LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 33

LUMSDEN.

September 9.— With the exception oi one or two nights' hard frost, the weather is still all that could be desned, and agriculturists are having a capital opportunity for getting their land tilled and seeds sown. I heai there are very few f aimers about, here going in for wheatgrowing, oats being more suitable to our soil and climatic influences.

School Committee. — At the monthly meeting of this body a lot of business was got through. The works and vi&itmg committees' reports weie very satisfactory. Plans of a lavatory foi the use of the pupils, which were prepared by the head teacher, were submitted to the committee, and approved of. It was resolved to forward the plans to the Education Boaid, with an application for a grant towards helping the committee to carry cut this necessary work. When all the impiovements that are being carried out around the school are completed it will make things very comfortable for the school staff and their pupils. The head teacher's monthly report was submitted, and shewed the school to be making most satisfactoiy progress, the attendance for the month being a record one for Lumsden.

Oddfellowship. — A social in connection with our local lodge was held in the Public Hall on Friday evening, 7th inst. Each member had the privilege of inviting two ladies and one male friend, and. needless to say the privilege was taken full advantage of, the hall being crowded to excess, especially the dancing floor, which looked more like a packed sheepyard at shearing time, so that dsiicing with any degree of comfort was out of the qtiesion. I think the lodge members will now see the urgent necessity of providing sufficient accommodation for themselves and their friends who are_ invited to the social and annual gatherings of the ordei. Indeed, I maintain that officeis or managing committee have no right to induce an unlimited numbei to attend these functions unless they are provided with at least a reasonable amount of comfort and convenience. However, *fchis gathering was a. grept success, each and all enjoying themselves heartily. I may here state that the lodge numerically, and of course financially, is progiessing by leaps and bounds. Fifteen candidates were booked for initiation last lodge night, and more to follow.

September 15. — The weathei being an everyday topic, I cannot but refer to it as being phenomenal. The birds are treating us to their morning songs, and the warmth and moisture of the atmosphere is making vegetation weeks ahead of anything we have seen at this time of year on any foimex occasion.

Agricultural.— lt is surprising to the unlearned in such matters to see the quantity of work that oau be got through in a short time

by ineii when they make up their minds to d^ it. There are hundreds (I may say thousands) of acres sown and being sown throughout tnjiO district. The earlier sown grain is up abova the ground, and looking well, and with t}io X^rospect of oats at 2s per bushel during thef coming season, the farmers and croppers a]> - parently have a very bright future before thein',T Longridge. — Land settlement is coming; nearer and nearer to us. The Lpngridgq 1 homestead has been disposed of by the New Zealand Agricultural Cornx>any, Mr Paul Barret, late of Wendon, being the purchaser, at a figure, I believe, satisfactory to both seller and Ijtiyer.

Railways. — The traffic stpff of the Railway department appears to have had a very jjusy time of it for a considerable time -past. Enormous quantities of dredging material and other good", aie x^assing through here daily, and considering the limited yard room at the disposal of the officer m charge it is really surprising to note how well the time table is being adhered to. Mr Aldridga seems to know his work, and does it well.

Westwaid Ho!— The tourist season will soon, be round again, and a great business m theglobe trotter line is expected to be done this year. All those concerned seem to have every thing in apple-pie order. I venture to say that our hotel accommodation could not be surI>assed in any inland town in New Zealand; and the fact of the line of coaches (mails and passengers; being under the proprietorship ot Mrs Crosbie and Sons is quite sufficient to answer for its efficiency and good management as has been proven for the x^ast eight years. >