RATANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 28

RATANUI.

April 13.— The weather at Fatauui during the recent holidays was for the most part dull, with occasional light showers and fog. Many of our local people aie a till away from home taking advantage of the season and of the cheap railway fares. The following is Mr G. M. Draper's report on the weather for March : — Rain fell on 14 days ; maximum, '36in on the 12th ; total for the month, l"99in. Temperature : Maximum, 65deg on the Bth; minimum, 44Heg on the 12th. Prevailing wind, S.W. 17 days The above is compiled from observations made at 9 30 a m daily. Work on Roads —A number of settlers ar« still working on the local roads, giving four days' labour for two days' pay. When will the expense of road-making be equitably distributed amongst the people? is a question of vital interest to the public of all country districts, particularly such as this, where such a large proportion of the. amount of rates goes to pay the salaries of some officers who don't work and don't do the little evercise for wliieh they^ are paid in a very satisfactory manner. Look Out.— The Clutha County Council has invited applications for the office of ranger, and it is much to be desired that ths billet may be filled by a man who will do his duty without fear or favour. The council lately passed a resolution asking the late ranger to do his duty, with the result that he resigned. It is e-timated that there are upwards of 800 head of cattle continuously depasturing on the public roads in this busb district ; and it has also been fairly estimated that these cattle do more liai m to the roads than three or four men can do go id, the council in some cases even encouraging people to depasture cattle on the roads by giving permission to erect gat«s, etc. lam of opinion that every surfaceman should be a ranger. Thistles. — This weed has during the summer thriven luxuriantly in some places, particularly on the county roads, and on properties owned or o cupied by indolent settlers, who are either too lazy or too careless of their interests to try and root out the nuisance, which I predict, knowing men as I do, will be a serious trouble in the near future. I have completely eradicated some patches by pulling up the young shoots as fast as they appear — say about four or five visits during tbe growing sea»on will suffice. If thistles are worth the room they grow on why not treat them better, and grow good big ones that will produce a lot of seeds for the neighbours? A gooi top dressing of well-rotted manure ap^li-d before the winter season, and a little bonedust in spring, would assist the growth beautifully. The Canadian thistle is now master of the (ituatiou in some localities, and this will be no exception to the rule as time progresses. I utter my warning again on this subject, however— and gratis, and at the same time with the full knowledge that the indolent class referred to will do nothing towards lessening the evil. Poaching. — I hear th»t a number of shootists have been caught redhanded shooting pigeons. Serve 'em right. They were straugers—presumably of the sort who call pigeon-shooting sport. Pigeons have been very plentiful lately. Wedding.— On the 9fch inst. Miss Leal and Mr Stoddart amalgamated their future life interests by marriage, at Ratanui. There waß no invitation to such an "old fogey." as " YourOsvn," and I have been supplied with a veryjiieaere account of the occurrence. A large number of young ladies and gentlemen were invited by Mr and Mrs Leal, the parents of the bride, and tbe "spree" was much enjoyed. The young couple are extremely well spoken of, and I think the good wishes of myself and all the people of the Ratanui district cannot be more suitably expressed than in the few .following lines- :— Thou art woed, thou art won, thou art wed, Thou hast taken the vows of the bride ; May- virtue watch over thy head, And happiness walk by thy side. May the man thou hast chosen for life Prove all that I wish him to be ; May he ever find joy in his wife. Success to thy hus'-and and thee.