NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 13

NORTH OTAGO.

THE PRICE OF WHEAT. “ What will be the price of wheat this vear?” This is a question that is being asked by farmers in all directions. So far there have been few transactions in this cereal, either with the merchants or millers. Growers have been reluctant to sell until they have ascertained the position in regard to the thnnping of flour The announcement was made by the Minister of Customs a day or two ago that a dumping duty equivalent to 16b per ton would be imposed. This would represent about 4d per bushel in favour of the grower of wheat, but it does not fix the price. The representative of the Otago Daily Times yesterday interviewed a prominent Oamaru miller, and 1 asked what would be the probable price, of Tuscan wheat for the coming season. The miller replied that the price would probably be from 5s Gd to os 7d per bushel. He stated that he had already bought in the north at 5s Gd per bushel, and he had now oilers at this price, plus Id per bushel brokerage He added that Hour at £ll, f.o.b Sydney, would be worth fIG 12s Gd, c.i.f., m Wellington. when the dumping duty ot los was added. Millers could only nay suen a price for the wheat as would enable them to compete with imported flour at £l6 12s Od per ton. The miller admitted that ss, Gd per bushel was not a paying price to the fanner, but he pointed out that 4s Gd per bushel was the price ruling in Australia, where there was an abundant harvest. The Government, he contended, had not paid a sufficient regard to the interests of the New _ Zealand farmer when it fixed the dumping duty on flour. It had strained the Statute m favour of Australia. COWGRASS SEED. Some of the largest growers of cowgrass, or red clover, in North Otago state that this season’s harvest will be very uoor. One grower expressed the opinion that the small yield is due to the absence of bumble bees, that are necessary to produce inoculation and fertilisation. Another states that the real cause is the excessive growth of the stalk, occasioned by the wetness of the season. Whatever may be the cause, the fact remains that cow-grass is likely to be in short supply locally. DANIEL WALTON. Daniel Walton, the man with many aliases who, according to the London correspondent of the Daily Times, has been keeping the Home detectives busy, is well known to a resident of Oamaru. He was born and educated in Masterton, m the North Island. His parents were pious and highly respected. Daniel lived an apparently upright life until he went to Australia some years ago, and suffered an injury to his head. Since then he has developed a criminal tendency, and has posed as a man of considerable wealth, who is temporarily embarrassed. He is of good appearance, and has a superior address, and these seem to gain for him ready victims. In his native town (Masterton) a few years ago he victimised dozens of people, including the then mayor of the borough. Walton is a married man, whose wife is at present residing in New Zealand. UNEMPLOYED. Although there are a fair number ot unemployed citizens in Oamaru at tho present time, there seems to be a strong disposition to maintain the standard of wages. A resident ' wanted a couple of carpenters to do labour by the day. They had scarcely started work when they intimated that they required 2s 8d per hour. This was refused, and they left the job. Other men were subsequently secured at 2s 4d per' hour. DAFFODIL EXHIBITION. Mr R. Dick informed a meeting of tho North Otago Horticultural Society that a Daffodil Association had been formed in the North Island, and he understood that leading daffodil growers in Dunedin and Christchurch were anxious to hold an exhibition in connection with the Oamaru show. It was decided to make inquiries into the matter. BLIGHT IN POTATOES. Blight has made its appearance in many of the potato crops in North Otago. Tho area under potatoes is not very considerable, but tho loss occasioned by the blight is heavy. Some of the crops were dug on the first appearance of the blight, and these will be available for home consumption. The cans© of the blight is popularly believed to be tho excessive moisture experienced in the last month or two of the year. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. At a meeting of the committee of the North Otago Horticultural Society, presided over by Mr R. K. Ireland, donations of rose annuals from Mrs Douglas and canvas signs from Mrs M'Douall, were received with thanks. The treasurer reported a credit of £3 15s in the _ bank, with a number of members’ subscriptions yet to come in. The. following judges were appointed for the autumn show, subject to their consent: —Pot plants and cut blooms, Mrs G. M'Douall and Mrs R. B. Irvine; children’s exhibits, Mrs Darling;

news from the district, (Fbou Otm Special CoaaESPONDEsre.)

fruit and vegetables, Mr J. Main. It was decided that the show be held on Friday, February 25. A sub-committee was set up to arrange for a sales stall. It was resolved to hire roses for the coming show, and to repeat the special prize for the best display of cut flowers by children. Mr R. K. Gardiner intimated that he would be unable to perform the secretarial duties after the autumn show. The appointment of a successor was held over in the meantime. Accounts amounting to hi 6s were passed for payment. THE PAST WEEK. Although showers of rain have fallen on several occasions during the past week, the moisture has not been sufficient to cause more than a temporary suspension ot harvesting operations. Reapers and binders have been busy in both oat and wheat crops, and stacks are now appearing in all directions. Threshing returns have scarcely yet commenced to come in, but in one or two cases —notably at Papakaio—oats have returned over 70 busheds to the acre. It is too early yet to give an estimate of what the average return of either cereal will be, but it is predicted by farmers with a knowledge of the district that wheat will go well over 30 bushels to the acre. Although the ravages of take-all have been severe in some districts, the fungus disease has not taken ns heavy a toll as was expected a few w r eeks ago. Root crops have been stimulated by the occasional showers of the past week, and are now looking well. A good deal of summer fallowing 'is still in progress. There is an abundance of grass, and stock of all descriptions is in the pink of condition. MOTOR ACCIDENT. A report has reached Oamaru that Mr W. P. Reid, of this town, met with a motor accident when proceeding to the Dunedin races on Thursday. When proceeding over the Kilmog hill, ho attempted to make room for a car coming in the opposite direction. His own car skidded, and fell some distance down the side of a hill, turning completely over. Mr Reid and his wife and daughter had a miraculous escape, Mrs Reid alone suffering from abrasions. The hood and wind-screen of the car were broken, .but assistance was secured from passing motorists and the machine was restored to the road and continued its journey. ROWING. In the second round of the M‘Adam Memorial Fours in connection with the Oamaru Boating Club, Patterson beat MTvinnon by half a length, and Mackie defeated Main by about two lengths. The final between Maokie and Patterson is to be decided this afternoon. PRICE OF LAMBS. Advice has been received that the schedule price for lambs by buyers for export will be reduced by id per lb on all grades from Monday next. • THE ROYAL VISIT. Tentative arrangements have been made for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Oamaru on March 16. Their Royal Highnesses will leave the train at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, where the memorial hall will be opened by the Duke. After this ceremony the Royal Party will motor into town, and the civic welcome ceremony wil be held at the South African Memorial. The school children will be in line dow r n the avenue, and, after the presentation of the address of welcome, their Royal Highnesses will walk along the avenue to the railway crossing, where the train will be awaiting them. Elaborate plans have been made for decorating the post office and other public buildings, and, no doubt, business firms have made similar arrangements. Following is the text of the address of welcome to be presented:—“To their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York. May it please your Royal Highnesses, wo, the people of Oamaru and North Otago, desire to express our inalienable loyalty to the Throne and Empire of his Majesty the King. We rejoice in having an opportunity of sharing in the hearty welcome accorded to you by this Dominion and in the knowledge that your presence amongst us will form another strand in the silken thread which binds the overseas nations of the Empire to the Mother Land. We trust that you will always retain pleasant memories of '-our tour through this country and that throughout your lives you will continue to realise that the British Empire contains no more loyal sons and daughters than those of New Zealand who have the honour and pleasure of welcoming you.” The address - ill be signed by the Mayor, the chairman of the Waitaki County Council, and the chairman of the Harbour Board. A change has been made in the district from which it is proposed to convey school children to participate in the function. Oamaru -will be the centre for schools from Palmerston and north thereof, including Dunback, and a circular has been issued to head teachers throughout that area asking them to state approximately the number of children, limited to Standards 111 and upwards, who will travel to Oamaru, together with the number of teachers and members of school committees who will accompany them. As previously announced, these children will be conveyed by rail free of cost, and the Government will also provide a meal for each child on the day they are brought in. SWIMMING. At the Oamaru swimming baths on Thursday evening a 50 yards swimming race held by the Amateur Swimming Club resulted as follows: —S. Hatton, 3sec, 1; F. Shanahan, scr, 2; K. Sievwright, Isec, 3. An electric light carnival is to be held by the club on February 21. MUNICIPAL ROLL. The main Oamaru municipal roll, which has now' closed, contains 3323 names, compared with 3146 two years ago. Applications are now being received for enrolment on the supplementary roll, which closes on March 30. PERSONAL. Mr Alfred Avery, who recently died at Levin, w r as not Mr Alfred Avery, formerly of Oamaru. The latter still resides in New' Plymouth, and states that the announcement of his death in the Oamaru papers was “slightly exaggerated.” Mr Brenton, of the staff of the National Mortgage and Agency Company in Waimate, has been transferred to Invercargill. At the meeting of the North Otago Horticultural Society tho chairman (Mr R. K. Ireland) took the opportunity of wishing Mrs Douglas, who is leaving shor' - 4: for England, hon voyage and a pleasant holiday. Mr John Pheloung, a native of Oamaru, hut now of Manly (Sydney) is at present, on a short visit to this town. Mr Pheloung is the conductor of the Manly Municipal Band, and the Sydney Fire Brigade Band. REDCASTLF, COLLEGE. The Redcastle Callegq, officially designated St. Mary’s, which was opened *mder such auspicious circumstances on Sunday last is already an active institution in the social and educational life of North Otago. The attendance of day and boarder students has exceeded all anticipations there being 75 upon tho roll, with every probability of 100 being reached in the course of the next week. Six Qualified masters are employed, and the curriculum is of a high standard. Naturally enough, boys who have left their homes for a first time have found the environment of school life strange, but a few days with congenial companions, kindly teachers, and wholesome games will serve as an antidote to that homesickness which is common to all who have been happily nurtured in their tender years. The Christian Brothers themselves are new to tho district, but they have been received with such unusual kindness that they already fee! themselves very much at heme. They have oome here to stay and it is their intention not only to impart instruction that will create high ideals

axd food oittzondslp, bat to strive by every legitimate process to foster the community spirit, and to promote the best interest* of the district in ■which they are at present domiciled. In this connection the Christian Brothers desire to place upon record the everlasting- debt of gratitude they owe the syndicate that acquired the Redcastlo estate and made it available for college purposes. Had the syndicate not displayed business acumen and foresight, the probabilities are that the opportunity of establishing another educational institution in North Otago would not have presented itself. The energy, enthusiasm, and persistency displayed throughout the whole negotiations by Messrs T. Doyle and F. Cooney are deserving of the utmost commendation. Since the brothers have come to Oamaru Mr Doyle has made sacrifices that only those who know their magnitude can truly appreciate. The fine spirit of citizenship that was manifested at the opening function in connection with the school will constitute an imperishable record of generosity and tolerance that will stimulate the masters and boys to maintain the highest scholastic traditions of this progressive district. In evidence of the goodness of the people was afforded by the action of the taxi drivers, who, after being paid their fares, handed them to the Brothers, with the expression of hope that they may be used to benefit the rising generation. This is the spirit with which the Christian Brothers have been received _ throughout, irrespective of creed or denomination. The generous speech made by the rectoi of the Waitaki High School on the occasion of the opening ceremony could not fail to create a spirit of camaraderie between the two schools which must be for the benefit of both. Others who have rendered conspicuous service are those who made donations in money and kind, who gave their labour in the trimming of the garden fences, in putting the walks and lawns in order, and in providing afternoon tei for the multitudes. The Christian Brothers also feel indebted to the press for their very fine appreciative notices of the institution, to the clergy who came long distances to be present on the memorable occasion, to the matron (Miss Fitzpatrick) and her staff for their valued assistance, and to the Oamaru _ Municipal Band for isndering appropriate musio. The ladies who organised the afterneon tea were given nothing but a kindly reception from those whom they solicited goods and assistance. Those in charge of the dining room, Mrs O. B. Wise, Mrs J. B. Grave, Mrs J. Kerr, Mrs Wheeler, and Miss M'Veigh, were deserving of all praise for the bountiful spread they provided, while' the following were among those who ably assisted in organising the tea: —Mrs A. H. G. Brown, Mrs Harvey, Mrs Benjamin, Mrs Connors, Mrs Smith. Mrs and the Misses M'lEinnon, Mrs Joseph Smith, Mrs M'Farlane, Miss Duhig, Mrs Quinn, Mrs Doyle, Mrs Diver, Mrs Berry, Misses M'Grath, L. Miller, Molloy, Cartwright, Mrs Hook, Mr C. and Master Connors, and a number of others who came when the rush was at its height.