WAIKAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1918, 24 August 1888, Page 17

WAIKAKA.

August 20.— The weather has been very fine and warm for several days past, and this day is perhaps the besfc there has b-en this month. Last wtek cv - dence of sj ring wvather \v?s to be seen in the pasture fields, and they are steadily improving. A few farmers sowed some wheat last we* k oa hill sides, but up to date there ar« only patches fit for lwrrowiug on most farms. It ia u:\liLely that any oats will be sown this week. Ploughing is still the order of the day. Draining.— A drain plough has been at w/irk during the past week or two at the north end of the Waikaka Valley, and this morning one has been started about four miles noith of the Waikaka siding. It is drawn by a large number of bullocks. The farmer on v, hose farm it is at work has made a good few tile drains during the past few years, but he finds this kind of drain too expensive 3t the present prices of produce. We will ggon se^

what the drain plough will effect. One things is ,-certa4ni,the.ctßt J iiee4vnut~deXer.aiijfcJ*Hner irom using it. No one denies that drainage increases the [ . yield, but the objection is always advanced that it will not pay to drain. Alongside ditches or 6"ver and* gear the natural underground watercourses wtiioh r cxis 1 on many farms in the more fertile parts of thU district, it is noticeable that the crop is very much heavier than in other plage?. ' < Meetings'.— The, Waikaka Valley*. School Committ- c held a meeting last Thursday evening, when all the members were present. The principal .-matter for consideration was a proposal made by the gentleman who teaches singing in the church opposite to give one lesson per week in the school if the parents of the children would assist the class in the church. One member, Mr Ayson, mentioned that if the children took advautnge of the lesson the older ones could next quarter cross over to the church and join the classes there. It was decided .to. invita tbe singing master to give an hour's lesson every Wednesday morning. The .committee who organised the class in the church are determined to meet. It is to be hoped that the parents will encourage the pupils to attend in time at the school. '

Boad Board.— Mr M.. Dillon, the indefatigable gentleman who has done so much to abolish the Knapdale Road Board' for a number of years, communicated lately with the Premier. '.Mr Dillon was advised to bring the matter of merging before tbe Governor. It may be explained that the county council declined to merge the district into the county on the ground that the debt was so large.