TAIERI BEACH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 17 February 1883, Page 12

TAIERI BEACH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

February 12th. Agricultural— Harvest has begun, but i 3 by no means general yet. Most of the crops will be light, but the occasional showeis since new year have filled out the grain wonderfully. There is not a va-y large area-under crop in this district, as we are rather far from market. Though the road through the Ouaeburn Valley to Wa'hola will be of great service, yet it will not pay to cart grain to Waihola. The road is finished with the exception of a bridge, and that is stuck up for the want of long beams. A couple of Good Templars from Dunedin crossed the ravine over which the bridge will be thrown with a buggy, but how they got the buggy over is a mystery. Their "exploit deserves to be recorded. The turnip crops are looking well, and will in a measure make up for the lighter grain crop. Ihe greenfinches are playing htivoe with the grain. Soon it will be imperative for the farmers to take combined action to get rid of these pests. Pastoral— .Shearing is over, and mp9t of the wool has been 6enfc to market. Sheep will always pay better than grain in a district like this, and the roower our farmers #et their land sown down in gras i the better— the larger hoUers among them, at least. With the splendid price for mutton ruliny in the London market, theep must pay in this country. Sawmill.— ') he sawmill is si ill in full work. A change in ownership took place lately. Mr Blatch sold out his nhire to the other two partners, Messrs Joseph and Jeffreys The mill is still carried on under the name of Juseph and Co. All the timber has to be sent up by water to Titri. F,>r some considerable time the canal leading to the railway-siding has been so silted up that loaded boats could not make use of it However, after a great deal of unnecessary delay, the Bruce County Council has put on men to clean it out. When the crane promised by the Government will be erected has not yet been revealed. It is a great shame to deprive us of the benefit of such a necessary appliance ao long. 1 Amusements —We are a quiet and Bteady-going community, and not often do we get a little spree to relieve the monotony of existence. Even a marriage is a rare occurrence. The annual picnic on New Year's day is about the only thing in the way of amusement the good folks of This district look for. I was not present at the last picnic, so could not favour you with an account of it. However, quite a number of people have availed themselves of the steam-launch Waiau to take a trip to the beach. There was quite a large party down last Saturday, made up of t achers and their friends. It was the annual picnic of the Milton branch of t.he Otago Educational Institute, to which had been invited teachers of neighbouring districts. Altogether there were about 50 in the party. It was a very fine day, so that the scenery of the Taieri could be the more appreciated. It is really a wonder that Dunedin people do not of tener take a trip down this lovely river. The fact is the beauty of the scenery is not hnown. If people knew what a magnificent piece of river scenery— the flnt-st in New Zealand— lay so near at hand many more would come to see it. I often wonder that borne of our Dunedin photographers have not taken views of the preity Taieri scuuery long ere tliid. The scenery of the Lakes is wild and impressive, but I have seen nothing there so really pretty as the Taieri river. Here artist or botanist could spend many a pleasant d*y ; a better field for fern eolle-jtifig can scarcely be found. I have always been on the look-out in my .travels, and very few specimens indeed have I ifound which I could not get in the Taieri bush.

WAIKOIKOI. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) February 12th. The Weather.— Since my last letter we have had some extremely variable weather, changing very fast from extreme cold to a corresponding degree of h'.at, which has a bad effect on crops, more especially grain. This is the season of the year in which good weather is wanted, because we are all individually concerned in the welfare of the farmer. A failure in farming means a depression all the year round in all branches of business. „ , . . , Education Aii.^We have been very fortunate in getting our echool committee filled up with very suitable men. When I say suitable men, I mean men who take a great interest in educational matters. Agricultural.— Harvesting is now in full swing ; everyone is making the most of his time in securing the fruits of his labour from all danger. But unfortunately all the crops are getting ripe at once ; such beingithe case It makes the farmer feel very uneasy when he hears the wind blowing, but I don t think that there will be much fear of the grain being shaken by the wind, as harvest hands are pretty plentiful. Leading in is not general, but I observe that Mr Breinner is busy at it. .*,,,. Improvements. - Ourpoßt-offlce is now in full working order, Mr Uowlini* being in charge. Settlers and others in the locality will find it a great boon, saving, as it does, a journey to Tapanui for their letters and papers. I am informed that the library will soon be open to its members. For years no one visited our di&tnct to deal with us, but now t*o enterprising merchants from Pukerau give us a call once a weolc to supply us with the necessaries of life, and both finns are doing a fair share of business.

LOVBIiL'S FLAT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) February 13th. Agricultural.— Harvesting is now in full awing, and the product will be satisfactory, as according to present appearances, we feel confident that, although the straw is short, it will thresh well. The turnip crop is looking capital, aud the late Bhowery weather which wo have been having, is causing the turnips to gro»v amazingly well. School Matters - Our sthool has been closed for the harvesb vacation. On last Thursday a very buccessful examination of the scholars took place in the schoolhouse. The prizes were principally awarded by the marks which had been kept during the past three months, and by examination. It was satisfactory to know that those who were highest by marks were also first in the competitive examination. About £5, the proceeds of three lectures delivered by gentlemen in aid of a prize fund, was spent by the School Committee in purchasing a number »f suitable prizes for the several classes. Special prizes were given by Mr A. Nelson for writing, and by Mr Fraser for the moßt popular boy and girl in the school j

also one by Miss Carruthera for sewing. • The sewing, which was examined by Mesdanies Gilbert and Adams, wag very neatly and well done The mapping, drawing, and writing were examined by Messrs Admins and Gil net t, specimens of whlctt were tastefully arranged arouud the room, and the examiners expre.-sed themselves so well pleised that they had some difficulty in deciding as to which wa3 best. The writing and drawing especially called forth considerable praise. A number of soegs were sung by the children in good time and tune. Mr Adams handed the prizes to the successful scholars, and remarked that he was pleased to see such good and excellent work done in an elementary school. He had had ample proof that the children were endowed with good average abilities, from the facility with which they did their mental arithmetic, and they were a credit to their teacher, Mr Clous, who had evidently done his duty faithfully and well. Three cheers were given for Mr Closs and Miss Carruthers ; also for the examiners. The Bchool was then dismissed for five weeks' holiday. Concbrt.— A very successful concern, soiree, and dance was held in the schoolhouso last Friday evening to bring to a close the ' singing-class which Mr Nicol has conducted for some time back. The concert comprised songs, duets, and glees, given by a number of ladies and gentlemen from Balolutha. Long before the time for commencing the people were arriving from far and near, and at about 8 o'clock tea was announced, and everyone partook of the substantial spread, whi h had been provided by Mr Eraser in capital style. As soon as ample justice had been done to the good things, the concert commenced by Mr Clobs being voted to the chair. The chairman made a few brief remarks, and called on Mr Nicola class to sing the firbt glee. It would take up too much of your valuai.le space to particularise every item which was on the programme, suffice it to say that the ladies and gentlemen from. Balclutha maintained their already established local reputation a? good singers. Local talent came well to the fore, which was a proof that there is some musical grit in Lovell'a Fiat. The concert was brought to a close by Mr Bowie moving a vote of thanks to Mr Nicol for the great paiiiH he had taken with his class in teaching them to sing from note. Mr Nicol briefly responded. Votes of thanks were also accorded to those ladies and gentlemen who had come such a long distance to assist in making the concert a success, and to the chairman. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was enjoyed by most of the young folk remaining to daylight. The music was all that could be desired, being supplied by Mr Pink.