OTAKEHO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIV, Issue 3223, 13 September 1892, Page 2

OTAKEHO.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The big breeze about the county business is at last succeeded by a calm, consequent on the deoision of ratepayers on Tuesday last at the Drill Hall, Manaia, where the whole matter was finally threshed out, every portion of the Plains being iully represented from Hawera to Opunake. We were pretty strong in force from this quarter, you may be sure, on account of our recent fright about the Rama road boundary. Tbe commendable action of tbe Manaia people in modifying their views with regard to a WaingongoroHeimaraa County and agreeing to a Pungarehu-Palmer road one, has the I approval of most people. It is said that the ratepayers beyond Pcngarehu are not anxious to join the new county, so that there should be no great difficulty in fixing a boundary near that place which would be acceptable to everybody. This would give a 32-mile stretch ot country by the coast road, a very workable area, and, although not perhaps qnite up to Mr. McCarthy's ideal, still, the making of one of " the best counties in New Zealand." Enough for the present about this matter — the " fever " is still hanging and must be my excuse for again scribbling on county. It is reported that we are shortly to have another blacksmith here. There nsed to be two shops a few years back, but the owner of one bought out tbe other. Whether brisker times will warrant work for two blacksmiths is a question of which they will be the best judges. At any rate this is a great "■ horsey " centre, and ib also headquarter! for Mr. Spenoe's coaching and express teams ; so that altogether there ia a good deal of shoeing required. Since Mr. Kowin's accession to Hawera a universal move is said to be making in what has hitherto been a muohnegleoied home industry, that of raising poultry for tbe market. It will be tbe special province of women-folk (for men are often absent) to superintend this most promising of industries, and it will be their especial delight to look after tbe " chuoks," for by doing so they achieve two indispensable* things —the fostering of the feathered tribe at once satisfies their maternal instincts and secures a considerable addition to their pin-mon6y. The men are taking some interest in the prospectß of tbe industry, too, and I have already beard the question asked, •• How many fowls can you carry to the acre ?"

I notice that tbe Otakeho teacher has taken up his residence in the new building just erected by the board for him. It will be a great convenience to Mr. Honore, who lived hitherto about three miles distant. Moreover, it will be mooh nearer the oorreot thing having the sohool grounds and everything that takes place therein always under tbe master's eye. Anything pertaining to dairying or dairy cows Bhould be interesting to farmers nowa-daya. Here is an item about a heifer, who for rich cream, considering her mongrel breeding and poor keep, should go close on capping the record. She is about 27 months old, and has been in milk five months. I have seen her produce in the testing glass. The morning's milk gave 21 and tbe evening's milk 30 per oent. of cream. Now for tbe breeding and feeding. Sire, an obscurely-bred Shorti horn ; dam by an Aldemey ball (onoe

owned by Mr. D. Carroll) out of a Here

ford cow of no particular merit. She has been neither boused or hand-fed since a calf, and does a perish on watery cooksfoot solely. It an animal achieves such big things as a two-year-old, what sort of a dairy performer will she be when she arrived at her third or fourth season ?

A wonderful change has come over the face of the whole district during the past week. Those fonr or five sunny days in the beginning of the week worked wonders on the pastures. The clovers, which have lately been peeping out through their cold surroundings, have all at opoe, in sympathy with tbe weloome warmth of tbe sun's rays, shot forth with much vigor and profusion until the word "Spring" is being spelt in verdant characters from one end of the paddook to tbe other.