TAPANUI NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20006, 25 January 1927, Page 13

TAPANUI NOTES.

(From Oub Own Cobbespondent.) TAPANUI, January 24. PERSONAL. Mr Peter Cook, of the local National Bank staff, who has been transferred to Balclutha, was presented with a handsome pocket wallet by his friends. Mr Cook left on Thursday afternoon for Balclutha. Mr E. Curtin, of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present away on sick leave, and is being relieved by Mr A. Ashby. Mrs George Greaves and party, of JJunedin, are visiting Tapanui. They are having a most enjoyable time fishing at the Pomahoka, where they are camped. The Rev. B. E. Hill and family are spending a holiday at Kaka Point. FISHING. The Pomabaka River is at present in splendid order for fishing, and during the past week some very fine bags have been secured both by local and visiting enthusiasts. Yesterday afternoon a local fisherman, Mr A. Harrison, whilst fishing below the Tapanui bridge, landed on the fly one of the largest fish caught in the river for years. On being grassed after 55 minutes’ sport it proved to be an American brook trout weighing 171 b lOoz. It was a female fish in splendid condition. RAILWAY MATTERS. The ■ members of the Railway Board who inspected the branch line on Wednesday last, were met on their arrival at Tananui, of which the Mayor (Mr W. R. a jin) was spokesman. Mr Quin asked, in e event of the proposed cut to one tram a day being put into effect, that a rail cai be put on the line, as it was unreasonable to expect that passengers going to or coming from Dunedin would wait at Waipahi for five hours. If the department wished to cater for passenger traffic ne could assure the board that local residents would not use the railway, but would be forced to use the road; but if the department were determnned to run only one train a day he asked that it should be run in the afternoon to connect with the second express from Invercargill. The traffic manager for the district then pointed out that it was imperative to run the train to Waipahi in the forenoon on account of stock consigned to Burnside and Finegand. ... , ~ Mr Jones (chairman of the board} stated that in the near future the department intended to put into effect the proposal to run only one train a day—in fact, from its point of view, it would be better to close down the branch altogether. He added that a very serious loss was made annually, and the line i erely paid interest on the capital invested, after taking into consideration the line s value as a feeder, whilst all working expenses were borne by tbe department. As far as putting a rail car on the line was concerned, there was no chance of this being done. He would put tbe position to the deputation this way. It vfcis useless to expect his department to spend 20s to get 2s 6d. Mr Jones thought it quite reasonable that local residents should wait for five hours at Waipahi, although he admitted that he would not do it himself. Mr Quin thanked the members of the board for meeting the deputation. He still thought that the department might try the experiment of running a rail car. If Mr Jones’s figures were correct, it seemed to him peculiar that the department should only now find out that it was losing so much money after running the branch for nearly half a century, and decide at this juncture to make such a drastic cut. . CRICKET. On Saturday afternoon a team of Tapanui cricketers motored to Waikoikoi and met the local team. Owing to rain, it was not until 3 p.m. that a start could be made. As the afternoon progressed it turned out beautifully fine, and a most enjoyable game resulted. Contraryto expectations, the unbeaten Waikoikoi team was decisively beaten. The Tapanui captain won the toss and took, first strike. Scores: — TAPANUI. Robertson, not out 38 Cameron, b McDonald 3 Rodger, b Crawford 30 Sidey, run out 0 Dr Robertson, c and b M-Donald .. 2 Nimmo, not out .... 19 Extras ■ 10 Total for four wickets (declared) .. ... .. 102 WAIKOIKOI. Reid, b Rodger 3 B. Robertson, run out .. ..... .. 0 W. Spittle, b Rodger 2 Crawford, b Nimmo 5 A. M'Donald, b Rodger .. .. .. .. 3 J. Spittle, b Rodger 10 Croft, b Nimmo ............ 0 W. M'Donald, b Rodger 0 C. Reid, b Rodger .. 0 E. Reid, not out 0 F. Robertson, run out 0 Extras 6 Total 30 FARMING. The top-dressing experimental plots on the properties of Messrs -Lusk and Revie (Crookston) have proved highly successful. The results, as a whole, show the benefits of the practice, and, as far as the Crookston district is concerned, lime and phosphate seem to give the best results. The experiments, of course, will be carried on over a period of years to ascertain which manure is the most suitable for the district. The fields division of the Department of Agriculture intends to hold a farmers’ field day in about six weeks’ time.