Oparau Notes.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume XVIII, Issue 943, 21 February 1919, Page 2

Oparau Notes.

(Own Correspondent). The foreman of the Auckland Education Board recently visited Oparau in connection with the erection of a new school building. It has been suggested that the Board should remove the Bakaunui Native School building to Oparau. This idea is absurd, as the Rikaunui school building (about the size of an average pigeon loft) would not hold all the Oparau school furniture, and if it was possible to get half of it in, there would be no room for the pupils unless they were hung round the walls on hooks. A Yankee once said that New Zealand had no climate —only samples. The winter sample seems to have been

LOO WlUiier SttLUyiO DUULUO IU Ut>VD UCDU much in evidence daring last year. The dairy season, which opened badly, has fully recovered, owing principally to the moist season, and gives promise of eclipsing last season, while the local dairy factory ex[,ects to have a much greater output next year. Feed is in abundance here this summer, and in consequence stock are looking remarkably well. Owing to the lack of labour, little in the way of improvements is being done. Ou one farm alone absut £5OO worth of ryegrass seed is going to waste for lack of labour to cut it, while tons of Danthonia have gone to waste for the same reason. This latter seed was bringing over 3s per lb last autumn. Inquiries are being made in Oparau as regards blocks of land suitable for cutting up into soldiers’ farms. It is recognised that land in the vicinity of Kawhia is cheaper than land of similar quality in any other part of the Dominion. The Oparau roads being metalled, many blocks of land here would cut up well into soldier faijms, and, having a dairy factory on the spot, those farms would pay right from the etart. I understand that certain authorities have £250,000 in hand for the purpose named. Mr A- Schreiber has just harvested a fine crop of oats, the beads being particularly heavy. All over the district there has been a good take of turnips and rape, and, all going well, there will be an abundance el winter teed,