TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 29

TAPANUI.

s April 11.— The spell of exceedingly fine har- • ve&t weather lasted over the Easter holidays, and then we were reminded that there is no^ ' such thing as continual sunshine. Rain set ■ i m on Thursday, and although not heavy, was i ! sufficient to retard harvest work, and conscr ■ quently there is still a considerable amount ■ of crop out that would otherwise have been s ' safely stacked. It lias continued showery, with ' I cold easterly winds, but it is hoped a few i more weeks of fine weather are) in store for . ! us. The threshing mills have been busy, and J the principal occupation will soon be graiii- ■ i carting. A lot of stuff will no doubt go into • ! store with the hope of better prices. | Street Lighting.— Our borough council haj ■ i abandoned tne idea of lighting the town with i ' electricity or acetylene gas, at least in the i < meantime. But to improve matters they have caused a. few lamp posts to be erected in cen- . tral positions, arid the kerosene lamps are found a great convenience by night pedee- '. triane. In view of any better scheme being ' adopted, the posts erected can be utilised ;■ and • it is to be hoped the time will ntt be so long \ between the substilulioa of electric light for j kerosene as was the introduction of the initial ' stage. "With a, few more lamps the present sysj tern could be made to serve all purposes as j far as illuminating the streets are concerned. I To the present mayor (Mr Burrell) is due the ! credit for getting even ksrosene lamps for the ' streets. i New Churcli.— A start has been made with I the new Roman Catholic church in Tapanui, I and the material is now being carted on to the ground. The site is an excellent one, and I believe the building, though not elaborate, will be of an attractive design. Collision. — A cyclist and a pedestrian came into collision in the main street the other evening after dark, and the result was a " spread out " for each party. By the time ; the pedestrian had collected his senses and was l in a position to investigate, the cyclist had ' flown — possibly considering it better to vanish than face the "music. No serious damage whs ; done, but cyclists should be more careful in '[ riding without lights, or they may be landed ', in heavy expenses. Country riders are apt to grow careless when given complete control of ', the highways. Had the party in question-col- !* lided with a team of horses he might not have Leon spared to tell the tale. 1 A Generous Act. — A resident in this locality [ — Mr Duncan Buchanan — has of late undergone ! a severe time of suffering. He proceeded to 1 Dunedin a month oi so ago for treatment [ for a cancer in the face, and after being subi jected to some painful operations at the hos- \ pital, had to return home with the cheerless ; intelligence that there was no cure for cancer. Since coming back he has been trying the fig 1 cure, but with what success it is too soon to say. In view of his circumstances, together \ with the fact that his wife is practically an in- . valid, some of Mr Buchanan's friends headed ! a subscription list, and the residents, as u.wal j in any deserving case, responded generously. j I heai that Eome JE6O oi £70 has been gathered, 3 . and will be handed to Mr Buchanan with the wish that he may be cured of the fell disease in spite of the testimony of the medical men. '■ High School. — The School Committee are not . yet done with this subject, and are now fulfilling the demands of the board authorities. That ', they are earnest in the matter and working in [ the best interests of the district is proven by 1 their consistency, and I hope they will be rej warded for their pains. ' r Deer Stalking. — Several local sports are now engaged in this exhilarating pastime, but there are no kills of any consequence to report yet. What is generally considered the best pnrt of . the season — i.e., when the stags " bark ' (as [ ■ their peculiar roar is characterised) — is now , approaching, an<? it will then be time to say i how the herd ib progressing. 1 New Buildings. — Farm dwellings continue to gc up, and a large number have been erected I • this season. In addition to those already de- . i scribed, I am indebted to the local Courier r or i j the following account of Mr James Kerse's i i new residence at Glenkenich : — This new vcbis '• dence, just completed, is situated about a quarr i ter of a mile from the main road, and on one c ! of the highest elevations of the farm. It com3 mands an extensive view of the surrounding f . district, the site chosen being an admirable t one. The building faces north, has a frontage of 34ft by 80ft in depth, and is built on a , substantial concrete foundation of the best <f - materials. The exterior of the structure prey sents to the visitor a neat appearance, with . gables surmounted by massive iron finials. A y> verandah and largr oriel window complete the 1 front. The hall (12 x 6) has a dado in panels of ;, [ figured red pine, with raised moulding. The c ' ceiling is also finished in the same style, with l , 6in cornice. The entrance door is grained iri oak, f • and the dooi frame contains fanlight, figured c and ruby glass side, lights. On the right is , situated the drawing room (16 x 14), papered j with a handsome gold pattern. There is a y marble mantelpiece, with cotrtfige grate. The ceiling is panelled and varnished, with a 6in s cornice, picked out in two ghndes. The recesses r contain red pine cupboaids, with panelled - ' doors. The ontl window has five pairs of - 1 Bashes, all oak grained, as are also the skirtb ; injrs. Opposite the drawing room is tbe front t ; bedroom (14 x 10>, papered in a pretty blue , oattern; white pnnel ceiling, with heaTjr cor-

; nice and skirting, painted in pleasing colours. At the end of the hall, -which is finished with an arch supported on two columns, a cross passage intersects, which on the right leads to a bedroom 13ft x lift 6in. This room contains a fireplace, with cottage grate and mantelpiece; also wardrobe in recess, with all necessary fittings. " The ceiling is of T. and G. red pine, varnished ; and the walls are papered in a light gold pattern. Adjoining this room is another bedroom, finished in somewhat similar style, with" the exception of a chimney. At the left end of this passage an entrance is gained to the kitchen (14 x 14), with 3ft 6in dado and skirting. The ceiling is of T. and G. red pine, varnished. The fireplace contains a number 2 Shaddock range, with copper boiler, and the recess is fitted with a sideboard. Leading from this room, at the back, is an addition, containing dairy (8 x 8) and scullery (8 x 7). The chimneys are moulded and plastered, and this department of the vrork was well executed by Mr Stevenson, of Pukerau. The plans of the building were drawn by Mr C. Cruickshank, of Kelso, who was also the contractor, and he has carried out the work in his usual efficient style. The painting was in the able hands of Mr J. , Fleming, Tapanui. The commodious dwelling is another handsome addition to the farm houses of the district, and Mr Kerse has adopted the wise policy of erecting a home that will stand him for many years, only requiring a • small annual outlay for maintenance to pre- ] serve it. It also speaks well foi Mr Kerse's ! industry that he is able to adorn his farm with such a solid structure, proving himself an ener- . getic and capable farmer. We feel sure his neighbours and friends in the district will wish himself and family increased prosperity in the ' future, and many years' health to enjoy the conveniences that such a comfortable dwelling affords. ,