MID-WAIAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 25

MID-WAIAU.

Septkmbrr 15.— At the school committee meeting held at Kastern Bush on the S:h a vote of thanks was passed to My Barrowclough, the teacher, in i-erognition of his services during the pist year. The proposer f aid the inspected 's htgh report spoke more eloquently to the motion than he was able. Other members having similarly ppoken, the motion was heartily carried. Mrs JBairowclough's efforts in teaching sewing and music met with a similarly enthusiastic reception. The improvement in the manners of the children is apparent to every one passing along the roads. The district can congratulate iUolf on a distinct advance in school matters in every respect.

The Babbit. — Great and successful have been the efforts of the Stock department to decrease the rabbit pest on Otahu. Lasi night I was along a piece of giound where rabbits a few weeks ago might have been seen by the score. My dog put up only two. Fifty bags of oats flavoured with oil of ani-eed have been put down. In other years the poison was beginning to go SGUr befoie settlers could obtain it. This jer it ronl-l he had st Otahu perfectly fresh. Merrivale station seems also to have been thoroughly well poisoned — at all eveuts at the western end, and I hear the rabbits are scarcer than ever. Most per.pl j put this down to the trapping, but I know personally that rabbits were thick enough to stock the district^ be/me poisoning was commenced. 'Ihe station poisoning occurring nearly at the same time as the Gjvernxnent poisoning at Otahu shows well enough what may be done if all parties go at it with a will at the same time Rabbits previously had been worse than for many years past. Settler* who some years ago took up ground along the banks of the Wairaki had to thiotv it up again on account of tbe pest. A Road 1 incident. — Our roads are, on the whole, being much improved. I saw yesterday, however, the horses taken out of a bugay, while the occupant?, sided by a passer-by, hud to dr<ig their vehicle up the hill, a steep incline.^ Otahu.— l have sren ia the Lamls oftice a map of OUhu. Tbe estate is, fo far ai Icau see, judiciously s ctionised. Otahu comprises some excellent country. Much lying between the Merton Creek and the terraces to the east is superior ground. At a price some sections would be very desirable holding-*. As, however, I have not seen ihe pi ices attached to the sections I leave people to judge for themselves. Merrivale. — Efforts are being made to establish a school on the Government block at Merrivale. The settlers there are surely grievously wronged in beiug kept so long without the benefits of education for their children if the number of children is as high as is commonly repotted. A large area of this estate is being put under the plough, and the display of enejgy and pluck is the order of the daj'.