COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9461, 4 September 1889, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[feom oca owjt cokkbspondents.] Hamilton, Tuesday. GitKAT surprise has been expressed here that, iu Colonel Hume's report on the volua- ■ teers, published in the Heiiau> of Saturday, no mention was made of the Hamilton Light Infantry Rifle Volunteers amongst those corps specially noticed for " drill, _ cleanliness and general smartness." This is the more inexplicable, as Lieutenant-Colonel Hume highly complimented the corps, when on parade, for theae qualification, and expressed himself afterwards in no uncertain terms that the Hamilton Rifles were the best corns he had inspected in the colony. The new Railway Reform League formed in Auckland will have the sympathy of the people of Waikato, for indeed after all it is but the resuscitation of our own league, working on the sa,me lines, and for the same object. The only reprot is that Auckland did not awake earlier to the true state of tho case, and necessity for reform in railway matters, for bad it come forward as it haa now done at the time when the question of tho appointment of a Commission was before the House, the result would have been very different. Had tho cities stood to the country then aa the country will now stand to thorn, the cause even then so nearly gained would have been won. Tk Awamctu, Tuesday. Our local factory wite to have been worked by Messrs. Reynolds und Co. as a creamery for buttcr-imikiug this seaeon ; but this, it appears, cannot be done on account of a want of suitable water. They have sunk to a very considerable depth, but without meeting with water of good enough quality ; and without a full supply of pure cold water buttermakinir could not be successfully carried out. Messrs. Reynolds and Go. are, however, prepared to lead water from the creek and to use the factory for cheese-making purposes. Wilatawhata, Tuesday. Now that oxtra pricee have been arranged for an autumn and winter supply of milk in 1800, witn Messrs. Reynolds and Co.'s factories, is the time for farmers to make the necoesary provision for keeping up their supply of rnilk during the autumn and winter months. Preparations must be made, and at once, for the growth of stuff, ensilage, and roots, not only for the winter, but for the autumn, whon grsiea is sometimes almost as source. Experience iu the district has shown that ensilage is fche best of feed for milking cows, and now thut the old plan of building pits is exploded, it can be nwde with eace, quickness, and without expense. The best ensilage made in the district this season, and on which a dairy of 35 cows has been kept all the winter, wae a ten-acre paddock of maize sown early in November, cut and stftckotl green on the 28th February, and built into stacks like hay. These were pressed down with strained wire, and then thatched. A plan which in another com: answered quito as well, was to build the roof with a slight incline, like the roof of a skillion, and cover with earth to a thickness of about 2i feet. This was left unthatched and the rain Sid not penetrate, and the weight of the earth wae sufficient compression. Grass may be thus made into ensilage instead of hay, be more valuable for milch cows in winter, and the risk of the hay turning out well in an unfavourable season be avoided. Green oats, or tares and oats mixed, Cape barley, any yreen crop in fact that the land will suit, may be built up into a silo. Sugar beets and carrots are also roots on which tho dairyman may rely for a full flow of rich milk in winter, and without a full supply of these neither iu antumn nor winter can the creameries be kept at work and the better prices for milk realised. Now, however, is the time vrheu preparations for the growth of autumn and winter fodder must be commenced. Another month or six weeks and the opportunity will be gone. Moerinsviij.k, Tuesday. Owing to the expense incurred in repairing damage (lone by floods, the local Board, it seems, will be unable to undertake many of the road improvements applir*! for. After payment of accounts its fuuds are £100 to the bad, and they will be reluctantly compelled to fall back on a rate of a halfpenny in the £, which will produce a sum of about £540. So heavy a rate is the more necessary as under the new valuation the rateable value of property hi the district is some £100,000 less than was the previous valuation.

[by telegraph.—own cokbkspondests.] Cambridge, Tuesday. Nominations for the vacancies in the Borough Council, caused by the retirement liv eUhixion of time of Messrs. Priestly, 11 ally, a.nd Bond, took place yesterday. The gentlemen named having consented to bo nominated, and there being no other candidates, they were declared duly elected. Mr. J. P. Thomson acted as returning oiliccr. Mi-. G.W. Russell, formerly proprietor of the Waikato News, is here on a visit. During his scny he has concluded arraiiLtjrnente with Sir W. VV astcneys for the sale of the Waikato News to the latter gentleman on mutually satisfactory terms. Mr. Russell speaks well of the state of businpss in Canterbury, and is quite satisfied with his prospects inChriatcliurch.

Tk Arojla, Tuesday. At the sittings of the RM. Court to-day the following cases were disposed of : —N. Ferguson v. 0. Gayer, larceny of three bags of oats from Bradley and Co.'a stables. •Judgment was reserved till next Court day; the accused was admitted to bail in two sureties of .£25 each, and himself in £50. M. Mnrnhy v. T. Murphy, assault. Accused pleaded guilty. Judgment was reserved till the '20th November. Same v. Same, breakin"; a window in the Premier Hotel, at Waioronuomui. The accuecd was ordered to pay the clamajjo and costs 40s. Police v. M. l)ouoghue, usiug insulting Innguiige in a public place. Fined 40s, and 7s costs. In the Warden's Court business was light and of no imjiortance.