STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1916, 28 April 1888, Page 3

STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

(from our own correspondent.

A good deal of interest is being taken by settlers in this district in the matter of butter export. A strong feeling is about that it would be much more satisfactory if dairymen could combine and Bhip their produce Home themselves instead of " trucking it away "to middlemen. With this object in view, a meeting was held at Stratford a short time ago, when the question was lolly discussed, and it was resolved to try and induce the New Plymouth Co-operative Society to open a depot in Stratford, butter being received, say, once or twice a week, and orders executed from head-quarters on the sam 6 dates. It is said that the society, which has the reputation of being under very careful and efficient management, is willing to assist the settlers in any way that may be practicable, bat that it is determined to conduct its business on the cash basis. It would he willing to take charge of the batter and Bhip it Home for producers, but even that must depend npon the number of shares which new members would be willing to Bubscribe. It was therefore resolved to canvass the district with the object 01 ascertaining the amount of support which coald he depended on. Tbe settlers in the district comprised within the Cardiff and WaingODgoro roads and tipper portions of Opimake and Climie roads, have also been moving in the matter of butter-packing. Two or three meetings have been held on the subject, and it has been finally decided to go on with the project. What the suppliers— about 15 in number at present — intend to do is to put down £1 each, with which to bay timber, nails, and ntenßils, and then to have a •' working bee " for a couple of days to clear a site, split the shingles, saw the blocks, and put tbe building up. No pretentious structure is to be erected, nor is it intended to have a big overdralt aud heavy expenses. A mere shell is to be pat up, with a clay floor, and butter is to be received twice a week by the manager, it being proposed that each patron shall be required to churn twice a week, on set days, and bring tbe butter unsalted to the factory, there to be salted, worked together, and packed, kegged, or tinned, for tbe Home market to which it is to he exported every fortnight. Arrangements have been made for obtaining a small advance on it to enable suppliers to carry on until the returns come in. The Bottlers do not intend to risk any heavy outlay on plant or nonsense of that sort ; they simply want to pack their butter all together for tbe sake of sending Home respectable quantities oi an even (and good) quality, so that it may be disposed of to best advantage and so that producers may receive what the butter fetches, be the amount large or small. As those who have promised support understand their business and muster more than 200 cows, they sbouid have a fair chance of success. The experiment will be watched with interest.

On Monday evening next there is to be an amateur dramatic entertainment at Stratford in aid of the Norsewood relief fund. The object is one which must appeal with great force to every buah settler, especially to those who have themselves realised what a terrible disaster a bash fire is. A crowded house should therefore grace tbe occasion. The committee of the Foresters' ball, to be held on Queen's Birthday night, have not been by any means idle, arrangements being well forward. The lodge is steadily increasing, I am happy to say, and will continue to do so, I hope, until every sound man under 40 years of age has joined it, or some kindred institution. The payments are so trifling compared with the benefits to be received in case of accident or sickness, that few neglect to join when they have once realised what a safeguard it is in the hour ot need, tbe lodge not only paying doctor and chemist, bat supplying a welcome sum weekly for maintainance as well. Long may Friendly Societies flourish, to extend the right band of sympathy and help to the sick and to the mourners.

A healthy interest was displayed in educational matters around berc on Monday last, Midhirst beading the poll with an attendance of more than sixty householders. Tbe new committee there consists of Messrs. Anderson, KeijihUey, Clark, Fearce, Schumacher, and Veale. At Stratford Messrs. Huggett, Dougbty, Irvine, Reed, Smith, Tocker, and Watkins were returned. Matters appear to have passed off quietly at all the meetings.

Some of tbe active young fellows around Stratford are clearing up a portion of tbe recreation ground for cricket and football and are positively mak'iDg a levy of a day's work upon the middle-aged folk who generally get quite as much exercise at other things as is necessary to secure good health. What is more, they appear to be meeting with every encouragement, very few (if any) refusing to help for a day. This is as it should be, for if leisure hours are not spent in healthful recreation they have a tendency to be devoted to larrikiniam, and every sensible man, age, and woman too, Bhonld therefore give the projeot hearty approval. School treats of one sort and another have been pretty numerous lately, the Sunday lohools, as wall aB State schools, having given picnics to tbe little ones. The presence of so many of these former institutions in country districts is a cheering sign to every person who hopes to see New Zealand become really great, and the eagerness with which children attend thorn, if encouraged by tbeir parents to do bo, should conclusively prove that there is nothing in learning itself ditsastefnl to a child, if tbe subjeot is made interesting, but that the very reverse is tbe case.