COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8988, 28 February 1888, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Hamilton, Monday. The funeral of the late Mr. F. G. Thomas, of Hukanui, who died in the Waikato Hospital from tetanus supervening on severe injuries accidentally inflicted, was one of the largest which has taken place at the Kirikiriroa or East Hamilton Cemetery for some time past, over thirty vehicles and a large concourse of horsemen from all parts of the middle Waikato bcingpresent. Theservice was conducted by the Rev. J. Dellow, who took occasion to utter some well-timed remarks upon the uncertainty of life even to the most healthy and robust, and to point out the present case as an instance how a lively faith in Christ had solaced even so agonising a death as that of the deceased had been. The standing which appertains to a municiO. and which should convey a lesson to Itonians at the present time, was exemplified on Saturday, when Mr. John Knox announced in his auction mart that a consignment of Japanese ware and curios was on its road to him for public auction, from a firm in Hiojo, Japan, of the existence of which, till he received the invoice, he had no knowledge. The value of domain lands in Hamilton has fallen considerably. Eighteen months ago three allotments fenced and broken up for grass, containing altogether some eight acres and a quarter, were leased by auction on a fourteen years' lease for 32s per acre. The lessee abandoned them, and on Saturday the leases were again put up to auction by the Domain Board, when lot 5 was knocked down to Mr. E. Pearson, for 10s per acre per annum, and lots 3 and 6 to Mr. James Reid, for the same rental. The land had been laid down to grass by the late lessee, yet fetched less than a third of the original rent. Cambridge, Monday. With a credit balance at the bank of more than £200, it would be well if the Cambridge Highway Board strained a point, and expended the neecssarv sum required for repairing the Halfway Road Bridge. At the present time it is not safe for threshing machines to cross it, and one machine-owner has point-blank refused to use it for that purpose. This is a serious loss anil inconvenience to farmers at this season of the year, as well as to owners of machinery, and should be remedied at once. Mr. James Anderson will receive a hearty welcome back to Waikato, where ho was well known. Mr. Anderson, who settled on a farm at Mangare, near Auckland, when he and his brother sold out their Kaniwhanawhana farm on the Waipa to Mr. R. Noble, has recently purchased the farm formerly owned by Mr. Reuben Parr, at Pukerimu, and intends farming it himself. The price paid for the Pukerimu farm is said to be a trifle under £9 per acre. The magnificent wheat crops grown this year in that district and in other parts of Waikato cannot but give a high and fixed value to the land. ■ Te Awamutu, Monday. The list of purchasers of breeding sheep at Mr. McNicors sheen fair, last week, shows clearly that sheep farming is intended by some of our leading settlers to enter more largely into Waikato farming than it has done. Wheat, wool, and dairy produce will bo the staples of agriculture in Waikato, and to produce the former the land must be prepared by the consumption of green crops upon it by sheep. Beef, as often as not, has not paid the farmer the cost of his turnip crop, and if he did geta seemingly fair return per acre for his wheat, he had to debit it with a large share of the cost of growing the turnips necessary for the preparation of the soil for the wheat crop. The price of wool would, however, apparently warrant him in looking for a better return from sheep, and for wool there is always a sure market. Where he could keep one bullock he can reckon on keoping four or five ewes, and the lambs and the wool should not merely pay for the grass and turnips consumed, but leave a fair profit also. The favourite breed of sheep is evidently a cross between the Lincoln and the merino, and Napier and other dealers in supplying the Waikato markets with breeding ewes should bear this fact in mind. On Friday morning last Mr. Thomas Hunt saw two d.ogs worrying his sheep. He rode over to the paddock and killed one of them and wounded the other. Six sheep had been killed and a number wounded, and but for Mr. Hunt fortunately observing what was going on; great damage would have been done.' Dogs have also visited Mr. W. Taylor's! flock, and! if owners of dogs do not keep an eye on them, some of them will have a heavy bill to meet before long. The machinery for the new roller flour mill has arrived, and is being fitted up. [BY! !tELEGRAPII.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Cambridge, Monday. The neighbourhood of Cambridge is again visited by! an insect pest. This time it is the turnip crop that is threatened, and, indeed, very- - seriously, • for nearly everyone's crops are affected. Many of the farmers say it is similar to the cabbage blight, and think it is caused by' the dry weather ; while others say it is a species of! aphis, and a stranger to the district; but all of them agree that if we do not have rain at an early date the root crop will be worthless. The number of members belonging to the Baptist Church at Cambridge is steadily increasing! under' the teaching of Pastor Griffiths The harvest-thanksgiving services were continued-at St?. Andrew's Church on Sunday, Archdeacon Willis taking both services. .The attendance was good, and the musical portion was rendered in an efficient manner by the choir, under the leadership of Mr. 0. Garland. The offertories have lately been small. The one at the special service on Friday, when the church was crammed, only realised £l 12s 7d. To-night Major Wilson gives a lecture on " Maori Manners and Customs," in aid of the public library. Opotiki, Monday. There was the keenest excitement during last week re the licensing election. Each side nowinated five candidates. The election to-day resulted in the utter defeat of the tetotftllers. All five of the publicans' candidates were returned by a large majority.