MANGONUI COUNTY.

Northern Advocate, 20 April 1915, Page 2

MANGONUI COUNTY.

Writing under date April 14, our correspondent says: —

A fortnight ago we had every reason to be more than pleased at our good fortune in the generous if belated rainfall. The rain did an enormous amount of good, but although the fall was exceptionally heavy, within a few days the ground seemed to be as dry as ever again, although- the growth of feed was a tangible result. Fortunately the rainfall was followed on Good Friday by another heavy downpour, which has also been of incalculable benefit. What is even more satisfactory is the weather has not turned cold, but remains mild and exceptionally favourable to the growth of vegetation generally. Given a ; few weeks of this sort of weather, with an occasional shower, winter feed will be far more abundant than was thought possible a few weeks ago.

Tiie crops ar e forging ahead in a wonderful manner, and there will he gome good crops of maize in the county, especially in the Oruru Valley, where Mr. A. R. Garton has a fine-looking crop, and at Herekino, where Mr. W. Vickers has a fine crop, Mr. Albert Maria, of Komiti, has an' area of about.2s acres in maize, sown broadcast, for ensilage. The crop, considering the unfavourable season, looked particularly well when it was attacked by the caterpillar, which practically stripped the whole crop. The remains were put into stack ensilage, but to a large extent the result will be a failure. Fortunately this is the only visitation of the caterpillar fiend in the district so far.

The dairying season is rapidly nearing a premature end, and cream supplies in all districts are dwindling day by day. In most cases the cream cart now only collects twice a week, and another month will surely see the season at its close. At Oruru, in spite of all handicaps, the season under the circumstances has been good and proves the vitality of the dairying industry, and its ability to withstand even the rudest bumps in the way of climatic conditions. The output this year, in spite of the conditions, is very little short of last year, provirig conclusively a considerable advance forward. In Kaitaia, the results prove the rapid strides the district is making. , The output there has been splendid, and results and prices realised more than could possibly have been expected, the last consignment realising 1.46s on the English market. The new suction gas plant has proved a great success, and the results of this company next year, if only the season is a better one, is likely to be an eye-opener. The same remarks also apply to the Herekino factory, which is also doing exceptionally well. #

The meeting of northern representatives, to discuss the question of establishing freezing works in the Far North.was held at Kohukohu on Saturday, March 29. This county was represented by. Messrs. Snelgar and E, Saunders... The matter was thoroughly discussed, and it was decided to form a committee to prepare a prospectus for a freezing company, with the object of ascertaining If there is sufficient support in the North to get the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company to start a branch. It was also decided that to cover the necessary expenses a sum of £200 at least would be needed. This expense would include payment of an organiser and canvasser to go right through the North and place shares and isecure stock guarantees. -

The circular which is to be issued by the committee outlines the whole scheme tersely:—"At a meeting of representative farmers of the North, it was proposed to build freezing Vorks on the railway line, between Opua and Kaikohe, on the site secured by the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Ltd., should sufficient inducement offer in procuring capital and stock. The offer of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company is that the North take up £25,000 worth of shares, and show by means of signed guarantees that sufficient stock is offering to maintain the works."

The result of this meeting proves j conclusively that, war or no war, the j scheme has emerged .from th e visionary stage, and if from the point' of view of stock offering it is a com- j mercial posibility, it will certainly go through. It also decides once and for all that as far as the North is concerned, the port to be used will be the Bay of Islands, and not Whangarei. The site also, if the North is to have freezing works at all, will be somewhere near Otiria. The practical stage has now been arrived at, and money is to be risked to test by a thorough canvass what shares can be placed in the Far North as a whole, and also what stock can be relied upon. SERVIAN DISTRESS. A notable feature of the present war crisis in New Zealand, has been the marked sympathy felt for our; plucky little Allies the Belgians. In extending much practical sympathy to the Belgians we have perhaps been led to forget that there other small countries who have sacrificed I their all in the cause of the Allies, I and are at present in dire straits. ; From the outset, Servia has fought with tenacity, and according to reports relief is. very urgently required. The Servian cause should be one which should appeal particularly to settlers in the Far* North, as Iwe have many worthy Dalmatian settlers, who are Servians by sympathy and almost. Servian by birth. A number of these hav e volunteered for active service on the side of the Allies. Waipapakauri is, the first place in the North to give practical support to the Servian Relief Fund. A committee of local residents was formed to organise a monster basket social for the benefit of the fund. Mr. Edward Evans was an energetic chairman and was ably assisted by Mr, Colin Anderson as secretary. The social duly eventuated on Friday night, April 9, in the Waipapakauri hall, which was'packed to its utmost capacity. Dancing commenced soon after eight. Just after eleven Mr. Edward Evans commenced 'the big undertaking of selling by auction the baskets which had been contributed by practically every lady in the district. Prizes were offered for the most valuable and best decorated baskets, and these were keenly competed for. The total sum realised by the sale of baskets, namely £72, shows the real sympathy universally aroused for the object of the entertainment. (To be continued on Friday.)