LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 33

LAKE WANAKA.

September 4. — The weather still continiiea fine, though there are indications of a change. Although the spring came in a fortnight earlier than usual, the, deciduous trees seem to be coming into leaf at- the usual time. The weeping ■willows come into bud first, and remain in leaf the longest of the deciduous trees. The Clutha River is at its usual height. Owing to the fine ■winter, stock are in tine condition.

Accident. — The absence of a medical man is sometimes severely felt. A month or two back Mr Joel Cayford (of Hawea) was shoeing a restless horse, which trod on his foot and lamed him. He was laid up for a v/eek or two, and as soon as lie got about again he had ia hand another fractious horse, whicli, in some way, jammed him against the forge, and partly, lay on him, with the result that Mr Cayford was severely strained, and J3r Morris, whose sei vices were requisitioned, advised him to go to the "hospital lam glad to sny he is now progressing favourably.— Mr Robeit H. Norman had a bad turn the other day, to describe which it is necessary to go back a year or two and say that when he entered into possession of the Albert Hotel, h? still kept on his business of carting. One day, while loading up some heavy timber on the beach at Pembroke, his feel slipped in the gravel, and the piece of tmabe. on his shoulder coming down with extra weight jerked his chest in, causing a severe strain, with hcemorrhage at intervals. This was &o ■weakening that he had to give up the carting. Three medical men expressed the opinion that in time this would cease, and he would be as ■wfill as ever. The constitution being thus temporarily reduced, other discomforts followed, including a severe -attack of asthma on one occasion. Lately a cold resulted in inability to sleep and to eat for a week, and delirium ensued. Di Morris being appealed to for advice through the telephone, decided to come up at once, iand reached Albertown about midnight on Thursday week last. The doctor took a lot of trouble with the case, but it was several Lours before the opiates he administered acted, and then the result was fifteen hours' sleep, from which, and the fact that Dr Morris diagnosed the ailment as inflammation of the brain, it may be seen that Mr Norman has had a providential escape. The patient ie now progressing very satisfactorily. The best side oi human nature always appears brightest duiing severe illnesses. The kind expressions of sympathy - and the practical help and assistance given with such a hearty good will in the present case will always remain bright and gicen in the memory of those interested.

Irrigation. — Messrs Jolm Miller and Sons, 01 Branch Creek, near Cardrona, have lately "bought the farm, of about 700 acres, at Mount Barker, lately in the occupation of Mr John Kane. Messrs Miller and two other farmers of Mount Barker are going into an irrigation scheme, the object being to lift water out of the Cardrona River. This will probably be a liighly successful undertaking, judging by the success of the irrigation schemes now in existence in the district, of which I shall give details in the future.

Queensberry. — I notice a Queensberry resident ■disputes the correctness of tome of my statements in reference to the school theie. I am still assured that my statements are correct. He says the board did not direct the parents to assist the teacher in controlling the children. If he will send a copy of the board's letter to the editor for publication, I shall accept his statement as correct. Ido not understand what "he means about the committee deciding that the teacher should board where there are no school children. I shall ask him to publish the minutes in the committee's book "bearing on the matter. These are public documents, and are available to the public to make extracts. I know that it sometimes happens in country places that the opinion prevails thai it would be advantageous if the, teacher boarded ■where there are no children attending school. It also sometimes happens that fault is found •with the teacher for inflicting just and proper punishment on the children, and I know of one teacher who ascribed her partial failure to this cause. School committees ought to read the 36th chapter in " Martin Chuzzlewit," particularly the part where Tom Pinch dresses down the brass and copper founder. A school committee is a public body, and, as such, is amenable to a little friendly criticism. Without a doubt, the Queensberry people have erred in not electing a committee every year, and laying "before the householders the details of the previous year's workings. They likewise erred in not accepting the board's u&ual invitation to ■wait on the inspector 011 his annual visit to ventilate their grievance, when some satisfactory arrangement might have been made. 1 notice a letter signed " Nether-Hawea," which is such an ill-natured production that at first sight I thought of ignoring it, but for its libel an Mr and Mrs M'Leod. Mr M'Leod was to be the- judge of our M.I.S. breach of promise case, and we congratulated ourselves on his acquisition.' Several days before the " trial," we were informed that on driving home in the dark in Ms dog cart, he collided with Mr A. Wilson's fence, and he and Mrs M'Leod were thrown out, and Mr M'Leod' s face was badly scratched, ■while Mrs M'Leod escaped. In consequence 01 this mishap we were told that Mr M'Leod ,-would be unable to act. I suggested that as the [people knew of the details of. Mr M'Leod's accident, and sympathised with him, a cut face should not debar him, if otherwise able, frorr acting as judge ; and I understand Mr M'Leo * ■was waited on with this suggestion, but he was .■unable to put in an appearance; and at the eleventh hour Mr Monteith undertook to act. Since then, Mr A. Wilson remarked to me that ,the corner of his paddock went into the old arbad, and he was sorry Mr M'Leod collided with it, and it was unfoitunate, as it was only a •Jtew yards from Mr M'Leod's residence. I have every reason to believe that tho pig and eel story was correct in all its details. I* meant this par for fishermen, anglers, naturalists, etc. If " Nether-Hawea " had his nose between the jaws of ao eel while ifc was in the throes of

death he would be able to understand how a 30lb eel could take a, pig's foot in its mouth and so severely lacerate it as to cripple the pig for days.

Natural History Incidents. — Out of the way incidents are always interesting. This reminds me that my neighbour's Cochin China fowls suddenly started to laid all the sparrows' nests m his clump of pmns insignia trees. While some would be in the trees tearing the nests down, another lot would be on the ground "waiting for young sparrows that would fall. A friend at Pembroke told me he once saw a lot of pigs put mto an orchard to eat up the windfalls. The wise old poikers soon found oub a good thing, ior they used to run full tilt a I a tiee to shake down more fruit, while vhe wnrg ones stood by ready to gather some of the spoil. It is an interesting sight to watch, cattle in the bush sometimes breaking down broadleaf trees for feed. A big bullock will run his horn along a branch to get the end of it within hij reach, and then, perhaps, he will stand astiido it to browse off the leafy end. Perhaps he viJl move backwards along the mam branch to get the side branches. A number of calves or yeailmgs will follow him up in order to ba able to reap some of the benefits of his ingenuity and industry.