OKAIN’S BAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 3

OKAIN’S BAY.

[From Our Correspondent.]

It would seem that we are more fortunate here than the people in other parts of Canterbury in tho matter of rain and feed for stock. All through the district, and, in fact, all over the Peninsula, the paddocks are looking much better than they did in the spring. Grass is in abundance everywhere, and in the fields where cocksfoot was grown, and which have not since been fed off, tho stubbie has been almost hidden. For about a fortnight tho wind was from the sea, and heavy showers were experienced o very day. A little over a week ago there was a welcome change, but it remained really fine only two or three days, and since then it has been very unsettled. Thunder has been heard frequently, but there were no storms in the immediate vicinity until Tuesday morning, when there were some terrific hail showers and very heavy peals of thunder. The hailstones were very large, and must have been quite three-eighths of an inch in diameter.

Though at first it seemed that the plentiful grass had come too late to be of any benefit in causing the cows to improve in the quantity of milk, the supply has since increased considerably, and an increase of a hundred gallons was observed in a few days in the factory supply. However, it diminished a little afterwards, but has still remained at more than it was before the rain.

Prices for cocksfoot remain very low, ranging from about 3d to 3-Jd. In one case 3]d was realised, but that was for very bright seed. Still, though there is a probability of the price rising in the spring, nearly everyone appears to be anxious to sell, and almost every trip that the John Anderson makes to the bays, she takes away a cargo of seed. Perhaps growers fear that they will be served this year as they were last. When the price was 3}d last year, they wanted 4d, and held the seed over until this year, when they were glad to take 3d for it, while suffering the loss that is inevitable after keeping it for so long a period. A painful accident occurred on Tuesday morning, in the school-ground. George MTntosh, a boy about six or seven years of age, son of Mr E. M’Jntosh, was climbing one of the trees, when he fell and broke bis left arm below the elbow. He was taken to Akaroa, and attended to by Dr Hargreaves.

A farewell “ social ” was tendered to the Eev A. Stephens, who is leaving the Peninsula. The refreshments were provided by the ladies of the congregation. A very pleasant evening was spent, and many songs were contributed by those present. During the evening a presentation was made to Mr Stephens, in token of tho esteem in which he is held by tho residents of the Bay.