FEILDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 23

FEILDING.

During the last few days we have been favoured with glorious weather. The , weather this spring has been the most severe we ever experienced in the district. The oldest settler never remembered such backward spring for growth in grass and cereals. "We had an exceptionally fine winter. My experience in New Zealand (extending over twenty five years), has been that when there has been a mild i winter a stormy spring follows. I In travelling through the country I notice some farmers make provision for the winter season, and keep their stock in good condition ; but I am sorry to state that a number of others neglect this important matter with the result that the principal part of the spring and summer season has advanced before their cattle and sheep are in such a condition as their neighbours when the spring season Commences. Some of the settlers should be prosecuted for cruelty to animals. It has been noticed that as the land is being cleared of the bush the weather becomes more bleak* Some of the settlers have been wise and left clumps of bush standing on their sections which proves to be splendid shelter for stock. Even the sheep will gather around and camp on the sheltered side of the bush in stormy weather. I have advocated this matter in previous notes* and I notice that the local press has been devoting its leading columns to this subject lately. It advocates that the State should encourage farmers to do more planting. It is a matter of pounds shillings and pence, and when the farmers see that it is to their interest to do so they will. It is very obvious to the casual observer that where provision is made for stock in the shape of food and shelter in the winter season that that the per centage of losses through deaths is very small indeed. It cannot be expected that cows, for instance, which have not been provided for in the winter, will give the same product as those which have been attended to. A Ivansas farmer who lately visited this district was somewhat outspoken in his remarks about the careless, slip-shod way in which farming is conducted in this and other parts of New Zealand he has visited. The Prince of Wales' birthday passed off very quietly in Feilding. Some folks took advantage of the fine weather for an outing. Some members of the local corps of volunteers did a practice at the range. Other folks went out to private picnics. Your humble servant took a trip to Marton to see the " dear familiar faces " of those|with whom he fraternised in days of yore. 1 met with some old West Coasters and had a long talk of the happy days wo spent long years ago. I saw the " vacant" section on which the Mercury premises stood, and thought over the exciting times we had there at the time of bringing out the first copy of that journal. Had a walk through the public park and thought to myself, " If the Mercury did no other good for Marton than this, viz., the agitating of the question of procuring recreation grounds for the inhabitants of Marton then the residents of the borough and visitors to Marton should be thankful to the Mercury for being the means of procuring such a boon for the people. Mr F. Hunt, the landscape gardner of Marton, has been entrusted by the Borough Council to lay out the grounds and plant the same with ornamental trees. It was rather late in the season before he received the instructions to do the work, but he has " transformed the wilderness into a thing of beauty and a joy for ever." Credit is due to Mr J. J. McDonald, the present occupant of the civic chair of the borough of Marton, for the interest he has taken in procuring this boon for the people. I notice that no attempt lias been made to build upon the "waste places" of the courthouse and post office in Marton yet. I was informed that the officials are put to considerable inconvenience in performing their duties on the " make shift " building which now does duty for the post office. Party feeling is beginning to run high in respect to politics just now. Committee meetings for the respective candidates are held, active canvassing is going on, and various expressions of feeling and opinion are given. It is quite amusing to see the grave looks on the countenances and the serious shake of the head some folks will ■ put on when giving expression to their feelings as to the respective merits or demerits of the candidates. Mr Bailey has been honoured with two deputations, one from the Prohibitionists and one from the licensed victuallers. Mr Lethbridge has been waited on by a deputation from the latter only. From the published report of the interview 7 of the first named deputation to Blr Bailey, I gather that he expressed himself somewhat favourably to their cause, and when the latter named deputation waited on him ho still maintained the same stand. From reports circulated to the effect that Mr Bailey was pecuniarially interested in hotels, and that what he had conceded to

the Prohibitionists to catch votes, etc., I interviewed Mr Bailey myself and he assures me that neither he nor his firm with which he is connected have any interest in hotel property, and that he would not pledge himself to any party to vote tor any specific legislation, as no one knows whrit measures may be brought forward the next three years. Pie would vote for and tteS his influence for any measure that would bd for the benefit of the people as a whole, and not for any particular class. He had to Id cans when they waited upon him to know his opinion on the subject, You have Cattsed this agitation about J iie ar ™ question yourselves.- "Why" did you abide by the law ? If yotl had fiep. &e law this agitation would not have been raised." Mr Bailey started his political campaign at the far end of the electorate on Monday, the 9th, and will work his way back to Feilding. Mr Lethbridge started in Halcombe on the 9th.

Mr Browne has not been heard of since his appearance in Feilding.