ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY).

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 34

ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY).

July 20. — The July fog has been with us in an unmistakable manner since" the advent of the month. Nevertheless, remembering the season, the weather cannot reasonably be complained: ~of. Our fields and broad acres are again draped in an unwelcome mantle of snow' to the depth of several inches. This is the third fall ol snow experienced this year, but with -the lengthening of the days, spring will soon be upon us. Stock. — Notwithstanding the plentiful feed, it cannot be said that' sheep' have been doing more than fairly well, and in some cases they have not picked up s6 well as might have been expected, from the care taken and the feed given them. This is no doubt due in some measure to the unusual softness of feed generally, and also to the steady growth, of the preponderance of culls that the flocks, especially the ever-changing lots, are becoming composed of. The question of the supplementing of the now depleted flocKs in the spring is receiving considerable thought at present, and many are of opinion that backward store sheep will be got much cheaper in the spring than would be the case if bought now and carried on. In making these calculations, the fact should not be lost sight of that in buying lines of s-tores in spring care must be taken that the lack cf condition is not due more to the ill-doing disposition of the sheep through the best of the f ocks having been fattened and turned off, a mode of procedure that has perhaps been so often lesorted to that in some cases nothing 'nit illdoing rank culls remain. Sale Yards. — Consequent upon a good sf.i^on, the directors have decided on further improving the property of the company, and to further cater for support by considering the convenience of the frequenters and patronisers of their yards. Sales are held every fourth Monday, and they are fast becoming very popular, and bid fair ere lopg -to prove second to no others in South Canterbury. Even now it is freely admitted that they hold premier place for the high quality of the yardings, particularly those of sheep, and it only requires the owenrs of the large, good-quality lots of stock to hold their produce for the sales to .command the keenest competition, which' guarantees the highest price.

Schools. — Since our schools play such an important part in the uplifting and training of, the rising generation, a word in passing may not be out of place. - The* last few months have been rather trying for the teachers. Strong representations were made by a number of country committees last year that the fixing of tho annual examinations for either late winter or early spring was anything but fair to the schools affected, as they were taken at a great disadvantage consequent on the naturally irregular attendance of a number of the scholars, owin<* to impassable roads, swollen cieeks, and other unavoidable circumstances. Q'he governing body in its collective wisdom deemed it advisable to ignore these representations, and adhere to the former dates, which meant calling on teachers to again face the disadvantages complained of. Of course the authorities look for as good results as though all the scholars -were working on the same footing, which certainly *is not just to the country schools. To augment these troubles in the case of our three local dominies, considerable interruptions have occurred on account of the prevalence of measles and other ailments, which is very regrettable on the eve of the examinations to be held next month.

Football. — Aftei several failures on the pait of our footballers to rally round their skipper, Mr Hart had the pleasure of talcing a full team on to the Timaru field last week, and the gratification of leaving the field victorious. This, when it is considered that the Timaruvians had previously held an unbeaten record for the season, is certainly a feather in our cap. They undoubtedly played a surprisingly good game, and at no time during the match did they appear to lack full confidence in their ability to hold their own, however hard they might momentarily be pressed, which very seldom "occurred except during the first and last five minutes of the game. For the forwards Messrs Rutherford, Stevens, Campbell, and M'Kay played the game faultlessly; and as backs, Hart, Simpson, and Polhill were too good for their opponents. The visitors report that they were -treated unexeeptionably by their town friends. Mr M'Robie acted efficiently as referee.