POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 25

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

A-trctTST 1. — During the last fortnight wo have had some fine winter days— frost at night with warm sunny days, while last Friday was quite a spring day. "At last," J said to my£o!f, " the weather is going to take up and give us an early spring in return for ils bad conduct during the last nine months.' 1 lint my thoughts weie rudely dispelled on Saturday afternoon, when it became bitterly cokl, with snow showers, and yesterday we aad several inches of snow on the ground. To-day, however, the snow seems to be quickly thawing, but I have no doubt this fall of snow will do a lot of good, though the ground .vi 1 1 be very sloppy for a bit.

Ito^DS. — I saw the surfaceman on Saturday going over part of our roads and cutting smali drains lo let the water cut of ruti. This snow will not do them much harm, because they could scaicely be worse. The storekeepers' enrts even get bogged, and have to get assistance fiom neighbouring farmers. Now especially do we see the evil of making the roads so narrow. The road hue is a cnam wide ceitainly, but the formation is, I think, only 12ft. The result is that all drays must follow the one track, and the ruts are io deep that often the axle bed is trailing on Mhground. I know well that the 'arly settlers had even worse difficulties than these to overcome, and they overcame them. As I mentioned before, the county councillor for this riding proposed that tho settlers should turn out m summer with their drays and cart metal. It is quite possible some would be able to do so, whilst other's might not, and then there would be more growling and ill feeling. What I would propose is that thp county council get a loan from 'he Government purposely for metalling kll the loads, and then strike a special rate on the district to repay tins loan by degrees. Ihe roads cost the county council nothing for making, ar.d I think the councillors could oasily ;-ct the loan if they apply for it. At any rate, something must be done when the weather allows, but the filling up of these ruts and holes with black toil and clay is simply wasting »ke council's money.

Maxwell's Sale.— On the 21st ult. tho L. pnd M. Agency Company held a sate an Mr Maxwell's farm. Mr Maxwell, as I have said before, is not in good health, and finds it impossible to carry on the farm. The day being fine, there was a large turn-out of farmers, some coming a good distance. The bidding was not very exciting for most of the articles, although in some cases very good prices wcic got. The Pomahika bachelors were to the front. One of them, who has lately taken o< c-r a run on the Blue Mountains, nought two cows and some young cattle. Another bought a cow and some milk dishes, whilst another invested in a churn. I should .say that milkmaids will be in demand soon. Something serious must be going to happen to one rf them, for I see some timber and roofing iron being carted up to his estabhshnnnt.

Jottings. — Mrs Scarlett has not been we!! lately, and was taken to the hospital a week ago, but 1 am glad to hear she is better.— At the sale mentioned above the auctioneer put on a bid of Gd to one of thp bottlers, who, however, objected to it. " But you winked at me," said the auctioneer. "Oh, lam rot responsible for that eye winking, said the settler.

The School.— Miss Mackay having gone to Dimedin to attend lectures, a new teaener r.as been sent up, this time a male teacher, Mr I. Ironside, who at one time was pupil t'Mchev at the Clinton School.

Farm Implements.— The Jfassey - Ham's Company have found a home l.ere for their implements. There are several binders aid cultivators here already, and now they have introduced their ploughs. I think three threefurrow ploughs and one four-furrow have lately conic up to the estate. No fear now of getting the crops in late.

' billon of poultry was the best vet held iif the district, ana the general quality of icha exhibits was veiy highly spoken of by the judges, Messrs Kobert Brownlie 'Dunedin) and James .Robertson (Morningtou). The display of dogs was not up to tho average, and, with the exception of collies, produced veiy small entries. Mi 11. G. Williams, wil'n v large entry of pigeons, was the only ' monopolist," and the prizes were well distributed amongst the exhibitors. The art union, I undeistand, was a financial success, thf drawing, as usual, created considerable irterest. The secretary (Mr W. B. M'Alistci] and members of committee are deserving of praise for the conduct of the show genera!!;-, and from the yearly improvement in ihe loc;! entries it is apparent that the society is do-n;; good work in the district. The list of soeti.il pnzes was an exceptionally good (ne.