LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 224, 28 May 1896, Page 25

LAKE WANAKA.

Hay 28.— Tho past week has been fine, bat on. Saturday last it rained most of the day till 9 pMock, when it cleared up. Yesterday was bright and sunny, but windy. School MAiTßflfi. - Tha last report of the Education Board showed that there were 25 schools ia tyhich the attendance was under 15. The comipiitees have received circulars drawing their Bttention to this state of affaire, and in the case of far school at least Intimation is conveyed that the school might be closed by ths end of June. Tie committed haa written to the Education Board >bo» ing tbatthera is every indication of $ba school attendance being tit least 16 next January. In the first place there are 'four children in the township who will be of school age before the end of the year, and there are rtt 2eait three others on tbe f Forka who would attend for a certainty for a number of years, and two others who would attend for a lesser time. At toretant these are debarred from attending the 'school owing to tbe absence of the punt across the Clutha River above ita junction with the Havre*. However, there is now every indication that the •punt will be erected by the end of the year. There we in tbfl township a number of children xvnqtai; -4|y4-?S^c£^a.-ssr£a WJefcftTTSToTd enough to ba Jwaceu oh the aoaaol roll from time to time during the next year or two. It would ba & great ha;-d-sbip to the scholars if tbe school was dotted, as it would be impossible for them to attend any other school, and as they are so bright and intelligent they dedve tbe fullest benefit to be derivt d from attending school. As they are all young children ■ yrith one exception, tho number indicated would tie attending school for years to come. The committee and parents felt quite cheored up wbon they read tbe account of the Education Board's last meeting,- in . which, the chairman informed deputations from tbe Stonebura and Hukianga schools that they had no present intention of - clour; g them, but that the ciicnlar waa sent to . keep the committees awnko. Were the board to clor« all tho 25 schools, indicated it would be a areat hardship to the teichers, who would thus be thrown out of employment, and in such cases tho board is not bound to find them new positions. Indeed, t' c board has, of course, no power to fill vacancies, as that lies with the committees. OrchiM.— l have been reading thfl accounts of orchids in the Witness from time to time, and note the immense sums paid for new varietia». Once upon a time the Dutch used to give equally large Bums for tulips, till the whole nation became afflicted with "tulipmania," and the Government had to step in and put a &top to it, bo that tho value of rare tulips degenerated from pounds to pence/ There are iar&e quantities of orcbids growing In tha bush at the bead of L;vko Wan»ka, and smaller quantises in, my immediate neighbourhood. The U-aves are about the siza of a shilling, find tlae flower is veiy curious, but I suppose it is Unlikely that there are any rs-rc specimens calculated to being a high pi ice among th>m. A relation of the writer's iv the south of England about 10 yearn ago wrote standard book upon orchids. Matukitdki.— Mr Ewen Cameron, who has been aheep-f*ruiiog in the Matukituki Valley for ft numbtr of years pa»t. has kft there, and having taken a lea^e of the Fork run, has placed his sheep nu it, and in the m-.sintirar is residing in Pembroke. All travellers and vl«ii ors ch«ti-h the memory of \Sr wd Mrs dxm-ron's kin ness and ho pitility, and will wwh him well in his new Venture. Mr Cameron has had a largo amount of colonial experience, -and bus a fund of reminiscences as a consequence. On one occasion he arranged with a number of sheurery to be on hand to begis work on a pertain date. Three of them did not come on the day agreed upon, but stayed behind for a couple or three dtya enjoying a little "colonial reore»tion," and tho shearina could not begin without them, but had to be delayed an equal Hunger of days till they did coma. The result was that this delay landed the shearing into over a Week's wet weather, resulting in a losi to Mr Cameron of about £8 for weekly men's wages, provisions, &c. Mr Cameron conducted the shearing under the good old patriarchal style, the hands being his guests as well as his workers, and Mrs Cameron's exc'llent Christmas dinners will never fade from the memories of tbos<- who had the good fortune to partake of them. Charitable —This district has contributed its share to the Brunuer Relief Fund. Mr Robert M'i 'ougall at once took the initiative, and canvassed the district for funds, and tbe occasion of tbe spinsters' ball being held in Pembroke waa taken advantage of to hold an entertainment in Mrs Russell's Hal', which netted £10. A very good programme was provided, tbe local talent Being assisted by visitors from Cromwell.