STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1755, 15 October 1887, Page 2

STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

* .= (FROM OUB OWN CORBKSBONDEHT.) ; _^ v la spite of ..the cry of :fijasd: fija$d ttmer?we are still increasing in taxpayers. l W£ek * after Week we see new faces, who are' not daunted by the rapid downfall in the price of all produce. Why should they be P I think that in times of depression the freeholders are to be congratulated on -having acquired that which will keep the wolf from the door. However .hard the all mighty dollar is to get possession of, a man can't starve if he has his piece of land, cows, pigs, and garden. Henry Ward Beecher, when lecturing hrGreair Britain, said that be doubted very much if the people of England could tide over such a time of depression as had swept through America, simply because the farmers were tenants and not freeholders. Of course, we all look forward to better times coming, this Btate of affairs can't last much longer. Upon the whole I fail to see that the bush settler has much to complain of when we take into consideration the dwellers in the large centres. Everything is now assuming the green and cheerful aspect of spring. Fruit trees in particular are showing abundant signs of a prolific yield. Apples are remarkably free from blight and present a clean healthy appearance. A kind of disease has attacked the roots ot trees of late, some call it " fungus." Out of curiouaity, I took up a large tree, eight years old, and found one of the main roots, some inch and a half thick, entirely dead. Since then I have examined others a»d find in many instances all the small roots have decayed. Perhape some of your numerous readers may be able to suggest a remedy. Colds etc. are Btill forging their way through our midst and keep our doctor fully occupied. The many friends of Mr. Peat, stationmaster at Stratford, will be sorry that he has had to be relieved of his duties owing to a severe illness. Walter Fever, the 1-ttle fellow who met with a severe accident near Eltbam, is still progressing favorably. That he escaped with bis life is miraculous. He with another lad were chasing stray horses from off the railway line when he received a kick on the forehead inflicting severe injuries. His companion not being old enough to know what was wrong, I suppose, went home and never said anything of what had occurred. Some two hours after the unfortunate lad way found in an unconscious condition. Mr. Hamilton was sent for, but could not relieve the sufferer, not having the necessary instruments. Dr. Cbilton shortly after arrived and raised the fractured part pressing on the brain thereby restoring consciousness. The butter factory at Elthara is progressing steadily towards completion. Machinery is now due, and operations will be commenced in about six weeks. The separator will be capable of patting through 460 gallons of milk per hour. Settlers have guaranteed so far to supply 1000 gallons a day. Tliq. proprietor says that he can command, should the season continue favorable, as much more. The above undertaking no doubt will prove of great value to the district, and richly deserves every support. Before long I hope to see one in full swing at Stratford. Milk is plentiful, but capital nil. ; While upon the butter subject, many are aware that during the warm weather great difficulty is experienced in churning and making up. The following simple plan may prove of some value: — Take, say, 21bs Halt petre and dissolve in water ; put your cream in a tin bucket, and stand it in the solution for about two hours and then churn. The same applies to Bofi butter to harden it. To avoid the loss of the salt pttre, boil the liquid, when yon will regain, the fine white crystal.