ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY )

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 29

ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY )

April 15. — Of late there has been nothing ol striking interest to comment upon from t!ii3 locality, except that the " big sale " fever ran high, and everybody was smitten with it, more particularly those unable to attend, as a good many ' were. But now, in common keeping with Fate* 3 will, " everything comes together." First, our neighbours at Fairlie were getting quite jealous of the widespread reputation our district was' fast and firmly establishing for its sales far and wide, and determined by practically demonstrating to all and sundry who would respond to a pressing' invitation to attend its local exposition of local productions. This came off on Easter Monday, Pnd was run in conjunction with their show. As a matter of course, we were invited to' try conclusions with our friends. Now that we have seen for ourselves what 4he show was — a most creditable turn-out — we sincerely regret not having taken it seriously, and would like to impress upon our friends -that our- district is all that it 1 ia claimed to be,' but as there is nothing like,' ocular demonstration we must come out strong next year, and not leave the representation of this fertile district to one or two who are not direct producers, or even stock-keepers. However, the enterprise of our Fairlie friends was fully rewarded, and their example is worthy of emulation. "Let us join hands in congratnlating Messrs West and Mahoney, but we must also warn our cousins at Fairlie to bear in mind that we intend to compete against them next year, when, no doubt, their show will be even better than it was this season, notwithstanding the gratifying success that attended it on the occasion of its inauguration. The Crops. — Harvest being over, threshing is new the grain producer's serious concern^ and a very serious business it is, too, the weather being most treacherous, stocks none too safe, paddocks terribly soft, and, to crown all, prices next to ruinous. The same remarks apply to the large yields. Threshing this year would certainly have been a troublesome job, or rather the means to get that important part of the industry nroperly carried out, had it not ■ been for the foresight and enterprise of Mr A. C. Thompson, who introduced into the midst of the Settlement a new threshing plant', which will prove a great boon to those anxious to get their produce more secure than standing in stook under such unfavourable surroundings as is the case this season. Very good yielda are registered, over 50 bushels of wheat and 75 of oats to the acre. i Valedictory. — One of our oldest settlers has ; at last decided on taking a holiday, deservedly earned by over 30 years' hard work. Quite a stir was occasioned in the district last week when Mr Richard Irving's intention became known, and a movement was at once initiated to give him .a fitting send-off. Accordingly it was -arranged to banquet him on Saturday evening, prior to hfs leaving to join some_old friends in the south, including his'brother-in- ! law (Mr Young), who 1 intend visiting the o!d country during its show season. About. 50 sat' down to- the complimentary dinner tendered to Mr Irving, and a large number of apologies' 4 were received from gentlemen who- were unable to be present. It was freely stated that had it not been for the short notice Mr Irving gave his friends, the bad state of the weather, and several other important fixtures interfering, the attendance would have boen very considerable indeed. On proposing the toast of the evening, the Chairman* was loudly applauded when he referred to the great interest their guest had ever evinced in the well-being of the district, especially from an agricultural pnd pastoral point of view. He expressed the hope that Mr Irving would be spared to return to give them the benefit of his visits to the shows of the old country from a farmer's standpoint, and Jifl trusted that '{heir guest would have the good fortune of seeing the most successful Royal show yet held at Home, for in that way the settlers would reap the full advan- ■ tage of the experience gained by him. A more" enterprising farmer or keen, observer of things in. general than Mr Irving it would be hard to | find in any district, and though of the most unobtrusive nature, nobody sought advice from him in vain. Needless to say, the toast of ■'The Gnest of the Evening" was drunk in bumpers, with musical honours.