OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 36, Issue 9506, 12 January 1906, Page 3

OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS

lITDK. " Again tbe pointer moveth o'er the dial-plate oI time," And in the interval since my last letter the old year has breathed its 1' st and the New Year has begun. Tbe holiday aspect of Xrnas and New Year was very "little in evidence, though a goodly number of visitors were in the district, some of them again revisiting tbe homp of their childhood and others being the *' stranger within onr gates." On tbe whole the weather was good for tba holiday makers, Boxing Day especially beitig. a splendid day, A good nutuber travelled from Hyde to the sports at Waipiata on that day, the train arrangements Suiting admirably, and on New Year's Day a large number attended the sports at Middlemarcb and all returned well pleased with their outing, although the weather during .the afternoon somewhat detracted from the enjoyment. Shearing is still the main occupation, and is proving a very prolonged operation this year owing to the intermittent wet weather that has prevailed since the middle of December. No greataraount of-rain fell at any- one time, bnt sufficient to keep the sheep almost always wet. Shearers also are scarce, but this is in part, accounted for by early sheds not being able'to " cut out," and thus enabling tbeir meiito'go to later sheds, and also everybody is anxious to take advantage of the present recovery in the price of wool and sell at the series ot the 16th. Trucks for the transit of wool to JDuncdin are in short, supply, the Department having difficulty in supplying enough to keep pace with orders last week, and this week the demand will be much larger. Turnip sowing is still being carried on on some farms, and the weather is now very favourable for the germination of the seed -and growth of tbe plant. The heavy rains of tbe 4tb, 6th and Gth were very welcome to farmers at crops and pastures alike stood in need of moisture. Grain crops are very irregular, some being very good and others very indifferent. Generally speaking the later town are the better, tbe cold spring checking the earlier ones, and from thii.t check they did not seem to recover. The stock market is quits lifeless and I have not yet beard of a single inquiry for sheep oil the shears, whereas last year sales for forward delivery were made early in December. No doubt there are buyers, but they are evidently waiting to allow tbe market to develop. A drop in prieas as compared with those of last year ia predicted, and in the face of lower values in London appears inevitable. Our school is closed for the usual holidays, and shortly after work is resumed the teaching staff is to be added to, and the committee expect that in February a mistress will be in charge of tbe long unused infant room. This will mean a considerable lightening of our preseut master's (Mr P. Bremner) task, which for the past year has been a heavy one, as the attendance for that time has been bnt a fraction of a pupil below that required to secure an assistant six months ago, but this fraction not being obtainable tbe lower average had to bo maintained for two quarters longer to entitle the school to an assistant. It is with deep regret that I have to record tbe visit of the Augel of Death t» this district, and the passing[away from amongst us of two residents, one an old lady, Mrs Ellen I'rendergast, who passed away after a short illness on the sth inst„ aged 76 years, and tbe other Miss Margaret Trotter, eldest daughter of Mr Alex. Trotter, whose death took place on the 6th inst., at the age of 18 years. Mrs Prendergast was one of onr oldest identities being, with her husband, Mr Michael Prendergast, associated with the early days of gold-digzing in Hyde, and her death severs another link of the chain that binds us of the present generation of tbe days of railroad, steam.and motor traction' to the days when, roads were not and bullocks supplied' tbo tractive force, and these sturdy pioneer* (now, alas, ti rapidjy disappearingband) left the Old County to carve fortune iu a new country with a stout heart and a willing baud, and tbe value of these hardy spirits to New Zealand litis btren incalculable and the leaven of their intense vitality, push and rcsouco has greatly assisted to build up tbe colony of New Zealand to its present position. Mrs Prendergast was of a retiring disposition and was very much respected by everyone. She loaves.n grown-up family of two daughters and two sons. Perhaps the sadder of the two deaths is that of Miss Trotter, a young girl just on the threshold of womanhood. With tbe passing of those of mature age the knowledge that after a long life woll lived and a race well run, rest is not unwelcome, is in a meaxure a solace to those bereaved, but tbe death of th« young whose work has hardly begun seems to bring the King of Terrors close to all. Miss Trotter was a favourite with everybody, and much sympathy is felt for her bereaved father, brother and sister. Tbe funeral' of Mrs Prendergast took place on Sunday, 7th inst., the Rev. Father M'Mullan conducting the burial service, and a very large number of | friends wore present to mark their respect for the deceased and aympatby for the bereaved family. Tba funeral of Miss Trotter takes place to-morrow. January Bth, 1906.