PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20315, 25 January 1928, Page 11

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Feoh Ode Special Cobb Eepoinu ssts.B

DR HILL AT OAMARU. Dr A. W. Hill, director of the Royal ■ Botanical Gardens at Kew, accompanied by Mr D. Tannock (superintendent of the Dunedin city reserves, passed through Oamaru to the north yesterday. Hie Mayor of Oamaru (Mr Frank Crawshaw) took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the half-hour stop of the tram to invite the distinguished visitor to inspect the local gardens. Dr Hill readily acquiesced, and, accompanied by Mr -cannock and the curator of the gardens (Mr M. J. Barnett), ho was motored through Severn street to the reserve, of which Oamaru residents are so justly proud. Dr Hill manifested the greatest interest in the gardens, and declared them to be among the most beautiful he had seen on his overseas travels. He was especially pleased with the Peter Pan statue and its setting. In conversation with the representative of the Otago Daily Times, Dr Hill stated that Oamaru residents should indeed be proud of their gardens. He was surprised to find such a wonderful asset in a comparatively small community. The colour schemes were remarkably fine, and the plots had been laid off in a most artistic manner. The lawns were also in perfect order, and there was not a sign of litter anywhere to be found. When told that there were only six men employed in the gardens, Dr Hill expressed surprise. He said the work accomplished by so small a staff was really wonderful. After he had been driven through Thames street on his return to the station, Dr Hill said he had not seen a finer street in the whole of Australia. The arrangements for traffic were excellent, and he congratulated the Mayor and the citizens, not only upon the magnificent gardens, but upon the general layout of the town and the love of Nature that was manifest on every hand Turning to the representative of the Daily Times, he said, “You cannot say too much about your lovely gaidens. If all the municipal money is as well spent as upon this reserve, then you are exceedingly fortunate. I hope the citizens fully appreciate the value it is to the town.” REFRESHING RAIN. A refreshing downpour of rain occurred in North Otago on Monday night. It will have a good effect upon pastures, cereals, and root crops, though it has not penetrated the soil to any depth. In the back country the conditions are still very dry, and a soaking rain is badly needed. Sheep and other stock are showing the effects of the protracted drought. The rainfall registered by Mr W. Forrester at Oamaru yesterday morning was 13 pints. A quarter of an inch has not yet been recorded locally since the beginning of the year. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. The sitting of the Magistrate's Court in Oamaru to-day will be of more than ordinary interest, as the charge against Mary Clark, or Dunedin, of causing the death of Jessie Smart, a girl 19 years of age, will be proceeded with. Mr A. C. Hanlon, of Dunedin, will appear for the accused. The evidence for the prosecution will be practically the same as that given at the recent coroner’s court. TURNIP FLY. As a result of the humid weather experienced during the last few days, the fly has made its appearance in the turnip crops in North Otago. In past years the turnip fly has been the cause of much destruction, and manv farmers have abandoned turnip-growing in favour of mangolds and other root crops. FAST TRAVELLING. As the result of a in;.tor car travelling at a fast pace along Thames highway, Oamaru, a piece of read metal was picked un and buried through the window of the grocery establishment of Mr O. R. Wise, jun. The glass flew in all directions, and the meta! struck the interior wall of the shop. Tt is fortunate that there was nobody in the shop .at the time, or serious injury might have resulted. PAINFUL ACCIDENT. Miss Elspeth Denholm, a popular vocalist of Oamaru. who is about to leave with her parents for Western Australia, met with a painful accident on Monday morning. She was carrying a vessel containing ashes along the pathway leading from her house to the street, when she fell heavily on her head and arm. She sustained slight concussion, ane one of her fingers wa,-. broken. Medical attention was secured, and she is progressing as favourably as can be expected. BOWLING. The past week’s bowling in Oamaru has been confined chiefly to friendly interclub matches. These have proved most enjoyable. One or two of the veterans’ matches have been got off, and club ties have been advanced a stage. On the Phoenix green on Monday evening two club pairs matches were played. Panckhurst easily accounted for Bastings, but E. W. Grenfell had to fight every inch to defeat Joe Reid. The scores were 18 all at the last head.. In the extra head there was a measure for the winning shot, but Grenfell took a great risk with his last bowl and just grazed Reid’s front bow], and settled all arguments. The North Otago Centre matches are to be resumed on Saturday, when Meadowbank and Awamoa meet the combined team at Hampden. The following players will represent the j Awamoa Club in a friendly match against Meadowbank on the Meadowbank green on Thursday evening at 6 o’clock: —M‘Jennett. Miller. Macfie, Walton; J. Thompson, Hay, Jenkins, Mollison; Rusbatch, Lee, Ralph, Buist; Tisdall, Ferguson, Woodward, Cook; Vernor, Kingan, Fogarty, J. Robertson: Russell, Mitchell, M'Narry, Dunbar; Grant, Brown, A. Robertson, Hodge; Pygall, M'Diarmid, Adamson, Crawshaw. NORTH SCHOOL. The Oamaru North School Committee met on Monday evening, there being present—Messrs J. Mitchell (chairman), A. D. Gibson, W. Gillies, G. E. Hollands, J. Newson, A. A. Stock, and S. Mollison (hon. secretary). The chief business was in reference to the school picnic, to be held at Hampden on February 11. On this subject. a letter was read from Mr A. A. M'William, clerk to the Borough Council, saying that the committee was welcome to the use of the ground. Sir L. E. Barnett, president of the Hampden Beautifying Society, wrote saying that the society would give the picnickers a hearty welcome, and do all in its power to contribute to the success of the picnic. He added: “We have now a kiosk erected on the beach, and propose running a little canteen in connection with it for the sale of ice creams, soft drinks, fruits, sweets, cigarettes, and so on. Boiling water and milk will also be available. I rather fancy that you are making your own arrangements regarding these items, but if not we can provide them for you. The bathing facilities arc improved, and will be better still as finances permit. Much needed, though rather primitive, sanitary conveniences have been erected. A largo number of young trees have been planted in and about the picnic ground, and these may easily be damaged by youngsters, and it might be worth while asking picnickers to avoid smashing the trees, and also to burn their picnic litter before departure. We shall have some sort of entertain-

NORTH OTAGO.

ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT,

ment on the beach —a gala on a small 9C ale —-with little competitions for prizes. . What money we cau make from our activities goes, of course, to the Beautifying Society, which has a big programme ahead, and very little inthe way of funds at present to work on.” It was decided to reply to Sir L. E. Barnett that Messrs Mollison and G. A. Mitchell will probably be in Hampden on Saturday, and will bo glad to meet him and discuss matters. Messrs Gillies, Newson, Hollands, Stock, and Gibson were appointed a committee to arrange the details, and a sum of £7 was placed at their disposal. It was agreed that the fares be Is for children, Is Od for senior scholars, and 2s for adults, and that the committee provide hot water and milk. Accounts amounting to £7O 8s Id, including prizes accounts, were passed for payment. Messrs Gibson and Williams were appointed a Visiting Committee for the mouth. WAIAREKA SALE. There was only a modest yarding of stock generally at yesterday’s sale at the Waiareka yards. Mostly fats were offered, and the prices realised are as follows: —Light fat wethers, 255; fat ewes, 225; fat lambs, 27s tr. 30s fid, according to weight and quality. The only fat cattle offered consisted of heifers and cows, which brought from £6 to £8 for prime, and from £3 to £4 2s fid for aged. The offering of stores was small. A pen of yearling steers was passed at 38s and sales of other cattle were made at the following rates:—Eighteen-months to two-year-old steers, £5 10s fid; 18-months to two-year-old heifers, from £2 13s to £3; calves, from 20s to 255. Only a couple of dairy cow's were offered, and these brought respectively £6 12s fid and £8 7s fid. A small offering of pigs met with a poor demand, and lower prices ruled, the following being the range :—Stores, 20s to 30s; slips, 15s to 17s; best weaners, 10s to 12s fid; medium weaners, 7s fid to 9s fid ; culls, ss. WAITAKI SCHOOLS. A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Waitaki High Schools was held yesterday, but only minor business was transacted! One tender was received for the carriage of puils, that of Mr D. K. Giiffin, and this is to bo recommended to the Education Department for acceptance. Miss Violet Burnow, LL.A., recently of the Hobart Girls’ High School, was appointed to a position in the Junior Girls High School. OBITUARY. Mr John Duncan, who passed away at the home of his son, Mr Charles Duncan, at Boitons, in his eighty-fifth year had been following rural pursuits in North Otago for many years. Born in Oupar Arums Forfarshire, he studied for the law, but at the age of 19 he accompanied his father to Ireland, where he was engaged in farming operations. Having married, he six years later came to New Zealand in the ship Agnes Muir, arriving about 1869. After his arrival he was manager for a time of Mr John Douglas s Mount Royal Station, at Palmerston. He later went into business as a general storekeeper in Palmerston and some time after had the misfortune to get burned out being a heavy loser as the result. The call or the land was too strong for him and he again took up farming m the Dunback district, where he remained for some years. Leaving Dunback. for Borton s, North Otago, he continued his farming pur suits on the homestead block of the Maerewhenua Estate. Some five or six years ago he sold his farm to Ins son Charles and went into retirement. He was a keen and active member ot the Presbyterian Church, and also took an active interest m local school affairs at Palmerston and Dunback His wife pre-deceased rum some 12 years ago, and ho is, survived by oiie daughter, Mrs \V. F. Spmdeler of Christchurch, and three sons Messrs Alfred Duncan. of Dunedin, Charles Duncan, of Borton's, and Francis Ernest Duncan, of lim am. __ GLENAVY SALE. The fortnightly sale took place on Monday at the Glenavy yards, when a gbod yarding was offered consisting of between 600 and 700 fat lambs and a number ot fat sheep. The quality was good, and the prices realised were very fair. Best lambs made up to 33s 4d, and the bulk of the offering from 29s 6d to 3-s. Wethers brought up to 27s 6d, and ewes from 18s 6d to 21s. Farmers are beginning to patronise these yards, realising the advantage of supplying a market so near their farms, and where the full market value is always obtainable. GENERAL. The sth Mounted Rifles Band gave its third municipal concert at Friendly Bay, Oamaru, last evening. The weather has been exceedingly warm during the last two or three days, and the various bathing places have been liberally patronised. LAWN TENNIS. The following members have been selected to represent the Hill Club in their match on Sr.turcay: Seniors v. Awamoa A, at Hill courts. Misses Moss, Hair, Gillespie, Poilock, Weavers. Walker, Messrs H. Deal, G. Clark, B. Stevens, H. M’Dowell, H. Grater, C. Byrnes. Juniors v. Waimate, at Waimate. —Mrs M’Kenzie, Misses Clark, Aikenhead, Benjamin, Smith, Robertson, Messrs D. Procter, J. Heron, R. Clark, R. Lonmer, Satherlcy. Crombie. Emergencies: Mi»s R. Robertson and Mr D. Martyn. VALEDICTORY. The members and congregation of St. Paul’s Church met in the Wear Street Hall on Monday evening for the purpose of extending a farewell to four members of the choir who are leaving Oamaru shortly. The hall and stage had been prettily decorated, and presented a gay appearance. . Mr A. Fraser, who was in the chair, said that all would be extremely sorry to loaru that Miss Elspeth Denholm had that morning met with a painful and severe accident which had prevented her attendance at the function. This was a source of great disappointment both to those present and to Miss Denholm. He moved that a motion of sympathy be forwarded from the meeting to Miss Denholm, and asked all to stand as a sign of confirmation. A concert programme was then rendered, items being contributed by St. Paul’s Choir, Mr John Watson, Miss Connie Miller, and the Misses L. and J. Denholm. Mr Fraser made a presentation to the guests of the evening. He stated that it was a matter of regret that the necessity arose for such functions, but life was a source of constant change, and so it was in the church. The ladies concerned had rendered excellent service to St. Paul’s, in the Sunday school, Bible class, and the choir, and all realised that their

absence would be felt keenly. Their services had been given freely in all good causes, and both in the country and the town they had assisted at concerts in aid of good purposes. Mr Fraser referred specially to Miss Elspeth Denholm in this connection. Mr Forrester, on behalf of the managers, and Mr Naylor, on behalf of the choir, also spoke highly of the services rendered by the young ladies, and Mr Fraser then made a presentation ot a purse of notes to Miss Elspeth Denholm. This was received by Mr Will Denholm on his sister’s behalf. A toilet set was presented to Miss J. Denholm, and a bedroom clock to Miss C. Miller, Mr Naylor briefly replying on behalf of the recipients. Supper was then handed round, and an enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Sync.” THE SCOTTISH SOCIETY. The North Otago Scottish Society held a most successful " Burns night ” last night. There was a large attendance, and the chair was occupied by Chief J. A. Macpherson. The chief and chieftains were played to their seats by the North Otago Pipe Band. After the chairman's opening address the following programme was submitted: Songs—Messrs J. Brown, W. Denholm, W. Neill, Mrs John Watson, and Miss J. Denholm; dance. Miss A. Denholm; duet, Misses L. and J. Denholm. Owing to an unfortunate accident, Miss Elspeth Denholm was unable to be present. Mr D. Miller gave a most interesting address on the life of Robert Burns, for which be was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. During the evening Chief Macpherson presented the members of the Denholm family, who are leaving for Australia, with a number of serviceable articles. He paid a warm tribute to the members of the family for the help they had been to the Scottish Society and for their general assistance in musical matters in the town, and wished them all happiness and success in their new home. The Mayor (Mr Frank Crawshaw) also eulogised the Denholm family. At the conclusion of the programme refreshments were handed round, and dancing was engaged in to music provided by Mr and Mrs Sherwin and Mrs M'Neill. Mr W. Miller made a most efficient M.C.