THE NOTES FROM BANKS PENINSULA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14339, 26 April 1912, Page 5

THE NOTES FROM BANKS PENINSULA.

Tho tourist season at Akaroa is practically closed, except for . tho more leisurely who come to stay for a month or two to bo closo to tho sea and away from tho racket of the city streets. Tho season, with its broken weather, has been a disappointing oue, taking it all through, although the number of visitors nt Easter was a record for tho place. The North Canterbury Board of Education have at Jast .started tho preparations for tho erection of the longpromised school at_ Akaroa. The Board have purchased a five-acre section from the North Canterbury Hospital ami Charitable Aid Board, which runs up from the Esplanade to Muter street, and on which stood the residence of the lute Mr W. Penlington. The house l;;:s already been removed, and the ground' is to be cleared of the trees which stand upon it. These include a number of blue gums of a great ago, and their removal will leave a. gap "in tho familiar landscape. Tho new school building is to bo erected on a plateau halfway up tho section, and should command n fine view of French Bay. The Board will probably build in brick, although the final plans and material to bo used aro not yet agreed upon.

Tho Coronation Library is now completed, and its quaint architecture is a great improvement upon the old building, with its shingle roof and unpainted appearance. The new building has also been fitted throughout with electric light. Tho building is now in nse. and at some future date tho opening function will be held.

Tho annual meetings of householders for tho election of committee for tho Peninsula schools were, badly attended in most cases, and those who have been on. the committees for years complain of the lack of interest being tnken. At Lo Bons and German Bays there were no ■ committees elected, whilo at Punha (T.ittlo River) there was an attendance of only seven persons, and as two wero unwilling to be, elected, the committee is short of two. There was a very largo attendance at tho Akaroa meeting, due, no doubt, to tho fact that the new school will be built during this committee's term of oflice.

The harvesting of the lato crops of cocksfoot was only at Easter timo, the season being one of tho latest for many years. Tho seed generally is very light this year, and farmers aro finding it difficult to soil at any price at all. The weight of the seed ranges as low as 81b per bushel nnd there is very little 141b and 151b seed about, as it found a ready sale earlier in tho season. There is a great deal of seed weighing 101b to 121b, the prices for this seed varying from 3Jd to 4Sd and -13d. The ranr.e of prices offered by a local firm is 2£d per lb to oid. A number of farmers are holding their seed in tho hope of a rise in. prico in tho spring. A cocksfoot seed-cloaninc plant, which is being installed by an Akaroa firm, is creating some interest. It is to bo in working order at the end of May. A proposal to form a Peninsula Farmers' Association and instal a cocksfoot seed-cleaning plant has been mooted several times but it is now unlikely, that more will bo heard of it. The dairy factories aro still working, and the milking is keeping up remarkably well for so lato in the 6eason. Tho Little Akaloa factory has received advice that consignments of their outp.it> to England have realised 74s and 75s per cwt.