WAIKATO (AUCKLAND.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 31

WAIKATO (AUCKLAND.)

April 21. — Since the beginning of the present month good rains have fallen over the whole of the "Waikato district, where, with the exception of a few welcome showers, the summer had been almost a lainless one. Consequently, turnips in many' instances had to be re-sown, but where, among early-sown crops, "takes" were effected, they are surprisingly good. The late rains have revived both turnips and grass, and should frosts not come unduly early in the season, stock may yet have a sufficiency of feed to carry them safely through the corning winter.

G-rain Harvest. — Never before in the history of the "Waikato have the farmers experienced a more favourable season for garnering their crops. Owing to the splendid growing weather of last spring crops got such a good start that all the subsequent dry weather failed to affect them to any serious extent. So that with fair crops, gathered in with scarce a shower, farmers have only one complaint to make — viz., the present low price of wheat.

Stock Sales. — Owing to the bareness of the pastures the pxices realised at the annual sheep-fair were not too good from a vendor's point of view, but since the rains the demand for cattle and sheep of all descriptions has increased The dispersion of Mr W. Taylor's stud, which took place at " Q-reen Hill," Te Awamutii, on the 27 th. ult., attracted buyers from the chief districts of both islands. As a pioof of- the quality offered I may state that the late Mr Neil Fleming, of Oamaru, was the purchaser of three fine animals. Taken altogether it was a most successful sale, and the average price obtained by Mr Taylor was a very high one.

Native Land Court. — -A sitting of the above has just been concluded at Cambridge, and the presence in that town of large numbers of Natives was to the old identity reminiscent of the early days, when Native Land Court business was a strong feature of the place. Small Farms.— During tho last 12 months several large estates- m the vicinity of Cambridge have been cut up inio" sniall famis, both "by tho Government and by privpAe owners. The demand foi such has been fairly strong, but the same adjecbire will by no means-des-serts most of the land. On some of it no

doubt the setters will do well; for otheis, the outlook is not too bright. {Shooting Season. — As tisual, the opening of the season for native game was signalised by the slaughter of large numbers of such, which are, I understand, becoming less plentiful year by year. The question naturally arises, Is it not high time that steps were taken to proclaim , certain lakes sanctuaries for these birds? and this, in the interests of sportsmen quite as much as for more sentimental reasons. This season pheasant-sho.oting promises to be fairly good ; in the King Country very good.