MATAMATA.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17008, 22 January 1927, Page 3

MATAMATA.

Country Notes. The recent fine weather has enabled farmers to get most of their hay in. There will still be a little cutting to do, but the bulk of the crop is now in stack. Feed is very plentiful right from Morrinsville to Tokoroa. Mixed farming is increasing in favour year by year and some fair crops of oats can be seen in stook, even on the pumice lands. The latter, though light per acre, will make good chaff and should average 24 bags to the ton. Potato crops are also looking well. This tuber is receiving more attention, a farmer at Okoroire having nine acres. Swedes and now showing the second leaf, and prospects for this crop are so far favourable. There is no doubt that more cultivating will take place every year, as the demand increases for foodstuffs for local consumption. The extra number of pigs kept nowadays also induces farmers to grow more crops. Carrots do very well on the lighter lands, and there is usually a market for any surplus over the farmers’ own requirements. Matters in stock circles are quiet just now, operations being mostly confined to fat cattle. It is anticipated that, heifer calves from good strains will be easily disposed of this season. There are some high-class grade herds in this district, and their offspring is always in keen demand. Prices will possibly not reach last year's figures, but a fair return is assured.

District Halls. The progressive spirit and enterprise of the settlers of the Matamata district is well exemplified by the number of social halls erected by them during the last seven or eight years. Within a radius of 11 miles of Matamata there are no fewer than six public halls. These are situated at Walton, Waharoa, Te Poi, Hinuera, Okoroire, and Turangamoana. Some of the buildings would not disgrace a town, especially that at Te Poi, which is constructed of concrete. . At Waharoa there is a very fine wooden building which was recently added to. Here the farmers actually run their own picture show, and the programmes are highly spoken of. The manager and secretary are to be congratulated on the manner in which this enterprise has been built up since its inception. Walton has a very good hall and improvements have been made from time to time, the latest being the easing of the approach. At Hinuera extensive alterations are in progress to the hall. A supperroom 32 x 15 has been added, and the main building extended a further 15ft. A kitchen 15 x 15 is also being built, and two dressing-rooms and a picture operator’s box installed. When finished the building will measure 75 x 28, including the stage, and the estimated cost will be about £SOO. In addition to providing for evening amusement, the districts mentioned are well to the fore where daylight sport is concerned. Practically all have tennis clubs, and Walton and Waharoa also have golf clubs. At Te Poi an annual athletic sports meeting is held, and Walton, Waharoa and Wairere run football clubs. Tirau, though further away, is also both in the tennis association and the football sub-union. Cricket has been taken up again by the country people, and games are frequently played at Waharoa. Anyone gravelling round the district can see that a vastly different life is led in the country than was the case a few years ago. Private sand and concrete tennis courts are dotted about, and the wireless masts are becoming a common sight. So far the country dwellers have not taken on bowls, although there is a fine green on Mr Garland’s property at Okauia. It will be seen from the above that country life is not so dull as some people imagine, as almost every branch of sport is catered for, even to horseracing. Hay Destroyed. Mr T. G. Renzy, Peria, suffered a serious loss this week, when a haystack, containing about 40 to 50 tons of hay, went up in smoke. The hay had been in stack' about three weeks, and though the weather had not been ideal, care was taken to put the fodder in as dry as possible. There was no iron on the roof of the stack.

Personal. Mr N. Grinstead, field secretary to the N.Z. Alliance, is on a visit to the Matamata district. Rev. C. W. Turner and family have returned from a holiday visit to Auckland. Prior to their departure from Walton, Mr and Mrs J. Jenkins and Miss Jenkins were accorded a social evening by local settlers. The guests were also presented with a gramophone. Mr Adams (president hall society), making the presentation on behalf of the residents. Mr Jenkins, who has been headmaster of Walton School for the past eight years, has beeu to Gordontoo,