ALEXANDRA NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 10

ALEXANDRA NOTES

(Feom Odb Own Cobbespondent.) ALEXANDRA, January 29. Rain fell on Monday afternoon, and there was also a steady shower on Thursday motning. On both days ; . the rain did not last long, but it was nevertheless very,welcome. The very hot weather prevailing during the holidays has given place to days of more moderate temperature. The weather is still very fine, and the fruit is ripening large quantities having been consigned to Dunedin and other markets. For the month of December last 43 tons of fruit was despatched from the Alexandra Railway Station, but for this month the total will probably be in the vicinity of ITS tons. Peaches are not so plentiful, the crop in some orchards having suffered from'frost during the spring. Aprioota are more plentiful.

The performance of the Central Otago cricketers in Dunedin during Country Week was somewhat disappointing. Returned players speak well of the good treatment accorded to them. The experience will no doubt do local cricket considerable good, revealing weakness and stimulating the desire to improve. The proposed visit of Dunedin cricketers to the Central at Easter time is heartily approved of, ana will do much to encourage the sport in the country districts.

The members of the local Croquet dub are taking keen interest, in ' the croquet tournament, which will be held on the Punga lawns, Dnnedin, during Carnival Week. The Alexandra dub is sending forward 10 players to compete. Mr James Marion, of the New Zealand Alliance, gave an address in the Alexandra Town Hall last Sunday evening to a good audience. His address, the title of which was “Uncle Sam Sobers Up,” was an account of the lecturer’s observations when travelling through the United States under prohibition. Another lecture is to be given shortly by Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., Labour member for Christchurch South. He speaks on “ My, Impressions of Parliament.” In view of the approaching visit of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) a public meeting was held in the local Town Hall on Thursday evening to consider what local , matters should be brought before the notice of the Minister. The Mayor (Mr W. Black) was authorised to extend an invitation to the Minister to visit the borough, with the request that a deputation if possible be receive on Satur-' day afterpoon. The matter of a hydroelectric scheme, irrigation, and closer settlement were agreed upon as 1 the most pressing and vital matters requiring the attention of the Minister, and Messrs W. A, Bodkin, A. Ashworth, and W. Duncan were appointed speakers. The meeting expressed approval of the altered programme in connection with the Minister’s itinerary, in so far that Sunday was not included as a day on which the Minister would continue his journey of inspection as on a week day. Whatever personal views might be on Sabbath observance, it was the unanimous opinion of the meeting that a public Minister should not arrange to have “business as usual” even if he was up-country. ; Recently the officials frpm another Government department made Sunday a day of convenience for extensive visitation of the district, and it was felt by many that it was time the practice was nipped in the bud.