KAIMATA-WAITUI NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 10

KAIMATA-WAITUI NOTES.

Moa onn own comvespondent. At a recent meeting of the Kaimata branch of the Farmers’ Union a very interesting discussion arose as to the host means of obtaining hydro-electrical powers for district uses. Figures were produced to show that the Lake Coleridge installation supplied Christchurch city with bulk power at about the third of the cost asked for power in this district, and the mooting decided to appoint a committee and to urge upon the local authority the advisability ol taking the primary stops for the formation of an electric power board under the. Act of 1918. Petitions are now going the rounds with that object in view and it is later intended to move in the direction of getting the capabilities of the streams tested and reported upon. Mr. S. Fagan tendered his resignation as vice-president owing to leaving the district. After a general expression of regret tho same was accepted and Mr. 0. H. Mackinder was elected to lill the vacancy. _ A general discussion on tho cattle tick and eradication of blackberry followed, and it was resolved to stoutly adhere to tho policy of tho union for the prevention of 'the introduction of the former and the control of the blackberry pcst. Mr. R. .Tones brought up the matter of the proposed wheel tax. and it was resolved to protest against tho proposal as suicidal and inimical to the commercial intercourse of tho district as a whole. The recent heavy frosts experienced have partially stopped the growth of grass and fanners are cutting pretty heavily into their stacks, at tho same time allowing a very liberal run on swedes. Probably the “winter of our discontent” will occur about August as far as feed shortage is concerned, hue farmers, with an optimism worthy of the cheery “Mark Tapley,” are expecting an early spring. The" bridge across the Kurapito stream on the Everett Road is now nearing completion. The old piers could not again be used and were blown out, thus making a more secure if rather expensive job. Sales of laud at greatly advanced values have been' reported in various parts of this district and land buyers escorted by agents seem “thick as autumn loaves In Vallombrosa.” Tempting offers have been made and refused, and 1 have even heard of properties for which the purchaser has received a heavy premium without taking possession at all.

Tho turnip crop in most parts of tho country has been but indifferent and in sonic cases a failure. Afilch cattle still maintain their prices j indeed in one instance a fanner sold his herd to the purchaser of his farm at £l4 per head and on securing another farm offered £lB per confer his old herd, an offer promptly refused. I may add the significant fact that these cows averaged 2831 b. of but-tov-fat each on a previous year’s working, and when 1 also add that tho thirty-four cows of tho above herd were pastured on only !)(U acres, in company with young stock and a few horses, it will give some idea of the capabilities of this land under energetic management.

Tho favourable report by the commissioners on the Inglewood Countyproposal was bailed with much satisfaction hero, particularly in the light of later events, notably the £60,000 loan and the wheel tax.

I note that a correspondent in one of the dallies inveighs against the thrush in common _ with rainahs and blackbirds as a carrier of blackberry by eating tho fruit. This lam neither prepared to affirm nor deny, but I do know that an observant old farmer whoso word I will vouch for informed mo that owing to tho depredations of birds ho poisoned strawberries, plums and apples with strychnine, and while ho found many dead blackbirds after each poisoning , he never found a. thrush. The, blackbirds were so decimated that in the second year they only saw one, though tho’ thrushes were numerous. This seems a prettyclear acquittal for the thrush who. from my own observation, is very strenuous in his search for worms and grubs in onr pastures. The above old farmer also informed mo that though f.he largo variegated slugs (about five ipches long) were very numerous ho found no evidence of their affecting his tender plants, though ho said he destroyed them when he saw them. He seemed somewhat surprised when told he_ had boon killing a good friend, the said slug being a cannibal and destroyer of his own smaller species which work such havoc, in the ordinary garden, cither flowers or vegetable.