CLUTHA PIONEERS ASSN.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 21, 15 September 1911, Page 6

CLUTHA PIONEERS ASSN.

AND SOME STRAY NOTES

(Correspondent). At last meeting of the Clutha Pioneers' Association Mr Wilson, the secretary was present. His school having been examined on the previous Friday the school committee granted him a week's holidays, so he took a run down to see some of his old friends, also to attend to some business in connect on with the Association. After the ordinary business had been completed, the subject of the annual picnic was brought up. It was suggested to hold the picnic this year between Christmas and New Year, probable date -'7 th December. .The financial aspect of the case was then gone into, when it was agreed to hold a concert at Waitapeka on the evening of Friday, October 13th. A sub-commit-tee was formed to carry out all arrangements. Miss Ayson and Mr P. Robinson havo the musical part in hand, and the other members have all gentlemen who are canvassing the district for orders for the book are meetother details to arrange. The two ing with splendid success in some cases as many as three books being taken by one family. It is expected the book will be ready to deliver at the annual picnic. Asked how he liked the north, Mr Wilson stated, that now he has.got set-' tied is liking it very well. The change of air was making the members of his family feel fresh and invigorated. As to his school, although from his point of view, the examination was not very satisfactory, now that he and the children are getting into each others ways; he can see marked improvement all round.

Rain is much needed in his district, in fact, from the nature of the ground, rain is required very often. Autumn sowing is the usual way up there but I the ground was so dry that the farmer could not plough, so that this year, they have put in their grain in the spring. Fodder of any kind is very I scarce and dear ; chaff is very hard to j get is £5 15/ a ton. Oaten straw is ! impossible to be got at any price ; ' wheaten straw and clover hay is what j the stock was being fed on. Dairy ; cows are very thin. After a shower i the grass grows very 'quickly and there |is a fair spring. Grub has been very, ! hjad this year sonic of the {armors hav-w ing to sow their grass three times and ; even then got it all taken. i; Mr Wilson has about l{ miles to !j walk to school 1 . He is also postmas- [ ter for the district, takes the mail to ; the train, 1J miles, at 9 a.m., .and receives his south mail at 3.30 p.m. As ■i he says, he gets the morning paper at 1 night.' One thinpl that struck him '! when he went north was the absence of ji plantation, only three small plantajl tions to be seen on the whole plain. j! He has got his garden dug up and got | a .few soeds sown and thinks they will ji grow very fust there. Vegetables , are livery scarce and- living a good deal I dearer than at Toiro. * There are four. J grocers', carts which go round the disF trict anil-the butchorV cart calls twice !a week. Mr Wilson left for the north! again last Friday after, a pleasant run round old Mends at Warcpa.