NORTHERN WAIROA NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14924, 23 February 1912, Page 3

NORTHERN WAIROA NEWS.

SHEEP BECOMING POPULAR. [fkoji di it own coitßK.sroNrn:.vi'.] Settlkiis throughout the district arc owing a growing partiality to slice)), and hardly a holding is to be seen without sonic sort of a flock. In Hobson County, which docs not include the Tokatoka, Raupo, Reliia, Aranga. and Tutainoo districts, nor the country lying north of Tangiteroria on the cast side of the river, 54.294 were .shown in the last sheep returns, an increase of 7362 on the previous year's flocks. Seventy-three farmers arc. more or less hugely interested in the wool and mutton industries, and their flocks range from over 6000 down to a, few of only double numerals. The average, flock is 743. and is mainly composed of a Rdnmey-Liiu'oln cross. No ailments have (his year been reported, and pastures have a. reputation of being the cleanest in the Dominion. .Many dairymen, owing to labour shortage, are cutting down their herds, and are investing in sheep. They recognise that the docks manure the land and give excellent monetary returns, and if a slump in wool cveir again occurs, then they can fall back on the cowsonly they hardly recognise that they must then restart to build up decentpaying herds. The Dairying Industry. The good cow is being worshipped molt* and more, and receives treatment of the most kindly nature. The poor unfortunate dog, with generations of heel-nipping-traits, finds himself condemned when Km instincts lead him to hurry up the loitering herd, and man and dog now wait upon* her bovine majesty with tender solicitude. Every week' one hears of a milking treasure coming to light, and a cow of the first grade is unpnrchasable. When a. cow-testing association is formed in this* district many dairymen will find themselves possessed of" the best of animals, 1 and will also find thai they have been; feeding and nourishing units which long ago should have graced the saleyards.. The more progressive dairymen are" anxious for such an association, but a number hang back, certain that they know the value of each individual cow on their farms. When associations were first/ started in the North Island each farmer was asked to specify the 10' best cow.* in his herdand in. every case not one of those specified proved their worth to the* consideration which their owners had ex* tended to them! * Property Changing Hands. During' the past 12 months seven large properties, aggregating some 25,000 acres, have changed hands, and the bulk is now being surveyed into dairy farms, for which! there is an unsatisfied demand'. The average price paid was slightly under £7 per acre. The land is three-sheep to the aero country, has good river frontages, and all the blocks contain river flats, which are ideal for dairy farms. Numbers of. smaller properties have been transferred, and the advent, of the Southern dairyfarmer is universally welcomed. So far, there are some 6000 cows in commission, ' but at the present rate of progression, the district should next year possess over 7000. - The following further sales of land are i reported-200 acres at Raupo from J. Williams to an Opotiki farmer, at £30 ; an acre; 526 acres from T. Clayton to J, I Wilson, of Dannevirke; 280 acres from L, B. Marriner to J. Robertson, of dannevirke; 600 acres at Mangatu from B. E. Williams to 0. Larsen. of Bay of Plenty; 30 acres at Redhill to J. J. Powell, at £5 per acre; and 39 acres at Ruawai at £12 10s an acre to an adjoining settler. A Thunderstorm Incident. An unusual incident occurred a week x ago in the Ararua district in the Manga-\J mii Valley. During the course of a thunderstorm Mr. R. Kirk's house was struck by lightning, a portion of the roof being stripped off, the- ceding boards in one of the rooms smashed to matchwood, and a number of windows broken. None of the inmates were "hurt. On Mr. C. Smith's farm, a mile away, some old timber was set on fire, and on Mr. D. McCracken's holding a dead tree was ignited, and at large bush-felled area was consumed.; Such an experience is most rare in these parts, and of course can only happen under most peculiar meterologica! condn lions. ■■'''■' ■■"', Mangawhare Stock Sale. At Mangawhare last week the live "stocK yardings were small, settlers evidently preferring to wait a change in the weather before disposing largely of - cattle. Feed is fairly abundant in most localities, ; and stock are fattening well, so that it appearsa payable proposition, to retain all -cattle as long as the plentitude lasts. Beef: steers sold up to £7 10s, beef cows to £5 ss, and a fine lot of yearling calves realised £2 10s. At Arapohue the penmngs ' also on the ■ poor side. Beef steers' sold to £7 10s, fat cows £6 7s, a good line of store cattle realised £5 17s 6d, fresh cows £4 6s to £5 10s, and calves £1 15s to £2 10s, the latter-price being for' some Jersey heifers. Full-mouthed ewes sold from *10s to 12s 6d, and lambs were dis-: posed of at ss. v : ~...,. At the dispersal of the' Onlana Estate flock 6500 Romney-Lincolns were sold, mostly in lots of 500 and 600. Fat wethers sold up to 17s lOd, ewes 13s, and lambs 6s to 12s 6d, the remainder being -pas&rf in. Buyers were present from Auckland, Whangarei, Otamatea, and Northern Wsitoa, and the bulk sold went to the two» former localities. Enterprise of farmers. In the Maunganni Bluff district faring ing operations are being widely extended, and few other localities in this county, show more commendable progress. Tilt* ploughs seem to be ever at work, and ;v great scope of country is being turned up. Sir. A. Adams has a fine 30-acre field ofi turnips, which look the picture of health? and free of all disease. This locality* seems to be immune from the various blights which affect crops. The potato area was this season large, and on Mr., George Downey's holding the yield averaged 25 tons to" the acre, all free of disease of any sort. Mr. Kirk also had a. great potato crop of the Up-to-Date variety, and farmers are, so heartened with results that/ this voar larger lots of potatoes .will be sown." Mr. Kirk's holding also shows a beautiful growth of oats, the exceptional yield of which will be converted into chaff.. He has also two acres under wheat, which shows excellent growth, and old farmers have evinced surprise at the crop. Paspalum Popular. ; . ? Paspalum is in high favour in the 'Maunganui Bluff district. On Downey Bros.' estate it. has attained a height of 6ft, and ■ cocksfoot, in comparison looks very diminutive and scorched, although oh 'first-class land. These farmers aver that root for?, root cocksfoot cannot compare-with.' pas-: palum, the fattening properties of 'which] they highly eulogise. On the Targe" holding of Mr. M. N. Downey ploughing is carried on throughout the year. Ho intends during the coming j season to go in more largely for turnips and rye corn, with which he has had fine success. He also extols the value of paepahjm, and has sown tons of its seed. On the Towlying portion, of his estate he is carrying on wide drainage works, and intends clothing the reclaimed areas with Italian rye, lotus major, and paspalum principally. It is pleasing to record that those set-i tiers who have" disposed of their sections at high figures have no idea of leaving the district, but have joined the great army of land-seekers, and are now iu search of other properties. The offer, of ; sums ranging from £20 to £44 an acr* for well-improved farms have w MM* cases proved irresistible, and has £"»**"? sellers with a wealth of capital which per* mits them acquiring larger, if , more d»sU the dairy in, dustry is responsible; For the,***»"*& inrreie inTarti values, and So predict that within live years |fi best Waifoa:lands, will overtop those of . Taranaki in market yaluo.. :-■ > ...