DRUMMOND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 41

DRUMMOND.

December 12.— The weather here, although (till somewhat broken and changeable, ""■ has improved ye y much within the last week or two, and the crops and grass lately seem to have acquired quitea mushroom growth. Should thepresent heat continue, with a leas generous supply of rain for some time, we may yet expect to nave a reaping time, although under the most favourable circumstances the harvest is bound to be late. In fact, everything belonging to • the vegetable kingUora seems to be later this year than usual, although the fact of my having new potatoes for dirmer'yesterday and strawberries and cre'im'for supper tloej not, on the face of it, seems to beat out the statement. To be sure .the tubers, although of f*ir eizt L were none too- dry, bufc-the strawberries, which were culled from the garden of Mr Ross, I'rummond, and in which particulai l\ne of frait-raisiug that (fen tie man is justly famous, were deliotoas,' and t>urfily,thc first of -^he season in this locality. , ' Shearing,— A few of the fanners hay* shorn their sheep, but the majority are just meditating makiag a start, and wisbing earnestly for a continuance of the dry, w*rm weather wo have had for the last few days, and also that the still rising tendency in the price of wool may continue for some time to come. Roads —The roads leading from this place ta Rivertou and Wintop, and which we have growled p.bout so much all winter and for several winters pist to.little or no purpose, are still in the same disgraceful tftate from want of lepiir. Holiday.— Yesterday being the second day of the Southland Metropolitan Show, the township and district of Diiirumond seemed Jo he almo&t depopulated, the fine weather combfrntd with the cheap railway fared and the expectation of seeing it gwl exhibition of stock, *c attracting a. large gathering The weather was indeed perfect, and had it been specially ordered for the occasion it coulil not have been improved' upon. Some of the Drummond residents were very successful exhibirorp, notably of horses. School Matters'. — A.bout two weeks ago a meeting of householders in the Drunnnond echool district, in conjunction with the school committee, was helu" in the school to take into consideration how tha pioposed shifting of the Limestone Plains Scho <1 to Calcium would affect the Diummond School, and whether the move is desirable or otherwise. The necessity for enlarging the Drummond School was another matter which was brought up. Regarding the first business, the meeting came to the conclusion that it is best in the" interests of all parties concerned that the school should remain where it is, and" the board has been notifi,e'l accordingly. As to the other question,the meeting, especially the committee part of it, diil not seem to attach much importance to the necebsity of the case, presumably thinking that were the' Limestone Plains School shifted it would affect, the attendance at the Drummond School so- much that the addition would not be required. For my part I consider that the shifting of the Plains School matters very little.to the Drummond School, no more than -two ,or three families at the most being Hkely to leave the latter, while the youthful population of the district all round is increasing so rapidly that from what I hear of this attendance and tne crowded state of the school I should not be surprised if during the warm weather which we ■ may axD£ct after this fch* tu>ai*i> at

some of the children will tuffer, and when it is considered that this district has ahvaja been fortunate iv being exempt from epuieuiici of sll sorts, it is wonderful that parents and otheis. will nnt take more inte.rest both as regards, this and other matters in connettion with education in the district.