LONGRIBGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 29

LONGRIBGE.

July 7. — Before starting the ordinary notes for this district, with your permission I should like to make a few remarks in reference to your late correspondent for this district— viz., Mr A. 0. Kay. .Even at this late hour of the day I may state that hii sudden and lamented death cast quite a gloom over the whole district, and called forth letters and telegrams of sympathy from as far north as Oamaru and right down to Invercargill to his bureaved wifo and relative?. The funeral was very largely attended, the Rev. Mr Blackie, Presbyterian minister at Lumsdcn, conducting the services both at the house and grave. The Sabbath following the sad fatal accident the Lumsden Presbyterian Church was draped in black, and at the conclusion of the service, which had special referense to ths deceased, the "Dead March in Saul" was played by the organist out of respect to him who had for years been a most exemplary member and for some considerable time held the office of elder. Funeral sermons were also delivered at Balfour and Longridge. It may here be stated that the deceased conducted the ordinary Sunday services at Lumsden, Balfour, and Longridge when the minister was otherwise engaged. The late Mr Kay also took an active and intelligent interest in all local matters, aud at the time of his death held the offices of chairman, secretary, and treasurer to the Longbridge School Committee. He was ever ready with a willing hand to improve the school grounds in the way of carting gravel, etc. He also was a member of the local Band of Hope, and was a very prominent member of the Balfour Farmers' Club. Truly his place will be hard to fill both iv his public life and also as correspondent to the Otagn Witness, and I already feel that it will bo a long time before -his successor will so ably furnish you with all the rocal news in so interesting n form. One good quality in his notes was brevity aud to the point. As a private man, he was noted all over the district for his upright dealings with his fellow mcD, and if there was more of his exemplary character in Otago it would be better for us all. As a practical farmer, I heard him more than once called the '"model farmer of Longridge," and I must say that in my opinion it was a name well deserved. He went in mostly for sheep, and always took good care to have a large field of turnipß, withlhay, chaff, etc., for winter feed. He was well stocked with the latest farm implements, and the outbuildings were substantial and conveniently complete. Around the dwelling house and also the outbuildings aie a plentiful stock of ornamental and_ sheltering tree 3. In fact, one cannot pay a visit to the homestead without being struck with the skill aud taste that Mr Kay has displayed in the beautiful aveuu<ss and carriage drives that all tead to enhance thn value of a farm. I generally judge a farmer by the gates on his farm, and on entering this one the thought at once struck me, as I 'opened for the first time a gate beautifully hung on hinges, " here liveth a good farmer." However, jutt as he was getting all things into good working order he was called to his lest, leaving a wife aud four young children to mourn their loss. He married in 1S8S) a daughter of Mr George Lindsay, Tokomairiro, and had he been spared he would, at his father-iu-law's golden wedding on Juae 11 list, have bei;u one of the most prominent persous there to do honour on theall-iiuportantocca'jion But Catesaid 110. At a meetiuK of the Longridge North School Cammittee the following resolution was passed and ordered to bs recorded on ths minutes :— "This committee desire to place ou record their appreciation of the services rendered to the district by tho late chairman, secretary, and treasurer, Mr Angus Colquhoun Kay, as a. member of committee and aho_ in other capacities, and desire to express their earnest sympathy with Mra *Kay and her young family in their great bereavement." A copy of this resolution was ordered to be sent ' to Mrs Kay. The session of the congregation of Taringatura passed the following minute, instructing the clerk to send a copy to Mra Kav :— "The session resolves to place on record their sense, of the great loss which we as a congregation have sustained through the sudden and lamented death of our office-bearer, Mr Angus Colquhouu Kay ; their appreciation of his high Christian j character and devoted service to the cause of > Christ in connection with this congregation, both , as a member and as an office-bearer, during v. > period of more than 18 years ; aud would express ! their deepest sympathy with Mra Kiy and family j in their bereavement, praying that the bleasinc , of their father's God may ever resc upon them." ' The Weather —The weather we have had this , winter is the subject of many comments, in that it is more like summer than winter. The frosts have been mild, and there has been very little rain to speak of. Farming Operations.— The plough is kept busy now, and already a large arei has been turned over for oats and turnips for next season. Sheep are on the turnips, and in some cise3 are being fed with chaff and hay. ; New J.P.— lf the r> resp ?t Government have never done any good previously they have cer- 1 tainly conferred a great favour on this district by appointing two J. f.'s resident in the distiict, the last batch containing the names of Meurd It. Grant and A. Stewart. A happier selection it would have been hard to have made.