Hakataramea Notes

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8490, 25 May 1904, Page 4

Hakataramea Notes

(From Our Own Correspondent.) After a long period of fine, in fact, almost spring, weather, a change has occurred. Yesterday rain commenced to fall, and continued failing intermittently all night, and this morning all the high ground in the vicinity shows a decidedly wintry appearance, snow lying pretty low down the surrounding hills. Seeing that the ground was becoming very hard for farming operations, and that tanks were getting very low, the rain in some quarters will not be" unwelcome, but we may expect pretty severe frosts when it clears off again. To-day (Tuesday) shows signs of clearing, but a feeling of cold and damp pervades the atmosphere, quite a contrast to what has lately prevailed. Empi<l|?ay is being observed as a school holiday, But the fact of its coming so close to the Prince of Wales' Birthday prevents its being anything like generally observed. Before dismissing the pupils yesterday aftermoon, the teacher, in a few remarks, explained the object of observing the 34th inst. (the birthday of our late Queen' Victoria) as a holiday, viz., to perpetuate the name of Victoria the Good, and to foster a spirit and pride at belonging to the great British Empire. At the adjourned householders' meeting last night about a dozen persons put in an appearance, and after the report and balance-sheet had been read and adopted, the following persons were elected as members of the School Committee for the ensuing year : —Messrs D. M'Kenzie, T. Wilson, W. G. Pearson (re-elected), M. Downey, H. Coughlan, W. Barclay, and H. Delargy. A meeting of the newly-elected Committee was held immediately afterwards, when Mr D. M'Kenzie was re-elected chairman and Mr W. Barclay secretary and treasurer.

The Haka Valley School was opened yesterday under the newly-appointed teacher, Mr Williamson, who has had very considerable experience in teaching both in this colony and in Australia. We cordially wish him success in his new sphere of labor. Since Mr Davie's departure, nearly two months ago, the school has been under Mr' W. G. Burns, who has been acting as locum tenens during that period. . Owing to the continuance of fine weather, I hear that stock are in very good condition and feed is plentiful. The turnip crop, owing to the dry weather is, I understand, not a very satisfactory one.