TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2451, 6 March 1901, Page 29

TAPANUI.

March 4. — M^rch is keeping up the record of the past few months for broken weather, and the past week has been a stern reminder that winter is approaching once again. Yesterday was a first-class sample of a midwinter day, and quite out of keeping with the fields of ripe grain awaiting the binder. A fortnight's sunshine would be appreciated by the farmers, and harvest work would go on at top speed.

Court. — The February sitting of the Magistrate's Court here was, I think, a record one for the amount of litigation produced, and there was quite a numerous gathering of the legal fraternity. The sly grog-selling cases, of course, created considerable interest, and there are further informations for this month's sitting. In the charge against Mr Watson Shennan by the Stock department for failing to destroy rabbits to the inspector's satisfaction, and for which Mr Shennan was fined £25, the magistrate stated that a strong defence had been made, and wrote off a £10 "smart" that was added to the above amount at the close of the case of the prosecution. Jt is a peculiar law that provide" for a man being fined before his side of the cas.e has been heard, but this is apparently the meaning of the Rabbit 4.ct. If the inspectors bring an action, it is almost useless to bring evidence against them, and from the statements made in the above case for the defence, it seemed that a most systematic plan of destruction was carried on all the year round. Time did not allow of all the court work being got through after sitting from 3 o'clock on Monday after;noon until 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening, and there is every prospect of a large business sheet on the 19th inst., when the court will sit at 10 a.m.

Volunteers. — Our volunteers are doing well, and axe now provided with their uniforms, and only await such additions as leggings, belts, rifle slings, etc., but the Defence department must not be hurried, and no doubt all the accoutrements will come to hand in due time. Ser-geant-major Buchanan paid another two-days' visit, and did good work, and the officers are now also sufficiently advanced to put the company through drill. At volley-firing under Sergeant-major Buchanan the men did good work, and on Saturday afternoon a shooting match took place at the range between teams selected by Captain Rodger and Lieutenant Mackie — 13 men aside. The scores resulted in the letter's team winning with 198 points against 188. Some really good shooting was made, and for the winning side Lieutenant Mackie and Volunteer Lavender each registered four bulls and an inner out of five shots, thus securing within 1 point of the possible. Before long I expect to see a good team of shots ready to compete with outside companies, and some interesting matches should result. I hear that the attempt to form a company of mounted rifles at Kelso is not to be abandoned, and the men will be sworn in at an early date.

Medical. — We have had a change of medical in en lately. Dr Robertson has taken over Dr de Lautour's practice, the latter going to Dunedin to start. Dr de Lautour has spent 12 years here, and did good work fc the Oddfellows' Lodge, the medical work for which his successor takes over on a sound footing. Mr Wrensted, formerly chemist here, and who has been in business in Western Australia for some four years past, has returned agam, and I hear intends opening a, chemist's shop. This is a want that is keenly felt in the district, and I have no doubt Mr Wrensted will soon work up a business. 4- Railway. — A start has been made with the "Heriot railway extension, Mr Jas. Bennet, M.H.R. for Tuapeka, turning the first sod on Wednesday last. According to Mr Bennet, it is not yet definitely decided where the terminus will be, but it is generally expected the line will be carried to a point somewhere near Mr John Edie's property. Scarcity of labour will mean slow progress in the meantime, but when harvesting is completed, men should be available. The work is to be carried on under the co-operative system. Borough "Works. — Sabstituting concrete for wooden kerbings and asphalting is being carTied on in the main street, and the appearance of our principal thoroughfare is being greatly improved. Presentations. — A handsome collection of presents, exhibited in Mr R. O. Rodgers's window for some days, was forwarded to Mr and Mrs R. J. Hendrie last week. During ha& t<rm of manager at Brookedale station Mr Hendrie gained many friends in the district, and on his departure to take the management of a station near Maheno, it was decided to make some substantial recognition of his qualities as a neighbour and leading man in sporting and social matters. The result was a handsome illuminated address, with the names of subscribers attached a large oak tray suitably inscribed (a very handsome article), two silver vegetable dishes, and a pipe ; together with a toilet set to Mrs Hendrie. Mrs Hendrie for some years past took a leading part in social matters, and both Mr and Mrs Hendrie are missed from the district. The employees of BrSoks^ale station also presented Mr Hendrie with a massive gold albert an<l Maltese cross, suit-ably inscribed.Last week the Crookston residents accorded Trooper Wm. Stewart a social, and during the evening he was the recipient of a go l^ a'brrt and pendant, also a set of gold studs and sleeve links. The social was a great success, and the ladies took an active part. Mr David Fleming (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and a lengthy programme of musical items, solos, etc., was gone through. ■Flying the Colours.— At Kelso and Heriot are

now to be seen lofty flag poles, for which flags were presented by Mr J. F. Herbert (of Ardmore), and the unfurling ceremonies took place on Saturday last. Some energetic citizen should present a flag, and keep Tapanui school abreast of the times. There appears every chance of the High School here becoming an accomplished fact, and this should tend to increase the status of the school.

Scholastic. — Miss Mfrgaret M'Gregor, at present at Miller's Flat, has been selected by the Tapanui School Committee for the position of assistant teacher out of 15 applicants.