WAIHI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144083, 30 April 1913, Page 6

WAIHI.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.) April 28.—Perfect weather conditions have favoured the farmers at this season of the year, when the sowing of'oats and grass tor green spring feed is being proceeded with. A very large area of this useful fodder is grown every year with profitable results. The early growth of the oats serves as a splendid stand-by while the new season’s grass is coming on. With the mild season and a plentiful supply of grass, dairy cattle arc looking exceedingly well, and it only requires a corresponding mild winter to make the setfson a record one. There is, of course, the usual falling off in milk supplies at the local factories, but as it is anticipated that next, milking season will he an early one, the present depreciation will prove an advantage later on. Farmers are beginning to recognise that early calvers—even if a larger amount of early feed requires to be grown—are the most profitable, for besides milking more continuously through to the end of the season, their calves are worth very much more than those of the late calvers. With the prospect of a plentiful winter’s feed, calves are still keeping a good price. Heifers with colour are in good demand, and even mixed lots are maintaining full values.

The result of the recent valuations on the West Coast leases has been made known to the leasees, and while no one favours a rise in rent, which takes it out of the energy, industry and capital of the lessee, and his family, to maintain a lazy Maori aristocracy, it is generally admitted that the rents on the various holdings are apportioned more uniformly with their working value than they, were on the last valuation. Judging by some of the rents fixed at the last valuation, one concludes that the valuations must have been made from the surveyors’ maps in the office, as I believe a good many have been done in the past. Whatever may he said for or against the present valuations, it cannot be said that Messrs. Ileslop or Halcoinbe shirked their work. Practically every acre was gone or seen over; duo regard made for the working disabilities of the land, its waste portions, and its general situation and proximity to the factories and markets. There may be instances where settlers consider they have, not been treated quite as impartially as their neighbours, but under the peculiar valuation condi - tions, in their stereotyped and redtaped form, which to the practical man on the farm are absurd, and altogether unfair, I believe the valuers were fair and impartial according to their judgment. Now the unfortunate, settlers will have to take a few more pounds of sweat out of himself, his wife, and his family to provide a few more pots of beor and pounds of tobacco for his landlord. In fact, he is an unwilling assis tant to the degredation. of what was once a ..noble race. If the Maori would follow the example of many of their half-caste neighbours, who prove themselves first-class' farmers and splendid workers, there would bo some hope for their redemption, but as circumstances exist an idle life is only the means to an end of their existence. For some time past the Presbyterian Church people have made a praisewprthv effort to establish services in this, district. When Mr. Bishop, of New Plymouth, preached in Waitara, ho inaugurated services in the Waihi School successfully. When he left, Mr. Youngson took them up, and still held the tew who got up half-an-honr earlier on Sunday mornings so as to be able to attend —sometimes late, ’tis true, but regularly. Wo have now obtained the services of Mr. Dunlop from the extreme end of the South Island to minister amongst us. Last week a social of welcome was extended to him and his wife by the settlers interested in their advent into the district. Although the concert part of the programme was entirely impromptu, the singing was exceptionally good and quite up to what would be expected after a month’s preparation. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop proved to be hosts in themselves, and to hear the fine old Scotch songs again mado us almost fancy we were living in Dunedin. Recognising that a broken up home means a depleted home, which takes some time to re-establish, on Monday last a large £ umber of friends journeyed to tho ome of Mr. H. M'Kenzie, where Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop were staying, and gave them a surprise gift party. Tho Waihiites turned out in full force and showed their appreciation of their, having come into our midst in a substantial way. Wo trust and think that the hearty welcome that has been extended to Mr, and Mrs. Dunlop will continue and that their stay will be pleasant to themselves and beneficial to us.

Now that the busy milking season is over, settlers are giving themselves over to gaiety. Several private little musi cal parties have been held in the district, and a euchre party is being held at stated periods in the school-room. Verv line points prizes have been donated by Mr. G. M. Skelton and Mr. Sued for the winners. A little son of Mr. C. Marsh had a painful accident last week. While playing with another child with an axe, he had the point of two fingers almost cut off. Medical attention was, of course, called in at once, and I understand the little chap is now progressing favourably. At last the Government have made a start to wipe off the national debt. While they see that their own salaries aro in close proximity, as to be almost dongerous, to a paltry thousand, principally for touring round the country making promises, attending banquets, aud such like gaieties, they expect a widow woman to work seven hours a day keeping a post office for six months for nothing. Added to that, when a telephone bureau is asked for by the settlers as a right, the powers that are, I understand, decree that she shall keep it for nothing until the averages come up to £lO. This is how the Government —past and present—foster and encourage settlement in the country. Every convenience—or rather every necessity —wo get granted from the Government we have to pray, as well as pay, for. Thp conditions are surrounded with,official red tape and and the whole thing made so disgustingly obligatory on our part as to make us do without the concessions rather than have to crawl for them. I have heard Mr. Massey say “that any or most of the so-called unearned increment got by the settlers in the country is hardearned increment, and that they deserve every penny they get. Personally, he would see that so far as he was concerned they would get it.” Now although our local postmistress is not lading bush or draining swamps, she is doing just as good and as necessary work, and if the Postmaster-General anticipates wiping oif his overdraft or intends creating .a surplus at the expense of a poor country postmistress, heaven help his department. It will need it all.

I am pleased to see that there is a possibility of a District High School being established at Waitara. I understand that the conditions require that twenty proficiency passes should be held by pupils in the district. I should think in a large district like this, with so many schools within so short a radius of Waitara, that no difficulty would be found in getting the necessary num-

"bers. With the prospect of seeing their pupils advance, teachers will take more interest in bringing them on for a proficiency certificate. Besides the inconvenience, or impossibility of sending children to Stratford or New Plymouth, the moral effect of a train journey for children with the free run of the whole train must be exceedingly bad. Personally, I have seen pandemonium reign when a troop of youngstei's camo tumbling into the carriages, and, without proper supervision, we cannot expect anything else. The present juncture is when a child passes the sixth standard he is just leaving school, when his mind is in a fit condition to retain _what he has learned by the prosecution of a year or two of further study in the higher classes.