MATAURA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 17

MATAURA.

June 6. — The first musical entertainment which has taken place .this winter was given on the evening of the Queen's Birthday,- when the cricket and lawn tennis clubs held a concert in aid of the funds of the two clubs. The affair was largely attended, the music and recitations were on the whole very good, and the entertainment passed off with considerable eclat. A goodly sum was realised towards liquidating the debts of the clubs, and it is not unlikely, I understand, that the performers may be again induced to give their services some time during the winter months.

Ploughing Match. — The members of the Ploughing Match Association held their annual meeting a few days ago. The balance sheet showed that the association was in a healthy financial condition. Some alterations were made in the rules and officers were elected for the ensuing 12 months. A sub-committee was also appointed to arrange about a paddock in which

to hold the approaching match.* It is anticipated that a suitable piece of ground will be found close to the township.

Public Works.— The county council have been doing some necessary work on the main road, and the.town board have formed footpaths and are doing kerbing and channelling, which has been much required for some time past. The board propose to pay off a loan they have obtained from a neighbouring body and reborrow on debentures, which they can do on much easier terms than they have at present. They paid off a loan of a similar kind to the Tuturau Board some two years ago, and thereby effected a considerable annual saving to the ratepayers. The matter has been remitted to the Finance Committee to report on at next meeting! Improvements. — There is no doubt that set* tlement is going on steadily in this district. Two new schools have been asked for lately in localities neither of which are distant five miles from here. Considering that there are five schools already within a radius of a few miles of this places one would imagine that the population is either increasing, largely, or that there must be a considerable influx of people from other districts.

Paper Mill. — The proprietors have lately received some machinery from Home, which they have been having fitted up. This necessitated the stoppage of operations for about a couple of weeks, but the alterations are now complete, and work is going on regularly as before. A number of hands are constantly employed in this industry, .and the demand for the goods is largely increasing. f( Football. — The local football club #re busy at practice. They have played two or three matches— the last one with the neighbouring club at Gore. The game proved a stiffly contested one, the Mat-aura team making strenuous efforts to gain the victory, but fate was against them all through, and the visitors carried off the honours of the field.

Rabbiting.— The rise in the value of rabbitskins has induced a number of men to go rabbiting. At the price now obtainable there is no difficulty in making good wages.