WAITAHUNA NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1122, 25 February 1885, Page 5

WAITAHUNA NOTES.

The weather at this season of the year is — and probably ever will be — a most important matter in New Zealand, where grain-growing bulks so largely and contributes so directly towards the prosperity of the country. On it depend the wea.l and woe of a very large portion of our population ; and it is a matter for, great thankfulness when suitable weather has been accorded us at this season of the year. For the past fortnight, it has indeed been all that could be desired for -bringing the grain to a perfect * state of ripeness;' In some parts of the district -cutting is going on continually ; in ! others 'oiily'bccaaionally, but harvesting cataribt be said tQ'be general yet. The prospects in" the" yield and .'quality of ttie sprain, I understand to be good, should the' weather continue favorable.

The dummyism inquiry at presentbefore the Board is looked forward to with much interest, but, atthe same time, with many misgivings. The' prevailing opinion here is that the affair will be hushed up. Be that as it may, there 13 one opinion that is pretty openly expressed, and that is one of regret that our farming friends cannot negotiate with James Smith and Sons in the matter of loans and fencing; material. It is certainly very aggravating to our farmers to have to pay so dearly for their standards and wire, while their friends out West.have ouly to go to sleep to find themselves in the morning the undisputed owners of miles of very valuable fencing material. But, after all, our eyes must not be evil because some one else's are good ; and bo I will pass on by quoting the old adage, "All's well that' ends well."

I hear that an effort will be made to have a public sheep dip erected on the showground. Should this motion be carried', I might be permitted to offer a suggestion, which is to the effect that the commodious house built for the express accommodation ones a year of some liquor vendor be converted into a public woolshed, with all the latest improvements in sheep-pens, together with the proper appliances for storing and pressing wool. The idea may be unique, but I am sure if our Farmers' Glub would' not stand alone in having a public] sheep-flip i; erected ; > on x Jhe ;ground set Apart. fqr.thftir agricultural show, lam l.eftuld }be roofe] e^o.--spictfous'by^adaing a-'woolsTiea' td* their property. . The one idea, I think, is about as ridiculous as the other, and the idea of building a house for the purpose of selling spirits' one d»y in the year is more ridiculous than both the former ideas combined. I think the Farmers' Club: might find something better for their money than either or any of those purposes. Fur iqstance, the show day of 1883 was a rather 'boisterous day, and the animals tq be exhibited) aa well as the spectators, were very much exposed, receiving' the full force of the storm. Now, if some of the, Club's surplus funds were expended in protecting; the- ground from, thie jpjSe? vailing' by- the, planting, of .a'belt^pf trees, the- money ispenfc in, planting worrjd be enhancing; the value of the property. And, again, much might be , done to imj prove the surface^ of the ground; in its present state, it presents a very unsightly appearance. If a few pounds were laid out now and again, filling in some of the little gullies that run through ,the;paddook, and by having it ploughed lip and laid down smoothly, it might be made tUse of as a oricket ground. But its pre-j Isent .appearance,! with a permanent buildting erected upon it, is something like a, ?jewel of gold in a swine's snout. .'.■ a ** 'Wa'vEahniia; 23rd >- \ I

Tbe dog. with $c most fleae ia the I friendliest, •••'•■