DISTRICT NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 3 July 1914, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

, j MAfJDEVILLE. , I'BOM 00R OWN COKItKSI'ONDKNT. The weather during the latter part of June has shown a siiglit iniiproiveiiiont C com.paired with the commencement, but I sti 11 it cannot be said to ha.V:; ,been I innything but a very wet month, and it ; has been extremely cold at times, notwithstanding the fact that we had practically no frost. July has arrived, however, ami as the old, old story goes, "When the days begin to lengthen tile > c.okl begins to strengthen," so I aup- | pose, we-may expect Jack Frost in real '■ earnest at- any time./ ■Ploughing has been bindoVed through - so.mu: lv wet weather, and stui'.ihlc fpad- ' deck -ploughing cannot be thought- of. i Sheep on turnips have required a ; good deal of attention where it ha:; not 1 'bee-n convenient to Jet them have a run-off on old lea or rough pasture. The | glass paddocks received a setback by j the heavy frost in May, which left •j i,ht-ii; practically minus all sheep- feed; I hence it has been necessary in -most cases to allow xlie iheep on to the.tur- ■ nips for a i-nv hours and then urivt t.'iein -:ft. This nvethed, v.hich is wise under such conditions, takes up a wood deal off lime. To the majority oi farmri's about here, however, sheep are the prim ipal source of revenue, and. as an ordinary flock of ewes is worth at the rate of £1 per sheep they are to-: valuable to be neglected. it is plainly evident that the day for oat-grown:g is past ; hence wo have to choose ibetiween dairying and sneep farming. There is no question thai farms ot ti'oai 260 acres up to 4'n- acre-, will give a greater return -when, mixed farming can be carried on profita-bly. .but of course land has suffered in ti'u past by too much grain-growing; bin where it is judiciously performed tin oat cheque has been a valuable asset u the pa,st, and sheep require a lot brain work to make un lor the deficiency. " j At the School Committee (meeting j held on Monday evening the s l , lioof- i master's report on the uunvher <.'f scholars who had left the district (hiring the last few weeks was a matter lor serious consideration. The local branch of the Fanners Union held the usual meeting in the Public Hall on June 20. There was only a small attendance of members, J he weather wa.s very rough and preventea'several frcnii attending. Mr Ihos. Kain. was voted to the chair ir. the absence of the chairman !.\lr J. H. MoLeod). I ; t was decided that the secretary should write and invite a delegate from the Southland League to explain the aims and objects of tho League. 1 am pleased to note that a- sable message from Vancouver has been received from Mr J. H. M-cLeod, w.lio is taking a trip- to the Mother Country. . 'I he progressive euchre -party helj on Wednesday, June-'l7, wa;s a'thoroue!-; succe-ss. There was a record attenciance, and alter the various prizes "were distributed dancing was- induige-d in until midnight. A word of praise is due to the committee for the completeness ot the arrangements, and also to the ladies for the excellent- s-upper. A few -lady friends met at the residence of Mrs F. Cross, Mande-vil-le. on 1,111,0 16 <o bid farewell to Mrs Beck, who is leaving the district for Ca-nteruury. A very pleasant afternoon -was- spent with musivi and song, l ea served by the hostesses (IMesdames"Cross and Mcßae), the table being'prettily decorated: with- white chrv.saiitberilnm:s, holly, and trails of variegated periwinkle. After tea a small souvenir of the occasion was- handed to Mrs Beck, who made a feeling and suitable reply. After singini> "Au'd Lang Syne" the ladies disppned The Mandeville notes would not he comipl-?te without taking this -oimor- 7 tunity of congratulating Mr James Leeeot upon his appointment as a iustice of the peace. TUTURAU. PROM O' y;. OWN CORRESPONDENT, are at present ex)ierioncin(>• ideal winter weather; in fact, it i.s w> mjld that m some eases the grass lias be-nin t-o show a, green tint. Dairying operations are. over .aga.in and dairymen: are enjoving a. well-earn-ed rest. Ploughing is well advanced, one or two ot the early starters having just atiiouti finishtliGir wiirtej-\s Avork. I'liero has beo.n ooinna.ra-t.ivoTv lit-t'-e frost this winter with" the result, that the* ploughedi lea, not 'breaking clown much, . The building of the new church is welt advanced. The contractor has been hindered a good deal by the sea.rcity of timber, -but is rapidly ma,king no folios b time. A large and enthusiastic gathering of residents congregated at- the school on Tuesday evening to Lid farewell t<v Mr and Mrs Cooper, of "Waitui," who are leaving the distriet for the North, Mr Cooper having been appointed clerk of the, Temuka- Hoad Board. Mr A. McLa.uehlan presided. The first part of the evening was devoted to a. musical programme, Miss M. Dickie ablv acting as accompanist. At- the' conclusion of tho programme the chairman referred to the good qualities of Sir a.ncl! Mrs Cooper as neighbors and residents. He spoke- in glowing terms of the work that Mr Coop en had done during his residence in the district and regretted that they were losing such valua-ble neighbors. Rev. W. W. Brown, Messrs A. Dickie, W. Folster, D. Muir a-ncl W. Dickie also «p-o-ke in a similar .strain. Mr MoLatichlan then asked Mr and Sirs Cooper to accept a travelling bag and a, silver hotwater kettle and spirit-lamp as a small token of the esteem in which they are held and wished them long life! and happiness, "For they a,re jolly good fellows" was sung with much feeling. Mr Cooper, on vising to reply, received an ovation. Het said that he did not know until lie was leaving it that- Tuturau was such a, fine district. He thanked the sneakers for their kindly remarks a,ml also for the beautiful presents that he and Mrs Cooper had received. It would' hardly need such valuable presents to make him rememhe.r the friends he had made at Tuturan.*" Three cheers were then called for Mr and Sirs Cooper, after which supper was dispensed by the ladies. The singing of "Auld l Lang Syne" terminated a most enjoyable evening. Mr and Sirs Cooper left by the first express oil Wednesday for their new home. KNAPDALE. The Knapdale Mutual Improvement Society held its fortnightly meeting on Tuesday evening (;writ-es a correspondent). There was a- good attendance and the president (Sir R. Baird) occupied the chair. A most- interesting and iiistruetve lecture was given h-y Mr Murdoch, of Gore, who took for his subject, "Language and its Message." The speaker dealt with the evolution oi words from the beginning of the world until modern times. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Murdoch at the close of the lecture. A

was- given durii;;-; the even- [ ing by Mr H, i.-. viiit' am! a violin solo by Sir E. Collins. SOCIAL AT CROGKSTON. A laivni-ll Social was given to I'ev. J. Collie ill ihe -('roi-kston Hall on Tuesday ev-ning (writi« our Tapanui corI. 'I here- wa,-; a large unnibier of viw'fors oresent from all parts of tho district. Kev. G. AV. T. 11. ~ - ciioiel ihe chair. Sir It. Polls, on behalf of the peoph"of (. rookston, pnsenled .Mr Collie with a. gold watch and chain and a purse of sovereigns. .Messrs P. Dunhm, Culh-n, I). McLennan ami, Jas. I'ulfar K;oke in glo.ving tennis ot Sir Collies suece.-s during tile time he had been in l.iie dkfrk ' and e>:prcssed the- regret that- t-h.e peo-ule felt at his deparlure. Sir Collie, who on rising was: received with lou:l applau.-e, t-aid that lie had t.o Ihanl; them for tin- kiwi word* exoressed- toi'.vnvd.s- him, and for the han([s:pme gift which had -been tendered to him. He fell that- after 1.1 years' service among them a strong iViemb.hy) existed and he found it. Very hard to" have to part from them all. He wa< going bac-k to tho ha-aie of his, sch;>o!>';-ov days and was therefore going to a place where he bad many friends. Ho honed that the church would continue to prosper. Alter an adjournment had been made for .supper, die choir sung "Onward i Chvistion Soldiers." and, Sirs Ciiilen 'ontnbuhpd "At Twiliglit." Bev. T. Paulin st-i ted. ihat he felt the parting from Sir Collie who could not be too highly praised. He was pleased ::i know that Sir Collie was moving .vhere he might extend his talents. His ■nflueiice on the young people had -been mmt remarkable and ho (the speaker) lu.-ped that Sir Collie aiid liis motile:-' <v,:)iihl continue to prosper. Sliss F:irquhar-on then sang "Crossing the 15ai:" with much feeling. Dr Rob-rri-iou rv-oke highly or Sir Col-lie-and hooed in h's neiv sp-hei'e that talent that remained hidden would be developed. He wished him long life and prosperity". Sir Dunlop proposed a vole of thanks to the speakers and to al! those who bad laJve,ji 'part in the present proceedings, which was carried -by •.'.ee'a-mat.ion. The audience then sang "ilod be you til! we meet again," and a vole of thanke to the -chair brought the proceedings to a close.