METHVEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 6

METHVEN.

[from otje own correspondent.] Since my last letter all harvesting operations have been completed, and farmers are pushing ahead with ploughing for next season’s crop. There is, I regret to say, not a large proportion of grain fit to thresh for immediate shipment, and farmers will be wise to leave it in stack and thresh in the spring, by which time the grain wfll be thoroughly dry and hard; and as the markets appear to bo almost glutted with inferior samples at present, there will then be a chance of realising satisfactory prices for what will by that time be a good fair sample. Never has the district experienced so protracted a harvest as this has been, and it is to be hoped that it will be-long ere such another occurs. The weather during the past fortnight has been magnificent, and those farmers who have been the last to cut their grain will derive considerably* benefit therefrom. A most unexpected,change occurred about ton days ago, and we have since then experienced brighv warm days with a strong north-west 1 oze, the result of which has been to dry i the * ground, and give pro ■ mise of a fay ( 'cable season for sowing the early cerealy ’ fThe low price ruling for wheat has cf- !1 - some depression here as elsewhere, / *x>n as farmers have

finished threshing, Ac., a revival in trade is to bo expected. Several improvements have taken placo in tho township during tho past month. To begin with, the Railway Department have erected an addition to tho Postal and Telegraph Office, and have divided off a portion of the building for private letter boxes. It is understood that a Money-Order Office is to bo established in connection with the above, which will bo a groat convenience to the public. Mr W. Ulyatt sustained considerable loss by the burningof four stacks of wheat, near Cairnbrao, on Thursday lnst._ I havo not heard particulars, but I boliovo tho stacks wore uninsured. A large and important sale took place at Methven on Tuesday last. It consisted of the horses and working plant of Mr Batty, and a sale of surplus stock belonging to Messrs Cookson and Co. Tho sale occupied the whole day, and was attended by a lai’ge number of intending purchasers. Taking dull times into consideration, nearly everything submitted realised a satisfactory price, the bidding in some cases being very spirited. The business carried on by Messrs Cookson and Co. as general merchants here, has changed hands, Messrs J. and J. Hibba being the purchasers. It is their intention to open a general store, similar to those in most country districts. An adjourned meeting of the Mount Hutt Licensing Committee was held on Saturday, when Messrs D. Cameron (of Springfield), Pocock and Coward were present. Mr Cameron was elected Chairman for the year, and after considering the police report (which was satisfactory) and passing sundry accounts, the meeting adjourned. A public meeting of ratepayers was held at the Road Board Office, Methven, on Friday last. The meeting was convened by the Chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board (Mr J, Jackson), to consider certain important questions pertaining to the rating of the district, and also to a reduction in the working expenses of the Ashburton County Council, owing to the depression at present existing. The, Chairman, after reading the advertisement calling the meeting, laid on the table a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Ashburton County Council for the ensuing year, and copies of Mr Wright’s return, showing the amount spent in each riding of the County. MrWason proposed, Mr Cameron seconded general taxation —taxation by local bodies, combined with the oppressive grain tax imposed by the Government —the financial position of the County is deserving of the most serious attention.” Carried, Proposed by Mr Alington, seconded by Mr Wason —“ That under the existing depression the Ashburton County Council be respectfully requested to reduce the County expenditure as far as practicable, returning to the various ridings as much as possible of the money raised by rates therein.” Resolution lost. An amendment, proposed by Mr E. S. Coster, seconded by Mr Henderson, was carried—“ That in the opinion of the meeting the time has c ome to do away with one rating power in the district, and that the Road Boards are the bodies most suitable to the necessities of the district for local government.” Proposed by Mr Chapman, seconded by Mr Cameron (of Springfield)—" That in tho opinion of the meeting the scale of expenditure by the Ashburton County Council is far too great, and that, in view of the general depression from which all classes are more or less suffering, it ought to be considerably reduced in future.” Carried. Proposed by Mr Cameron (Clunes)—“That the various Road Boards in this County be requested to consider the foregoing resolutions, and forward to the Chairman of this meeting their opinions on them.” Seconded by Mr Gordon Holmes and carried. After passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman the proceedings terminated.