ALEXANDRA NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21542, 14 January 1932, Page 11

ALEXANDRA NOTES

CENTRAL OTAGO

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ALEXANDRA, January 12. THE WEATHER. The weather is delightfully fine for holiday makers, and the prospects are promising. THE RAILWAY SERVICE. Considerable consternation has been created locally at the rumoured cut to the service' on the Otago Central railway Some time ago the district traffic manager (Mr Gibson), whilst conferring with the Borough Council and business men on railway matters, suggested the forming of a railway committee, and in all probability this will be done when the holi-

days are over. It is considered that the department would find it impossible to carry the goods offering, even during the winter months, on a tri-weekly service. The Alexandra business people have been very loyal to the railway, and the quantity of goods carried into the town by lorry is small. No doubt the motor buses have made heavy inroads into the passenger service, but this may have been brought about in no small degree by the continued late running or, the train. FAT LAMBS. Fat lamb buyers are now operating extensively throughout Central Otago, and a month’s continuation of warm weather would bring on the lambs to a very appreciable extent. Lambs are reported to be in excellent condition in the Maniototo district, where warm weather has been experienced of late. WHEAT CROPS. In the Lauder district and in the Valley which was recently cut up for closer settlement on Mr J. Beattie’s property large areas of wheat are in, and at present make a very pretty picture. The recent rains have greatly invigorated growth, and the prospects for a good harvest are very pronounced. The new settlers have an area of approximately 1000 acres in wheat, besides the land that is down in other cereal crops. All these' are looking particularly well, and augur a successful season, FRUIT SEASON. The fruit season is advancing, and the train night service which was inaugurated on Sunday evening is proving a boon to growers—one for which they are deeply indebted to the Railways Department. The train also carries a mail. MINING. No small amount of interest is centred round the proposed visit of Mr F. W. Payne, mining engineer, from England, to Central Otago. Mr Payne is investigating mining possibilities on the Molyneaux River, and it is freely rumoured that it his report should be favourable there is every possibility of three large dredges being put into operation on the Molyneaux River between Cromwell and Roxburgh. PERSONAL. Mr D. L. M'Lcod arrived in Alexandra last evening, and has assumed control of the local railway station until a permanent appointment is made. Mr C. White, station master, left by this morning’s train for Dunedin, to which office he has been transferred. Mr J. R. Stand, of the Public Trust Office staff, Wellington, who has been on a visit to Alexandra, returned north on Monday. Mr J. J. Craig, of the Public Works staff, left on annual leave this morning.