RATANUI.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 6

RATANUI.

. . ._ [From Our Own Correspondent] Since my last the supply of milk to the local factory has increased to about 500 gallons daily and although the milk was of very poor quality at the commencement of the season, it has now considerably improved. The factory, as usual, is kept remarkably clean and tidy, and if the cheese proves as good as it looks, it will be good enough. There is atill some difficulty in conveying milk to the factory on account of numerous holes in the roads some of them big enough to bury a horse, fspeuiily such a horse as one I notice struggling before a sledge and and three cans of milk. An inspection of this animal as well as others that are lamp, blind, sore and weak, by a gentleman named Aitken would relieve more that one animal's burden. A social entertainment, including a concert of sacred music, promoted as a farewell to Mr Gilbert, the local missionary, wag held at the schcolhouse on Friday last and proved a complete success. Tne Rutanui school was .examined t>y Inspector Richardcon ot Friday last and so far as I can hear with satisfactory results. Out of forty eight on the roll only a very few failed to earn promotion. Knowing as we do some causes of their failure we consider the percentage of passes very creditable to the teacher, Mr E. Davis, who has plenty to do. During the past fortnight we have had some good weather until Monday night, since when we have experienced heavy rain and hail showers, accompanied by high winds.