TIKORANGI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8664, 28 December 1889, Page 3

TIKORANGI.

[FROM OUR OWN CORUB9PONDKNT.] December 26. — It has been the custom here to hold a picnic for the school children at the breaking up of the day school, to which any of the settlers and their friends are free to come. This may properly be called a sociable meeting of the settlers, each family bringing what provisions they think best. The picnic was held in the school grounds, but the tables were put up in the schoolroom. There was a very large attendance. The mothers of the children and elder daughters attended at the tables, and after all had satisfied themselves by partaking of the numerous and varied good things provided, went into the school grounds and adjoining paddocks to enjoy themselves in games that suited them. With the proceeds of the late concert a lot of toys and other useful articles had been purchased. These were run for by the children, those who got in first had first choice, and so on, everyone getting a prize. This kept the younger ones full of life for a couple of hours, and then other games were indulged in. About 10 p.m. the gathering broke up, all being apparently satisfied with the pleasure of the day"; the younger ones talking of their doings, and the mothers listening to them with gladness. Everyone concerned worked hard ; some in cooking and others in making ready ; and knowing that thi6 outing would bring a great deal of extra work in the washing and putting things in order, they cast all thought of this aside, being satisfied in their children's happiness. These social gatherings do a great deal of good in the outdiatricts, for the settlers do not see one another very often during the year, and these annual outings are looked forward to with interest. In thia district there is none of that going off into small groups, as though one lot did not wish to mix with the other, but all try to add to the success. Under auch circumstances these annual picnics are always a success. Let us hope that nothing will arise in the future to alter the present social feeling, and if some cannot get their own way in everything, let them enjoy themselves, not hold aloof on that account. Shearing will be commenced during the coming week. There are not a great many sheep, the holdings being small. Dairying and cropping is the principal occupation; the keeping of sheep has not hitherto been successful. They do very well for a few years, after which the sheep seem to deteriorate, and the land too. The wool from five pet lambs, four ewes, and a lamb, last year, -were 231 b, 201 b, 18£lb, 13£lb, and 121 b; total, 871 b; or an average of nearly 17£lb per fleece. This year — one having died during the year — three ewes and one ram cut 54tb. This shows that a heavy fleece can be grown. I would also say that those three ewes arc rearing six of their own lambs. Yet for all this it does not do to stock wholly with sheep. I fancy it must be on account of tho lightness of the soil, for sheep answer very well on heavier soil, where the grass will stand. Here, on the contrary, the sheep and grass go, and the land if broken up is worse instead of better for the sheep being on it any length of time. The land is no doubt more suited for cattle grazing. The late rain we have had has freshened the crops, which are looking very much belter for it.

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