NORTH OTAGO NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 18810, 8 December 1924, Page 4

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

[From Our Correspondent.] OAMARU, December 6. Ai large area of ground was put down in potatoes this season, and tho yield promises to bo a heavy one, despite the tact that blight is reported to have made its appearance in a tew cases. A coincidence of the recent interschoms cricket match between Waitaki and Otago Boys’ High Schools was that Otago’s first innings yielded 159 runs, exactly the same number of runs they secured in their first innings at the grille fixture played at Cansbrook last year. For the month of November the vital statistics for Oamaru were: 16 deaths, 19 births, and 3 marriages. During the past fortnight the district has experienced many hot, dry nor’-west-ers. which at times almost became gales. This had a very drying effect upon the crops, but in the past few days refreshings rains have occurred, restoring the crops to their former appearance. Tt appears likely that the harvest will be an early one this year. There are some very fine crops of oats and wheat, and a good yield is expected. It is.not anticipated that the supply of lambs to the I’ukenri freezing works this season will he considerable for some weeks, ns with the high prices ruling tor lamb and tho good supplies of feed tanners arc likely to hold their stock until it is as heavy as possible. Cr Gardiner stated at the monthly meeting of the Waitaki County Council that strong representation should be made to the Highways Board upon the necessity for proceeding with tho expenditure of money upon roads. Thoroughfares, he said, were "being badly cut up by motor ri attic.

It is understood that several farmers in North Otago have applied for boys v. ho are being brought out to New Zealand under the immigration scheme. With the opening of the Junior High School in Oamaru next year it is nntipated that there will be an attendance of between 200 ami 300 pupils, for which quota provision is now being made. At a meeting of directors of the North Otago Caledonian Society on Tuesday night last it was stated that all arrangements are well forward for the sports gathering on New Tear’s Day, when it is understood competitors will he present) from the various centres in Otago and Canterbury. The championships ail. tted to Oamaru for the meeting are: Sword dance (girls under eighteen), Highland fling (girls under twelve), and piping championship for jigs and hornpipes. Mr J. B. Dunlop will again be Oamaru's representative at the championship chess congress, which opens at Nelson on Boxing Day. The Waitaki Hospital Board has agreed to take over the control of the Carnal n Hospital from the trustees as soon as the necessary transfer can be effected. In the local grain ami produce mniket there is nothing much lo record as, owing to there, being practically nothing left in the country to put upon the market, merchants will have to wait until the incoming harvest before business becomes brisk again. There have been a few inquiries for forward buying, and a little business lias been done on paper. (imps in the country promise well, and everything points to a successful season. ( half is the only commodity of which ’.here appears to boa, fair supply, and quotations are from £8 to £8 10s ex truck (sacks extra). Wheat is in short supply, and the price is quoted at round about 7s 9d per bushel, ex' store, lu oafs there, is a marked scarcity, though it is expected to commence, "harvesting Algerians in the Oamaru district before Christmas, Feed requirements are being met with Canadians at prices up to 6s per bushel. Choice hues of old potatoes are realising up to £7 per ton, though there are only odd lines offering.