrs S. Lander. H. r Hayter, Si Tidswell, G. S. Lander, and F. Hunt; selection committee. Mrs A. Tidswell. Misses E. Agostineli and Jean Lander. Messrs N. Hunt and S. Lander. It was agreed that the junior club raised bv the school children have the use of the courts as in former years, and that the used balls be handed over to them. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr and Mrs Richardson for free use of grounds, and Miss Morecraft also thanked the club on behalf of the school children for the use of the courts and gear. In order to infuse more enthusiasm into the club and encourage players to get more practice it ■ was decided to provide challenge buttons, two for ladies and two for gents, to be played for weekly. It was also arranged to hold a dance on Wednesday evening to help the funds of the club, and visitors are assured of a good time. The opening day for this season is the first Wednesday in October, ancl members are reauested to attend as regularly as possible.