WAKEFIELD

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1832, 17 April 1907, Page 31

WAKEFIELD

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Your Wakefield correspondent has been apparently very lemiss of la to; but the fact is lie has been away from the district for seven weeks. lie left just as hop-picking was commencing, and ail the country dry, the grass brown,, the rivers mere trickles, and every one crying out Tor train. He returns to find the country as green as possible;, abundance of grass everywhere, , the cattle 'and -sheep sleek and fat, the rivers and streams full oi bright cool water, and the hops all picked. It appears that the time 01 hop-picking was a season of heavy, rains, which hindered picking operations considerably, and to make matters worse for the hop grower, prices were far from what they had been led to expect. In many case 3 the price realised would not cover aotual outlay in labour and expenses. A p&nny more or less per lb means much for the people in this district, and also for th* N elson storek cepe r 5. As to fruit, the yield has not been so good as last year, stone fruit being especially short. The potatoes also have suffered from blight. However, there is a bright side to the picture; work generally is plentiful, building operations brisk, grain and cattle command a good price, sheep and wool yield handsome returns, while poultry and eggs are good investments. Several new houses are going up in and around the township, and others are simply waiting the convenience of tho contractors, who are very busy. During the holidays the railway carried an unusual number or holiday seekers. We have just lost a promising young fellow by tlio death of Francis Yeysey eldest son of Mr Veysey, teacher, Foxhill. Ho was only nineteen, and a general favourite in the district. His funeral took place on Sunday, April Gth, when he was laid to rest in tho Foxhill cemetery, the vicar of Wakeu field reading the Church of England service, and also giving a short and •earnest address, to the young. ' The large concourse round the grave must have shown Air Veysey and family that all the neighbourhood sympathised with them in their dark hour. A nasty accident happened to young Roy Parks, son of Mr Dyson Parks, on the night of April Bth. He had just left Mr Peart’s house, and mounting liis bicycle on tho top of the school bank, went a few yards down the road when the. forks of his machine snapped short off. As he fell the forks -entered his face, inflicting several nasty flesh wounds. Mr Bert Thomas heard the crack, and going to his assistance found him stunned, but got him to Dr Hamilton's surgery, where he was attended to. Mr B. Thomas afterwards drove him home. He is slightly better to-day. but recollects nothing of wliat happened, nor how he got home. Tho schools re-o nened on Tuesday. April 2nd, and on Wednesday one of the pupils, Arthur Baigent, had the misfortune to dislocate his right elbow.. Dr Pearless was on the spot a few minutes afterward, and soon had it in its place again. Tho technical classes in oonnectiois with the Technical School began to* day, Airs Aloinyhan taking the dressmaking. Aliss Thorpe comes up to teach cookery, and Air R. Simpson is expected to undertake school and adult classes in woodwork. Air James Bruoe, the Education Board’s instructor in Agriculture, is to give a four months* course of sixteen lessons in practical agriculture and chemistry. Air Peart, headmaster, intends breaking up some land adjacent to the school and to having gardens for instruction in agriculture and gardening in conjunction with. Air Bruce’s classes and lectures/where, by the pupils wall be taught practically. The annual meeting of the Wakefield branch of the Farmers’ "Union was held to-night, Mr Bruce, president, in the chair. Mr Bruoe briefly reviewed the year’s work, and stated that owing to an oversight no auditor had been appointed, therefore he could only present a rough balanoe sheet, but that a properly audited and print*, ed balanoe sheet would be placed before the next meeting. The following business was transacted: —“Ttssolved that the balance-sheet be audited and presented at the next ordinary meeting.” “Resolved that the president and Mr William Bard be the auditors." The election of officers being the next business, the following were duly elected to hold office till March, 1908: President, Air Ivanhoe Tunnicliffe; vioe-preseident, Mr John Hagen; secretary, Air Fred Kinzett; treasurer, Air Prank Hooper; delegate to provincial executive, Mr Fred Fairhali. The field-day in connection with the Union is to be'Eeld in Air Frank Hoop-, er’s paddocks on the 3rd June, and will be on similar lines to that held last year. . The Literary Society will hold its first meeting •on Tuesday next. The date of recommencing the Harmonic * •Society lias not yet been decided upon. We are enjoying splendid ■weather.