WAILOUAITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 32

WAILOUAITI.

December 2. — Very welcome rains have fallen of late the downpour on Sunday night being very heavy. The showers have been of great benefit after the high winds, but the rain will retard shearing operations, which are now in full swing. Shearers are very scarce jmfc now, owing to the season being late and the shearing coming in all at once.

Borough Council. — At the borough counc'l meeting, held on Monday night, Mr E. G. Allen, M.H.R., was appointed to represent ths council at the annual election df members cf .the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, arid Mr R. Mill at the election of trustees of the Dunedin Hospital and Otago Benevolent Institution. Correspondence was read from the •Department of Justice granting, on certain conditions, an extension of Collins street ■through the police paddock, so as to form a •short cut to the railway station. In reply to a deputation from the local Eacmg Club, the council gave permission to remove soil rfiern Perth street to raise portion of proposed new racecourse.

Milk Supply. — The Waikouaiti Dairy Faetoiy direotcrs, at their meeting on Thursday last, decided to pay milk suppliers 8d per lb bf butter fat until further notice, and at the end ol the season to pay a bonus in addition out of fenv profits wh'ch may remain over working expenses. They are making this arrangement bscause of their cheese being sent Home on this year. The daily milk supply is new 17C0gal ; the supply at the adjoining creameries is: Merton 1500 gal and Goodwood 1600 gal.

Library.— On Tuesday night the L brary Committee considered a tender which was handed in for proposed additions to the building in the shape of a new porch, and a room *t the side of the hall for a kitchen. As. owing to the death of Mr Bray, the lessee of the Teserve, the goodwill of that ground will ebcrtly be put up to auction by the executors, it was thought desirable to defer the additions to the hall for the present, as the committee -night perhaps acquire the goodwill and relet the leserve at a higher rental. The committee would, afterwards, be in a better position to undertake the alterations.

New Minister.— The office-bearers of the Presbyterian Church have received word that their new minister, the Rev. J. J. Ca-uiify, is to take charge on the second Sunday in January next. This is a rather longer 'wait than was anticipated, as they expected Mr Cairney would have been placed during the present month - T ae old minister, the Rev. J. Christie, took the usual service? yesterday. Tennis Match.— The medical students who were staying at Seacliff Asylum sent a team «long to V aikouaiti on Wednesday afternoon, Uith nit., to try conclusions with the local (Lawn Tennis Club. Ihe visitors were Misses 'Batigate and Baker, and Messrs Marks. Lr io n ; t^te^^ivi^^Jhe ladies scored well for the local team the gentlemen for the visitors, a very enjoyable afternoon being passed by those present

KAIKOURA fMAHLHOnOUGH). November 24.— TEe earth tremors but slowly Hied away, being felt here until Friday morning. We escaped almost miraculously, considering the suffering of our southern neighbours. Last Tuesday afternoon we suffered From a scorching nor'-westerly gale, stiong as pas been experienced here for many years, and since then our days have been unpleasantly not and dry, until last evening, when cooler airs crept up from the far icy southern seas. JNo ram — we shall soon be parched and complaining again. Coach Accident. — The mail coach on the road from Waiau was capsized over a siding m the gale last Tuesday, and the driven was most, severely shaken, one collarbone being bioken. Much fflmpfcOij is e«>r eased at his jnisfoituae.

Fire. — Mr James Boyd had a new and valuable chaff-cutter consumed by fire. The fire was carelessly left, and blew from the engine into Mr A. M'Donald's stacks, two of which were burned. No insurance, worse luck.

Dairying. — The supply of milk to the dairy factory steadily increases, but is not likely to reach last season's record.

The Crops, Etc.— Farmers fear that grain crops will be a failure this year. One field of oats in this neighbourhood, sown early, has already run to head, and is so short m the straw that the binder will be useless. The tussock country is dried terriblj', and pastoralists look with concern on the leanness of their flocks.

Changes. — A couple more of our enterprising settlers have been granted rights of tiansfer for their recently acquired bush holdings. Go ahead, Kaikoura!