TARIKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1923, Page 2

TARIKI.

(From Our Own Correspondent). ' The all-absorbing topic of conversa- [ tion and anxiety now and for the past i month is and has been the weather. : which hai? been giving the farmers a ! very trying time. Strenuous efforts i have been made in all directions to act 'up to the good old time-honored adi vice to make your hay while the sun I shines, and I don’t believe there have ■ been many minutes of real sunshine ! wasted by those chiefly concerned, but I this year there seems to be an un- ! usually large quantity of grass and oaten hay' to save and a very meagre supply of dry sunny weather in which i to do it, and it is feared that a good ' deal of what has been put into the stacks will not come out in a very first-class condition. This of course is bad, as in these times when no very great reliance can be placed on the success of the turnip crops, the farmers fpel very much more comfortable if they know they have a good sound haystack for their stock in the cold wet months of early spring, when the paddocks are practically bare. There are still a good many paddocks of grass and oaten hay to come in and it is to be hoped that those who have waited so long for suitable weather will have their patience rewarded. The prospect of work being started in the near’future in connection with the Tariki hydro-electric scheme appears to he having a very cheering effect on some of our focal business men, and at present none of them seem particularly anxious to sell out. We notice that Mr. Jlirks, chief electrical engineer, is expected to visit our district in connection with the above at an early date.

Owing to the lack of decent weather and the prolongation of haymaking operations there has been very little doing on our bowling green of late. Last Tuesday was one of the very fine days of the year, and although there svere many jobs that requited attention. a few at anyratc, decided that the most important was the bowling tournament being held in New Plymouth. All returned well pleased with what they saw and with their day’s outing. On Thursday a team of tennis players went to Okato to have a friendly game with the players of that district, but unfortunately the rain again proved a stumbling block. One sure sign of the improved condition of the times and the people is to see old pianos be(ing carted away from some of the homes in the district to make rooms for pew and up-to-date instruments.

The local school on Thursday with a full muster •of scholars, Miss Leslie, of Inglewood, filling the position of assistant temporarily.