48:) 



Rearing Calves by Hand. 



AT 8 o'clock on the evening of the 22nd 

 instant — the day on which the Natal 

 Farmers' Conference meets — Mr. George 

 D. Alexander will give a lecture on (1) 

 " The feeding of Dairy Cattle ; '2) The 

 rearing of Calves by Hand." The lecture 

 will be delivered at the Y.M.C.A., and if 

 arrangements can be made in time, will 

 be illustrated by lantern pictures. There 

 are but few colonists, if any, who are 

 better qualified to speak on this subject 

 than Mr. Alexander. With few excep- 

 tions, the farmers of Natal practically 

 leave the whole of the milking work of 



the farm to their kafirs. This system, or 

 want of system, with the advance of the 

 dairying industry, will have to be aban- 

 doned, or, at any rate, much modified, and 

 the practical information obtained from 

 actual experience that Mr. Alexander 

 may give, should be of general interest, 

 aiid much value to those who are con- 

 sidering the advisability of following the 

 new departure. His observations on 

 cattle-feeding, especially to those whose 

 climatic conditions are similar, should 

 also prove of exceptional value. 



District Reports, 



BULWER. 3rd October.— During the last 

 fortnight we have bad ideal spring weather, and 

 everj thing is flourishing in consequence. There 

 is plenty of young fruit formed on the trees, 

 and if we do not get the scorcl-ing hot winds and 

 hailstorms, we should have a good deal of fruit 

 this year in Bulwer. I was told that as we have 

 had several hailstorms during the last successive 

 seasons, we may escape th s season, but I do not 

 feel at all sanguine about this prophecy. 

 Bulwer has given me the impression of being a 

 degree worse than the City of Maritzburg for 

 hailstorms of severity. All kinds of stock and 

 poultry, as far as I know, are free from disease in 

 the Division, Stock is pickit g up in condition 

 fast. The M arwaqa Mountain is now a beautiful 

 sight, covered w th young green grass from top 

 to bottom. The Native High Court held a 

 Circuit Court here on the 27th September, Mr. 

 Justice Jackson, Acting Judge of the Native 

 High Court, presiding. Two cases of cattle- 

 stealing were dealt with, in which three natives 

 were indited, two males, and one female. The 

 two men were found guilty, and sentenced to 

 two years' imprisonment, with hard labour, and 

 twenty lashes each, and the woman was also 

 found guilty, and was imprisoned for two years, 

 with hard labour. 1 he sentences were the 

 maximum allowed by the law, and should have 

 a f'alutary, effect on sbeep-stealing, etc., if any- 

 thing will. In the absence of the Clerk of the 

 Peace (Capt F. L. Thring, B.M.R.), who has 

 been called out for active service, Sergt. Fother- 

 gill, N.P., under deputation of the Attorney- 

 General, ably conducted the prosecutions on 

 behalf of the C rown The Bulwer Rifle As- 

 sociation held its half J early prize shooting on 

 the 30th September, but in consequence of the 

 absence of so many members belonging to the 

 volunteers on active service, the attendance was 

 very much below the average. There is a good 



opening at Bulwer for the following trades, viz., 

 carpenter, shoemaker, wagonbuilder, blacksmith ; 

 our local blacksmith being a volunteer has had 

 to go to the front. There is also ample scope 

 for a brickmaker and builder. Lots of build- 

 ings require to be taken in hand soon, but there 

 are no tradesmen available. The daily postal 

 service between Bulwer and Maritzburg h now 

 in full swing, and also the bi-weekly between 

 Bulwer and Himeville. 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



HO WICK, 9th October.— After ten days of 

 rain we have had a spell of excessively dry 

 \\eiitlipr only 0.80 of an inch of rain liaving 

 fallen during the past fortnight. However-, 

 the weather has ibeen comparatively cool, and 

 free from the hot northerly winds, which, at 

 this season, are often so prevalent as to retard 

 the gi'owth of grass and crops. During the 

 above period the maximum temperature was 

 i>2 degress i-pgistercd on the 2nd inst., and the 

 niininmm for the same period was 42 degrees 

 on 20th and 27tli ulto. The farmers, who 

 have taken full advantage of the favourable 

 weather, have got the greater part of their 

 land ])liiii,ulied, and are busily engaged in get- 

 ling llipir sjiring props in, so that everywhere 

 ploughing and planting are the order of the 

 day. Some of the projis planted parlipr in the 

 season have comp up, and are looking vpry 

 well, ttie early rams navin,g renaerprt trie 



f^round snffipiently moist to enable them to 

 maintain a healthy appearance. The stock 

 throughout the district is in good condition, the 

 grass 'being amply sufReient for all kinds of 

 stock. 



J, W. Cross, Magistrate, 



