WHAREROA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 September 1925, Page 7

WHAREROA.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

THE WE A Til li\R. The prevailing weather is the chief theme for locaj discussion hereabouts. Never in the memory of the oldest resident has such a persistent spell of hitter, bleak and blustering winds occurred at this time of the year. Growth is at a standstill, and haystacks are being rapidly cut out. The natural effect of the shortage of feed, combined with the continuous cold, is that the cows are only producing about one-half of their normal supply, and the intake at the local factory is much less than at the corresponding period last year. Nor can we expect any definite change for the better until after the vei-pal equinox in about a' fortnight’s time, even if we are then favoured with a respite from the present wintry conditions. . ENGLISH WOOD-PIGEON.

Recent correspondence re the introduction of the English wood-pigeon reminds me that in ‘‘Mv Magazine,” edited by Mr Arthur Alee, appears an illustration (from a photograph), entitled ‘‘The terrible wood-pigeon at work near a wheat stack.” The picture shows one of these birds (deemed • your correspondent to be absolutely harinless) busily engaged stripping the oars of grain near a stook of wheat ~\'ow it is evident that this harmless * i :ve must have a very sinister reputation among English farmers to warrant the application of “the terrible wood-pigeon.” as applied by Air Alee, who is a naturalist, and a most gifted writer; and it is difficult to understand how anyone can advocate the introduction of such a bird, to add to the numerous pests we have already received from overseas. COW ON THE LINE. The early south train, last Friday had a narrow escape from being derailed inst south of Whareroa station, by striking a cow at a. point just round the bend and on a downhill grade, where it would have been practically impossible to pull up in time to avert a col•ision. As it was it proved “bad for the coo,” like “Stephenson’s “Puffing t’Hv,” for she was killed outright. The incident should serve to speed up the Railway Department in its resolve to renew the existing unsafe fences along its reserves. MAORI AVAR HISTORY. In Saturday’s Star, Rangiawhia (in the Alanawatu district) is mentioned as being the scene of a fight in the .Maori' War. The p'ace-name, however, is confused with Rairgiaowhia, near Te Awamutu, where the first clash occurred with the King Country natives justoutside the ‘‘Aukati.” or boundary line. The dashing Major Yon Tempsky was in this affair, and was, if I remember to have read aright, placed under arrest at its conclusion for exceeding the orders of his superior officer. The major has left a fine graphic account of this and other operations in the Waikato war. and tins is embodied in AiJ. Cowan’s publication ‘‘The Old Frontier.” THE TAR AREAS. lii a recent issue of the Star it' was remarked that a resident near the Lakes had seen the outline of the Tara run. Mountains one morning. The it has been seen repeatedly iji cAear weather from a liftle lower down the (■oast in the neighbourhood of Waokina, and Aliv F. Hawthorne, living near the rifle range, has noted it regularly from his hack door, and also occasionally the high summit of Stephen "Vand, at the head of the Alarlborough bounds.