OKAIAWA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 November 1926, Page 7

OKAIAWA.

(From Our Own Correspondent). THE WEATHER. The weather during the past lew days, although at times decidedly boisterous, has shown considerable improvement. The frequent heavy falls of rain were a great hindrance to those farmers who were wanting to sow their root crops. A local farmer had an unprecedented experience on 1 riday last, the day following the phenomenal fall of rain. He had had his windmills fitted with automatic controls, and on Friday noticed one working which should not have been. Upon investigation it was found that the well was full of water, which was holding up the bucket which pulls up the mill when the tank is full. The water in the well had risen a good six feet. THE MILK SUPPLY. The milk supply this season is far in excess of that of last, year, although I cannot give the respective figures. The accommodation at the local laclory. which was thought to be sufficient for all time, has been taxed to its utmost capacity, and at one time it uas thought that some of the supplieis would have to be asked to go to a branch factory from which they were about equi-distant. THE BACON INDUSTRY. A new firm, J. C. Hutton. Ltd., has entered into the bacon-curing industry in this district, and. 1 believe, has obtained a good share of the pigs available. The company has been fortunate in .securing the services of Mr. Crawford as buyer. an undesirable immigrant. A local storekeeper recently discovered an ugly-looking creature in his back premises. He failed to identify it. but took the precaution of placing it'in a glass jar. The next day it was identified by an ex-Australian as. an Australian centipede, it was a good deal like the creeper which troutfishers find under stone.s in the riverbeds. and which they use for bait, but was of a lighter colour and many sizes larger. When it extended itself it was quite six inches in length. The creature is capable of inflicting a painful bite, which is likened to a jab from a red-hot needle, and which may also prove to be dangerous, it is thought that it came to New Zealand in some Australian wheat. A PUGNACIOUS BIRD. A resident on the Normanby Road has a rooster which is more than ordinarily pugnacious. This bird will attack any horse, cow. or dog which approaches his backyard, but, strangely enough, will not stand up to a brother rooster. I recently witnessed an encounter between tbe rooster and a cattle dog. Tt was most amusing, and ended in a draw, but tbe rooster was loading in “points.” The bird is a white Leghorn, and not a game or a bantam, as might be anticipated.