OAONUI.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 197, 24 July 1896, Page 2

OAONUI.

(Our own Correspondent.)

Spring once again advances, and this season in all mildness. The winter throughout has been unusually good, consequently grass has been more plentiful than for many winters past. In fact, provender for cattle has been so abundant that many farmers have been enabled to husband their winter’s store of dry food against another season.

Milk suppliers are being paid by the Crown Company at the rate of BJd per gallon of 11 lbs, B*6 test; but few there are unfortunately to participate in the bounty of the Company, as most of the cows are out for the time.

Complaints are common from owners of stock as to sudden disappearances of cattle, which are as mysterious as provoking. There evidently .is something wrong. It would appear that farmers will do well v to keep a sharp look out for any of their stock pasturing too near highways or byways. Enquiries are being made as to some persons who drove a small mob of cattle toward Opunake after 12 o’clock at night last week. It does appear strange that any one need drive at such an unusual time. No one seems to know the direction taken by the drovers after they left the main road.

A meeting of the Oaonui Co-opera-tive Dairy Company was held in the school-house on Wednesday afternoon. Mr D. Lusk presided as usual. Important business was brought forward end transacted. The Company appointed Messrs Lusk and O’Rorke as delegates to proceed to New Plymouth next week on important matters. Mr W. D. Scott, the secretary, by his concise and sober management of the Company’s affairs, proves him a man capable of grasping with energy and precision anything in the shape of difficult business.

The Oao mi dancing class have decided upon giving a ball at an early date.

Some very nasty holes have worked out on the main road recently which need attendance.

Mr Fisher, agent for the Public Trustee, paid out Native rente at Rahotu on Tuesday. The Maoris were very jubilant to find their receipts handsomely increased as against former payments, the cause being that a great many more sections have been occupied since the last payment of rents, and that the full costs of surveys, &c., have now been retained by the Trustee.