STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144297, 12 January 1914, Page 2

STRATFORD.

FROM OCR RESIDENT AGENT January 10.—Columns of smoke vising on the eastern horizon proclaim the bush-burning season, but the days are past .when Stratford eyes smarted with tho pungent reek from the new clearings. A dozen miles separates us from the nearest fire and the wind rarely draws this way. . Tho weather keeps entirely favourable for burning and for haymaking, but not for the turnips, which were mostly lato in the sowing owing to the continual rain that marked the season until tho middle of December. Since the 19th of that month the rain gauge has registered only a quarter of an inch. The manner iu which winter and spring rains ore stored in tho soil is shown by the still considerable body of muter flowing in the Patea. Tlie maximum yield of, milk was reached this year by the middle of November, quite tho earliest recorded. As yet tho drop from the maximum has not been great, but want of rain must bo beginning to toll. ' Tho winner of the Bayly Scholarship is either Lawn, of Stratford, or Carmichael, of Patea, each of whom did very well in tho athletic side of the competition. Next Saturday week the annual collections for the hospital are to be made, the object this year being to form a fund for building additions to the nurses’ residence, setting free a considerable space in the main building for the accommodation of patients. Our bonding green is well patronised this fine weather. The club has this season received a ' large accession of strength and is in a better position than it has been iu for years.