LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 25

LUMSDEN.

May 11.— We are having goodfleaconable weather here at" .present^ Farmers and others are looking forward to hotter .times in the near future. Agricultural - The farmers are getiine ready for ploughing again. I see Five Rivers arid Oantte J.ock estates, also the Mararoa estate, are all doing large quantities of .agricultural work this se»non. .1 suppose the management find it pay* better to till the soil than to let rt lie idle. The New Zealand Agricultural Company are disposing of their land in fairly large block*, two of these having been takun up by two of our townsmen, Mr Yarxlly and Mr A. Small, the areas being 870 and 250 acres respectively. A few enterprising men of this stamp atuougat us would soon make our little villi^ge hum a,Ratn. | Pasti'Ral!— Things under this heading have settled down now for ilxe winter. Pasture feed is standing out fairly well, and barring another severe winter I think stock-owners have better prospects .than the,y have had for some seasons .back. Public School — The annual meeting of householders and the election of a committee took place on the advertised date — viz., April 27. It was conrfdsred by the majority of thosa present that the work don« by the outgoing committee was anything but satisfactory. On one of the householders asking for information re certain eh l'ges lodged against a member of tho staff the questioner was ruled down by the chairman saying that he would not allow a certain minute to be read at a meeting of householders— a ruling that several o"f 'those present wrmed to que.tion. I hear that the new committee are considering the necessity for applying for .an addition to the school buildings, owing to the iucra.ised atteudauce in the infant departmt-n-r, which speaks well for the head mistress and the multiplying abilities of our district. Societies.— The G.T. Lodge has a big job on hand just now— viz , trying to sheet home a breach of the Licensing Act by ono of the licensees here. The case is to be heard at the next sitting of the S.M. Court.— The Oddfellows' Lodge is now iv a prosperous condition. The individual members are, I am told, rII rallying round the managing committee, and helping to wipe off arrears that the lodge had been unfortunate enough to fall into through no fault of its ina&agemeut. A sound foDting is now almost assured. Amusemknts. -Quadrille nights are largely attended, and cycling is as great a rage as if we were in midsummer. I mey state that we have lady cyclists here who will yet astonish the natives in record- breaking— 7o miles a day rolled off with ease, and finish up with a quarter of an hour up-hill go-as-you-please (on foot.of course). Now, Mr Cyclist, if you have anyone who can touch that, trot him out, and we shall see about it. Bailway Changes.— Our genial and obliging stationmaster, Mr U. G. WeMedd, has, I hear, got marching otdei s. Mr WeUtedd his gervedhia department and the public of Lumsden daring the past 12 years with much satisfaction, and I know that I only reiterate the opinion of the * hole district, when I wish himself and his family Godspeed and every prosperity in their new sphere. Both Mr and Mrs Welstedd will be greatly missed from our musical entertainmeute, They were always ready with their time and goods in aid of - any or all church and charitable projects. I hear of great changes among the men in the permanent way department. I suppose this is uec-esary for the more efficient working of the service. i i Football. -Our heroes are all preparing f. r the i fray. The fii>t match of the season with an out- ' side club takes place at Riversdale wjth the Rivorsdale team, and I am told the Plains boys are decided favourites in the coming event. Notwithstanding this, I feel confident that our fellows will give a good account of themselves. Whichever way It goes, however, I sincerely hope that neither team will allow any ill-feeling or , auimi^sity to enter the field of play, nor remain -with them after the match is won and lost. Parliamentahy.— Tho last item in my. note book, but not least by any means. There is much speculation here as to who is coming oat to con-

test the seat of the electorate of WaHaoe. I hear of ana or two who Intead coming forward, and if a good man comos along I hope that we shall all stand to him an i get him returned.