LAKE HAWEA

Otago Witness, Issue 2506, 2 April 1902, Page 32

LAKE HAWEA

March 17. — The greatei portion of the reaping and stooking has now been completed here, and some stacking lias been done. Yesterday ■we experienced a very stiong wind from tho north, which at times came with terrific force, and almost amounted to a gale. Some of the paddocks that are now ripe and remaining uncut will, I am airaid, suffer in consequence. Ham fell during the night, and continued with unremitting force u.itil morning. This has been, indeed, an unprecedented sct^on for rain. ; At the present timo we could afford to diS- : pense with further ctoviiif sills until after the 1 crops are all safely stacked. This will occupy anothei month. J Threshing.— Messrs Henderson and Gray's threihiDg millb are both at woik in the out- j lying diat-ictF, only one paddock of oat= having as yei been threshed locally, yielding 60 bushels of good quality per acre. The limited area 1 of the wheat ciop is very noticeable- this season. This is no doubt due to ths prolonged • and continued depression in the price of this | vereal, farmers finding that it pay& much better . to grow oats. A sud-deu rise has, however, ' tyken place, and no difficulty should be ex- ' ponenced m getting 3s 6d for all good milling ■ lines here. Oats will also be a little firmer . than last season, and can ba easily placed. SVith regard to barley, I regret to say that although we have grown and can show some of the finest samples- produced :n the colony, the difficulty lies iv getting a market, which, up to the present, is practically nil. If iailway communication were but established, ] Hawea would be found to occupy a foremost • place in the rnatkets for geneial produce, and if not excel, would equal and compare favourably with many of the best farming districts in the provinces. Otago Central Railway. — While speaking of railway communication, I cannot refrain from here referring to the apathy and injustice shown by successive Governments in the non-comple-tion cf the Otago Central line. As a matter of fact, the majority of farmers here made their selections believing that this railway would have reached here years ago. I would ask ou the face of this, Is it justice to expect the settlers and pioneers of this place to produce ' and compete with districts served by rail? The matter of freight alone is a sufficient answer to this question For every ton of goods j brought from Dunedin to here the cost is from £6 10s to £8, varying according to route ] and means employed for transit. I maintain it is, therefore, the duly of the Government to provide for removing to some extent, at lea3t, the intolerable pressure which has to be borne by the inhabitants of the interior in th:3 direction. The speedy construction of the line is, of course, the solution of the evil, but as so mahj' are now despairing that they will not ] live to see the completion at the present Tatc j of progress, I would strongly advocate a vigorous prosecution cf Thompson's Gorge road. If this work was finished and the terminus of the Tailway at Ophir, it would afford an outlet for this district until the hue reached Crom- | ■well, and thus make it possible tc- arrive at Dunedin in one day. I trust Mr Fraser, our ' mamber, will favour us with a visit at an ' early date, and give us hope of this needful and important woTk becoming an accomplished fact. I say needful and important, inasmuch as it would afford a medium for the extermination of the rabbit pest by allowmc buyers for

freezing as well as skins to conveniently reach the district, and also enable numerous families to procure remunerative employment on their own homesteads. Netting in many cases could be dispensed with in the closer settlement by the creation of a demand for the carcase, and keener competition for skins through the influx of buyers, who would reach here from the facilities given by this new route. Apart from this, we have annual visitations from sportsmen and tourists alike, and I am sure were it kno\jji that this locality, with its natural and beautiful resorts for deer-shooting, fishing, etc., etc., was within a day's travel from Dunedin, the number would be largely increased. These are only a few of the advantages to be obtained, and now, after years of long and weary expectancy, we are still denied the assurance of the early completion of the railway; but we trust that at least th:3 road may receive the prompt and earnest consideration of the Government. The Vice-regal Visit.— His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly, accompanied by Lady Banfurly and suite, visited this district on the 14th ult. It is to be regretted that no official notice of their coming was made known tc the residents. This was particularly unfortunate, in missing a chance of bringing matters of public interest before his Excellency and discussing same with him. Education. — Inspectors Fitzgerald ar.d Richardson have been inspecting the venous schools in this district during the past week. lam airaid the rainy weather has interfered with the attendance at several. Medical.— The late and much-lamented death of Mrs Samuel John comes as another and great reminder of our urgent need of having a medical man resident vrith us. If skilled aid had been available the probabilities are that, in this case, as in others, valued lives might have been spared us. This is a matter which should command the attention of every resident in this -wide district, and make it an object -worthy of the deepest consideration, and allow of no rest until attained. I understand the Government has granted a subsidy of .£IOO for this purpose. It should not, therefore, be a difficult matter to supplement this amount to a sufficient extent to secure the services of a qualified medical practitioner. Wedding. — A wedding was solemnised here en the 30th ult.. the contracting partie= being James Haugh, eldest son of Mr James Haugh, farmer, Lower Wanaka (Forks), to Miss Lavinia Pipson, daughter of Mr C. Pipson, Makarora. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. D. Mitchell, Church of England minister. Death. — It is my painful duty, in closing, to record yet another death, that of the two-year-old daughter of Mr Duncan M'Lennan, farmer, of this place, who succumbed to a severe sunstroke, or heat apoplexy. Dr Morris, v/ho -was summoned from Cromwell, a distance of 35 miles, gave but faint hope of the little sufferer's recovery. She, however, improved for a time, and hopes were entertained of her ultimate recovery, but a relapse set in, and terminated as above. Much sympathy is expressed for the parents in their bereavement.