HARAPEPE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2265, 15 January 1887, Page 2

HARAPEPE.

The long continued dry weather is having a serious effect. The oats aro ripening prematurely, and are very short. In fact, Home of them would be difficult to mow, being so thin and light. The potatoes are quite at a stand still, and when the rain does come, the greater part of them will take the second growth. Those who have planted late this year will have the best crops, as they did last. The grass and clover crops for meadow hay, having had the benefit of the early rains, have been good, and those who have been able to shut up a paddock of grass and cut it arc fortunate, as the oaten hay crops will be a very light one this year. The ministers of all denominations seem to have forgotten that there is such a place as this. It is now about six months since we have had a religious service of any description here. There is one district on the other side of the river below Harapepe that has never had a religious service of any sort since it was first settled—twenty years acjo. That sort of thing would not happen in the days of Bishop Selwyn, as the old missionaries used to travel about at stated times, and visit all the most out of the way places. In those days travelling meant hard work, as all the creeks and rivers had to be swum, not as now, as the creeks and rivers are bridged. Bishop Selwyn has often swam the Waikato and Wai pa rivers. Now if you speak to a minister on the subject he tells you it is not in his district, and the next one it is not in his, and you begin to think you are living in a sort of no-man,s land.—(Own Correspondent, 12th January.)