GORE DISTRICT NEWS.

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

GORE DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Odb Own Correspondent.) GORE, January 24. BENEIFICIAL RAIN. After experiencing a spell of dry weather, a very beneficial rain fell on Tuesday night which will do an immense amount of good to pastures and growing turnip crops and gardens. Country people and those in the towns who rely on rain water have been short of the necessary household requirements, which have had to be carted. The Mataura River is lower than it has been for a long time, and there has been no water going over the weir at Mataura for the past week. It has been possible to walk along the wall of the freezing works race across the w?ir and along the paper mill race to the other side of the river. SWIMMING BATHS. The need for swimming baths at Mataura has been evidenced during the recent spell of dry weather, and the Mataura River has been the rendezvous for bathers during the past few weeks. Now that Mataura is possessed of one of the finest water supplies in the Dominion, with a pressure of 861 b to the square inch, it should not be a very difficult matter to have swimming baths constructed in the town. Some time ago the idea of swimming baths at the public school was mooted, and plan 8 and an estimate of the cost were to be supplied by the Education Board, but nothing has transpired as yet. The recreation grounds at Mataura are also in need of some improvements and more accommodation for sporting bodies, and a combined effort on the part of the sporting institutions of the town should result in sufficient funds being raised for both these worthy causes. The first of this season’s lamb, comprisin 6000 carcasses, was loaded out from the Mataura freezing works this week to Bluff for shipment by the Northumberland and the Port Caroline. ANGLING. The Gore Angling Cub’s competition for Mr A. Smith’s trophy resulted as follows:—H. Halliday, four fish, weighing 81b 2oz (scr), Sib 2oz, 1; A. E. Boult, 9 fish, 71b 2£lb (15 per cent.), 51b, 2; J. Tinnock, two fish, lib cent.), lib 12oz, 3. Mr Halliday also took the prize for the heaviest fish landed—2lb 9£oz. This competition also marked the final for the Roche Cup for the season, which has resulted a s follows:—A. E. Boult, 531 b 7oz, 1; W. M'Kenzie, 481 b 7oz, 2; B. Allison, 461 b 3oz, 3; J. delland, 411 b 12oz, 4; A. Mill, 401 b 14oz, 5. An eeling competition on the Otamita stream by members of the Gore Club resulted in between 70 and 80 eels being captured. Another eeling expedition will take place shortly.

FIRE AT OTAMITA. A fire at Otamita on Saturday resulted in the destruction of a farm residence belonging to Mr Gordon Stevens. The outbreak was supposed to be caused by a faulty chimney. The house, which was an old one, was completely burnt, with its contents. The insurance on the building was £350 in the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company, but the furniture was not covered. MILITARY CAMP. The camp of the First Battalion, Southland Regiment, which is being held at the Gore Racecourse, attracted many visitors over the week-end. A church parade was held on Saturday morning, and the Regimental Band supplied a programme of music in the afternoon. LINESMAN INJURED. One of the linesmen in the employ ol the Southland Electric Power Board, Mr Alexander Ferguson, met with an accident in the Tuturau district last week. He slipped and fell about 30ft from a pole while repairing a line. He escaped serious injury, but an injured knee necessitated medical attention. PERSONAL. By the death of Mrs Margaret Wilson, which occurred on Friday, the Gore district has lost one of its earliest residents. The late Mrs Wilson was born at Peebles. Scotland, and was 70 years of age. She came out to J?ew Zealand with her parents when a child, and the family settled at Dunedin, and later went to the Taieri. In 1878 Mr and Mrs Wilson' went to Balclutha, where they experienced a setback in the big flood in that vear. Some 40 years ago they came to Gore, and Mr Wilson found employment with the late Mr Samuel Fletcher at his boilingdown works. Mrs Wilson was predeceased by her husband four years ago. The deceased had not enjoyed the best of health for about a year, and her demise was not unexpected. She was a very fine type of hardworking settler, and of very obliging disposition. She was one of the promoters of the Gore Early Settlers’ Association, and took a keen interest in its activities. The deceased is survived by five sons and one daughter. The Rev. J. and Mrs Featherston have gone to Queenstown for a fortnight’s holiday. Mrs P. Murray (Riversdale) and Mrs L. P. Lopguet (Sumner) are at present spending a holiday at Lake Hayes, Queenstown. Mr and Mrs W. D. M'Leod have returned to Wantwood, Mandeviile, after a very enjoyable tour of the world, extending over seven months. HIGHLAND SOCIETY.

The Mataura Highland Society celebrated the Burns anniversary on Friday, there being a good attendance of members. Chief A. N. Mac Gibbon presided. The principal item of the evening was an address by the Rev. R. C. Boyd, Nightcaps. who delivered an interesting lecture ■on the life and work of the Scottish poet. Afterwards the meeting went into harmony, when a number of very enjoyable items were contributed by members.