Stratford and Ngaire.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2327, 16 January 1893, Page 2

Stratford and Ngaire.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) It has been a common complaint among dairymen that tbe cows have not done very well tbla season. Whether this has been actually the case, or whether this year's results simply do not come np to last year's, it is s^jewhat difficult to say. Good judges gaveW as their opinion last summer that it was only once in five or sis years that we could hope for such a favorable season ; and it is probable that the extremely wet winter and the unusual shortness of feed in spring combined to lower tbe vitality aod milk-producing | qualities of the cows. It would never do to prophecy upon such a question, but one may reasonably look forward to a long and a fine autumn, which, if it comes, will make some amends for tbe spring and summer, I am aware that it is easy enough to preach — a good deal easier anyway than to practice—but one may be forgiven for saying that it is useless expecting cows to milk well and to maintain their condition unless they have abundance to eat, and an occasional change of pasture into tbe bargain. " The most of the breeding goes in at the mouth " is a maxim applicable to dairy cows as well as to other classes of stock. I hear that Mr. W. Taylor, of Ngaire, has been so unfortunate as to break bis leg through a kick from a horse. One leg was broken some years ago and never properly recovered, and now the other is thesuflerer. It seems like a measure of hard luck. Tbe privileges for the Stratford race meeting realised the handsome sum of $150. Thursday' nest- bas been proclaimed a public holiday here for the event, and as tbe acceptances are satisfactory a successful meeting is hoped for. yjVTair's hotel has changed bands, I hear, the purchaser being 'a Pahiatua man, ■ " p The East Egmont Forest Eeserves Board is gazetted, the board 'to consist of tbe Crown Lands Commissioner, the County Chairman, and Messrs. Allsworfcb, Curtis, Gorrie, and Perm. A good selection, I should say. ', Tbe stock sales do not- seem to bave got fixed up quits right yet, the Union's Stratford sale and. Mr. r King's Toko sale being held on tbe same day this coming week. - 'i Trout are plentiful in the Patea river this season, fish of 8£ to 4lbs being frequently caught by Mr.' Paton, who is almost onr only local disoiple of Isaac Walton, He oonfirms my previous observation as to the growing abundance of wild duck, and attributes it to the same cauae— the increase of fish*. - . ' -' *. At Wednesday's meeting of the Town Board; there ' were present — • Messrs. Howson, Mehaffy, O'Neill, and Sobierney* The contractor for tbe Pembroke road

metalling was requested to DJowjjouWJnti from the road (wbioh latds to L seftS. ; course), as it was feared anuj»ocid«t might occur. Th? engineer was oratitf to report upon the matter of gi\fa*&c«ifcr to the residenoes of several people VSo have no convenient approach, owing to the railway authorities having made * start at fencing the line through the township The custodian's report on* town hall finance for the quarter was —Receipts, £25 ss ; custodian's commission and expenses, £11 2s 4d. Nett balance, JGI4 2s.Ba. Tenders for Cordelia. S6S 6 ! 6 er f-? o °cb, £9 9s; McDonald, £9 8s ; Ireland, £10 10s ; Alien, £11 12s : West, £12 10s. The lowest was accepted. The olerk was ordered to press for night, soil accounts. • The Climie road settles have baa a meeting to oonstfer the question of a metalling loan, bnt tbe amount of tbe estimate frightened them. They still hope to get tbe most needful work done, at anyrate.— January 14.