LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 25

LUMSDEN.

March 22.— The spell of splendid harvest weather that we have had has now broken up. It began to rain on Friday night, and a steady drizzle has been coming down since. It is doing the glasses and turnips a vast amount of good, yet we should not like to see it'eontinue for any length of time, as there are several fields of stooks ami uncut crops still to be scan.

Crops.— l am pleased to note that the farmers arc much more hopeful in reference to their'grain returns than they were in the early patt of th« season. A gi oat quantity of grain has> been shaken out for fvcveral seasons past, but not so this year. That fact, combined with better prices, will make up for the shortage that might be looked for from the late spring aud the backwardness of the crops in the early part of the season.

Public Wouks —It is gratifying to see a healthy bign in the K.t lway department here — viz., the "extension of office accommodation, repairing and paiutiug goons shed, water tanks, stands, etc The next most essential advance for the wtlfare and pio-perit\ of our village and ilis»trict will be an iuihiY of settlers, which wouM make us one of the most important inland centres in Southland. I may hure state that the spaiv labour of this district is now fully taken up by the Railway department commencing the ballasting of the line. The pay, I am told, v noi " bulky," bui when men &p>>ak well of a job auJ are silent about the "dollars?," it is takou for granted that they are well satisfiei with the treatment they are receiving.

April 4. — Since commencing the first part of this letter I am sorry to hive to report that wj have expeiiencei a spell of wry unfavourable harvest weather — so much so that a general feeling of depression prevails, more especially with the farmer;!. Seeing the result of' his yeaily toil vanishing from his grasp is enough to'maku ;iuy mortal man feel dispirited. No doubt a gient many faimeis are to bltme for their proc.nistination in both spring and autumn operations. Soino ■will risk the loss of halt their crops just to save .a, few pounds in outlay for labour- a. penny wis'i and pound foolish policy. Threshing is going on all round, and I am informed that, considering all the circumstances, the yield is fairly good, but i-nmples are not quite so bright, as fanners, would lilce them to be for milling purpos-H.

School —The average attendanc o*' pupils at our public school is keeping well up Io the :isu;U ftundaul, and now thtt thoae joutnswho have been absent during the shearing reason ami harve-t time are returning borne to attend school there will probably be the highest attondauce yet shown on the Lumsdcn Hchuol records

Amusements. — 'I his is tbe quietest season '*c have had f.>r many years in ich<j way of entertainments, I'Ut the ball has oeou del rolling by Mr W. 11. Clark, hea ' teacher, who, witti the susibtauce of his staff and other local talent, oiesented to tho Lumsdenites (and Scotchmen in p'irticul >r; a rno^t interesting Jacobite episode of Scottish history, illustrated by the national songs of Scotland. Mr Clark must feel highly pleased &t the result of his entertainment, as judging by the Jargt: audiencethere being a crammed- house — the school fun I will be considerably augmented. It i« to be hoped that this i.s only the fir*t of many such useful and instructive rfutertainments that Messrs Clark and company may ba induced to give to the Lumsden people. The Rev. Mr Blackie ifnupicd the chair, aud Mr Clark read the connective readings as well as "batoning" the school children during their several choruses ; and the ladies and gentlemen who assisted gave a very ,jood account of themselves. As a consequence all went home well satisfied that they had got value for their money.

Field Spouts —The question whether tbe Lumsden yiuiig fellows are going to raise a. football team this season now presents itself. If so, I think it is time they were making a, move in the matter. I hear no word of the annual meeting taking place.

Indoor. Winter, Amusements —I hear nothing said as jet about the Lumsden Mutual Improvement and Debating Society. I think that a meeting should be calleo in good time to decide whether the society should be started ajjain this winter or not.

Pastoral. — Pasture grasses and turnip crops are looking well since the rainy weather set in, and all kinds of stock are fattening up for the winter month?, which are expected to bs pretty severe.

Tourists. — The tourist traffic is now at an end, for this season at le«Kt, and I believe the numbers that travelled by rail, coach, steamer, and otherwise hnve been up to the average of former years, i They could, >iowever, be greatly increased in many j ways, such as by improving tho roads, building I bridges, and supplying better sailing accommodation on the western lakes. More of this later on, however. Oiobbie's line of coaches runs now once weekly to Te Ana« — viz , each Saturday morning at 7 a m., and tpiicial trips can be arranged for any day at short notice.

Ecclesiastical.— Matters under this heading seem to ba in keeping with the times — that is, things are very quiet ; but let us hope notwithstanding this we are bpiritually advancing.