WAITOMO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 497, 4 September 1912, Page 5

WAITOMO.

Own Correspondent. [ A dance was held at Mr T. Kilmister's residence on August 30th, but unfortunately the weather was very unfavourable, and prevented many from attending. However, a most enjoyable time was spent. The large front room, 16 by 37 feet, in which the dance was held was tastefully decorated, and the floor in first-rate order. Mr J. Methven, a pupil of the famous Kubelik, was the musician and needless to say his manipulation of the violin and accordeon left nothing to be desired. Several extras on the piano were given by Mrs Johnstone, and the Misses Heppenstall and Sharpleß. Songs were contributed at intervals by different ladies and gentlemen, and Mr Methven favoured "the company with a sailor's hornpipe. At midnight supper was handed round. Dancing was kept up with vigour until 3 a.m.

Farms continue to change hands around here, and quite a number of new settlers have taken up their residence among us during the last few months. Mr T. Tooman has just disposed of his Tumi Tumi property to Mr Hitchcock, of Waikato. The native-owned lands which used to extend from Hangatiki to Ruakuri Caves on either side of the road are now nearly all leased or sold to the pakeha, and a new era has set in. Stretches of fern and titri scrub are fast giving place to ploughed fields, and preparations for spring cropping are going on.

The weather up to August 2Sth has been very favourable for farming operations, but since tnen a lot of rain has fallen. Feed is coming away well, and is more plentiful now than it was at the end of September last year. Hoggets have wintered well around Waitomo although very few settlers have had young grass for them. As a general rule they do not winter well with us on the older pastures, but this year has proved an exception. Various theories have been put forth to account for this, some contending that as the pastures get older and the pukahau disappears, sheep will winter better, and others again ascribe the low mortality to the fact that there was not the change in the grass last autumn that usually follows the breaking up of the dry weather in March or April, as the grass was soft and green all the summer and autumn. April and May are usually the months when hoggets begin to pcour, and do badly with us. It would be interesting and instructive if some of the correspondents in other Ipcalities would give us the benefit of their experience and observation re the wintering of hoggets on the older pastures. It will be generally admitted that where young grass or turnips are available hoggets do all right, but such are not always available to a "bush cockey." The grass has not been much in evidence during last summer or autumn. Whether the exceptionally wet season was not favourable to the development of the pest, or whether the numerous flocks of starlings to be seen around helped to hold them in check is a doubtful point. The obvious fact remains that they have done practically no damage at all around here. About four years ago they did a vast amount of damage, and destroyed nearly all the shallower rooted grasses in their path. These patches are just beginning to recover now.