COURTENAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7483, 24 February 1885, Page 6

COURTENAY.

[from oub own correspondent.] - Monday. ■ v . The farming community has many things to complain of, but as regards the ;feather during the last three weeks has no grounds for complaint, for it has been all that could be desired for the ingathering of the grain, and it, has been tiwen advantage of to the fullest extent. Tme oat crop is now secured in stack in sjjjendid condition, and the wheat is being oM ; indeed, I may say a good extent is in stook, and with another week or two oftfine weather Canterbury, or at least this pOTtion of it, will have secured, both as to quantity and quality, a harvest that Ought tea re-assure the buyers in the Home nmrket that Canterbury wheat is yet to the fore. Up to the present time all has gdno well, and the wheat that I have seen rubbed out of the ear is all that a nation Inquiring bread would wish for; but now ttißare is but one thing required to make We tiller of the soil somewhat reconciled OThis lot, and that is a radical improvement in the price of wheat. The Chairman of, the Chamber of Commerce the other day, tjy his advice to the farmers as to getting «e same in stack or bags, but to be in no irry to sell, has given hope that the JSarkets are not always going to be depressed as at present. May the prediction Romo true, and that soon, for most of the farmers this year want to recoup themselves. The County Council have decided to umereasa the water rate, from £1 per acres to .£1 6s—a rather stiffish i-rise, surely, to large holders of land. tome residents at Kixwee have been ( gitating in the matter, and there is to be fa public meeting to protest against the lextra charge, I believe on the first Monday Sin March, when it is to be hoped that llthere will be a large attendance to discuss ffche matter. g! The School Committees of the various ('school districts, being desirous of seeing |more country members on the Board of have resolved to vote for Mr »nson, of Courtenay, and at a meeting of ic West Melton School Cbmmittee, held the names of Messrs Anson and j’Higgins were unanimously chosen as fit persons. It would perhaps be a good idea |if North Canterbury could be divided Into sections, and each section send a and, not as now, choose the of members from the centre of [population. It would give greater satisfaction at any rate. Mr Anson has been l&r some years the Chairman of the Pourtenay School Committee, and has ||aken a good deal of interest in educational matters, and I have no doubt but %hat the Board .would be strengthened if !|le were elected, and the country School tommittees would receive more consideraon in> the shape of allowances, for his past experience of their wants would enable him to speak positively of the many disadvantages they now labour under. * The aspect of the country has changed amsiderably during the last three or four weeks. The superabundance of feed has dried up. The appearance indicates that Harvest weather has arrived, and it truly MSb, for it is hot enough, and, what is Are to the point, there will be no soft, cald wheat this year. The buyers will not Have that capital •to -work upon. The fflrnip crop, as a whole, has not been a suc(ffls, several large sowings being a failure, dffli the crop is generally thin, but what tjhlre is of them seem healthy.