COUNTRY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22778, 14 January 1936, Page 14

COUNTRY NEWS

CROMWELL Cricket In a Vincent Cricket Association fixture, played at Lowburn, the home team defeated Cromwell B by an innings and 12 runs, scoring a four-point win. Lowburn scored 81 (I. Campbell 18, M. Partridge 18, and D. Wishart 10). Cromwell B’s first innings produced 29, S. Rankin (16) being the chief contributor. In the second innings the side was out for 40, J. Webb (14) and L. Homer (11) scoring double figures. An Excellent Harvest There has been another spell of fine, warm weather, and excellent progress has been made with shearing and harvesting. With a damp, cool spring, followed by a period of beat since early in December, the various grain crops matured well and the yields from many areas are expected to bo the best for some years. Purchases of the necessary harvesting material bear this out. One paddock in the Mount Barker district, which has attracted a good deal of attention, is on the property of Mr George Ballantyne. It is 100 acres of barley, and reliable opinions are that it will thresh 70 bushels to the acre. Another encouraging sign is the number of now agricultural implements landed in the district this year. A well-known settler of Quartz Reef Point, Mr George Partridge, suffered a serious loss last week in the destruction by fire of a group of haystacks. Internal combustion in one of the group was the cause of the trouble.

The Holidays Camping appeared to be_ the popular form of holiday-making this year, and v,'eather conditions were ideal. With camps along the banks of the Clutba and at many favoured points along the lake shores of Hawea and Wanaka, the number of visitors appeared to be the greatest for some years. Motorists appreciated the improvements this year on the main roads, the main highway through the Pigroot meriting special mention. It presented an excellent surface, and the recent elimination of numerous sharp bends and steep grades was a great improvement.

WANAKA The Weather With the exception of one or two light showers of rain at night, the weather during the Christmas holidays was perfect, and Pembroke was visited by more campers this year than previously. Glendhu Bay, an ideal place for camping, has proved more popular than ever this season, and there,was not a camping site available between Christmas and New Year, up to 300 people being under canvas there.

The Domain Board’s camping ground has also been well patronised, and several families have been camping at the Point.

Carnival The local sports bodies held a carnival during Christmas week, and as this proved a success the proceeds will be of considerable help to the various clubs. Two nights of the carnival were set aside for roll-downs and other amusements, and dances, which were held during the remainder of the week, proved very popular with the younger set.

Lawn Tennis Tournament A very successful lawn tennis tournament was held on New Year’s Day, the winners of the Ladies Doubles being Mesdames Morris and Waldron, and in the men’s section Ross and Meade.

Fishing Two local anglers, Messrs Mathcson and Umbers, visited the upper reaches of the Matatapu River last week, and had # a successful day’s fishing, lauding five rainbow trout. Shooting Mr J. W. Smith and a party went by launch to Minaret to shoot Canadian geese, and obtained very good sport, bagging over 70 birds in two days. Personal Mr and Mrs A. C. Paterson and family, who have been camping at Glendhu Bay, returned to Dunedin on Saturday. Mr and Mrs M'Kellar and family, who have also been camping at Glendhu, have returned to Dunedin. Miss Mill, of Port Chalmers, has been in her summer residence for the past three weeks, but will return to her home this week. Mr and Mrs Sutherland Ross, who have been in residence here for the past two •weeks, have now returned to Dunedin. Mr and Mrs C. W. Birch, who have been in residence here for the past two weeks, have returned to Dunedin. EASTERN SOUTHLAND School Jubilee The celebration of the jubilee of the East Gore School was commenced on Friday of last week and concluded on Sunday. On Friday a large number of former pupils, teachers, and committeemen assembled at the school for the official reception. Of 2400 ex-pupils who passed through the school during its 50 years, 800 responded to enrol as members of the Ex-pupils’ Association, and it is estimated that those present on Friday numbered at least COO. The chairman of the Jubilee Committee (Mr H. C. M’Gibbon) presided, and there were associated with him the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman), Mr D. M'Dougall, M.P., Mr Justice Kennedy and Mrs Kennedy, Messrs D. Steadman, James Lenihan, and Mr J. M‘K. Miller (former headmasters), Mr J. H. Park (present headmaster), and Major A. L. M'Dowell. The chairman opened the proceedings by welcoming back to the school ex-pupils, ex-teachers, and ex-committeemen, and the Mayor then extended an official welcome to the visitors. Mr Justice Kennedy replied to the speeches on behalf of the ex-pupils. Following the official reception, a roll of honour presented by the ex-pupils to the school was unveiled. A parade of returned soldiers was marched to the front of the spectators, and the chairman explained that the Jubilee Committee had been anxious that the part of the school in the Great War should be suitably recognised. One of the final incidents in the afternoon’s programme was the planting of two oaks in the school grounds. The honour of planting the trees was accorded to Mr James Mulvey, the first pupil on the school roll, and Allan Aitken, the youngest pupil at present on the roll. In the evening an enjoyable social and dance was held in the Theatre Royal, there being a large attendance of former pupils. The celebrations were brought to a conclusion on Sunday, when a thanksgiving service was held at the Princess Theatre. Saturday’s programme -was a very full one, including a motor drive in the morning, a sports meeting for the present pupils in the afternoon,«and culminating in the jubilee banquet in the evening. The banquet was highly successful, more tiffin 500 ex-pupils and guests being present.