CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 45

CLYDE.

May 2. — The autumnal tints of the fading foliage of our deciduous tree 3 are most varied and very beautiful. The Lcmbardy poplar trees scattered over the district look really handsome in their warm golden autumnal vesture, and add a splendour to the landscape which too soon, alas, must feel the cold and unsympathetic winds, before which so much of the glory of nature must fade into nothingness.

Death. — Samuel Byford, an old miner, aged 85, a native of Wisbisch, Ergland, died at tiio Dunstan Hospital on Tuesday last. Deceased, who had been brought xip to a seafaring life, spent a long period of his youth upon an Indian merchantman, and many were the

stories he would relate of hairbreadth escape 1 ? from impending death by land a."d Fea. A story which he told this scr;be may bear retelling. While his ship was moored in an Bast Indian harbour cholera claimed his companions one by on*, until but three, including Byford, remained, the captain havine; also joined the majority. Hundreds of bodies of dead natives floated in the harbour, and ihe ebb and flow of the tide carried many of them r^ainst the ship's prow and her mooring < hams. Byfoid wit told off to keep +he bodies < >ar of the vessel — not a pleasant undertakirg. ' ertainly. During three months Byford and 1 is companions lived aboard ship in the midst ' f the most revolting surroundings, but were

'nally rescued by a party of British blue'ckets, who forced them to abandon the ship ••d take a paesaee on the man-o'-war for Cal-

■ltta. When on board the warshin, Brford »w the gun^ turned towards his late asylum.

• hich was soon rent with round shot and sunk ft her anchorage. The warshiD was soon under -"ay, but ere the darkness of night fell over the deep the stately vessel wai struck by a hurricane and became a helnless wreck, from which only Byford and on« bluejack?t escaped with their Hves. The deceased was of Viking stature and characteristics, and all his instincts were of the eea and sr-a life.

FRUITGROWERS' MEETING,

A meeting of fruitgrowers of the Alexandra and Clyde districts was held in the Fjamsrleugh Schoolhou=e on Thursday evening last 'or ihe puroose of considering questions effectHe the industry, and to discuss ths advina-

:l iJy of deputing two representative fruit--owers to wait upoi Sir Jo>=«t>li Ward. Minip»r of Railways, when he pays his intended

"it to Central Otago, i.i order to lay beto him a true statement of the disabilities -uitgrowers labour under through lack of rail-

ay communication. Mr Sheehy was voted t the chair, and briefly explained the ohccts of the meeting. There -were, he stated, vordy attempts to star the further progress of the railway, and a manifest desire on <he part of picnicking politicians to make Ophir the terminus to the Otapo Central Railway for some time to come. Were such a thing done, it would mean that fruitgrower's in the Molyneux Valley reed not p-tn^ct to be relieved of the handicap that has burdened them for years in oomT>tipg with fruitgrowers in Nelson and the North Island. Nor^h Islanders were fully alive to the fact that th<> Molyneux Valley was capable of producing fruits of far higher excellence than could possibly be raised in the most favoured districts of the North Island, -where a glaring sunshine made it next to impossiblp to -perfect or mature the apricot. It might with truth be •■.aid that the Molyneux Valley po-?s»S6ec( all The conditions requisite in perfecting stone fruit. It -was a knowledge of the capabilities of our district which, obviously, nettled North Islanders into opposing the further construction of the Otago Central Railway. Mr Fov/lds, M.H.R. for Grey Lynn, knew Foniething about fruitgrowing, otherwise he would not have accompanied the Commission that vras appointed to report upon the fffects of spraying diseased trees at the experimental orchards in the North Island. Faying a knowledge of his own district, he Tomes to ours on a holiday tour, and is astounded at •'ts possibilities. He, however, notes tho disabilities we labour under, and by whiob our ■iidustry is paralysed beyond poHsibi'uy of ••nlargement. "So longr as our industry regains in a languishing state 'h? town* along '"" seaboard must perforce supnlv ready markets for the fruits of the North " Island ; but once let the Otago Central Railway tap this Molyneux Vallry and tho=<? markets are lost to us." Mr Fovrlds's thoughts niUFt have run in such a groove as that, and then he conceived the brilliant idea of telling tho newspapers that it was obwrl to earn the Otasjo Central Railway auv fsrth.fr. What ro!oss*al impudence! Mt Hordman. M.H.R. for Mount Ida, our neiphbruung electorate, is now also a resident of the North Island. Mr Herdman affects an mterestedness in our welfare, and would liavc us practise economy, with a -view to realising the efficacy of poverty. To Mr Herdman's poltical youth and inesepriecce may Tie attributed this elegant manner of reasoring. What the fruitgrowers of this favoured locality require is railway communication. We have no fear as to the future if the railway is pushed to our doors, ror have we fear of competing with fruits in all the best markets of thw celony a-tid England. Mt Iversen moved— "That the Her. the Minister of Lands be written to pointing out to him the many disabilities th« fniitgrowris of the Alexecdra and Dunstan distiicts labour under through lack of railway con->rmiT>ieat:on, and that the Minister be asked to make ererv effort to hare the Otajro Central railway pushed -«n to the Molyneux Valley.' In speaking to his motion, Mr Iversen remarked upon the unreasonableness of the present opposition to the further extension of the railway. It was sot at all probable that such opposition would carry weight with .the Government of the day. For years past the fruitgrowers bore, up under their handicap, belicvirg that the railway would one day relieve them of their great burden. That day is long a-conmig, but come it assuredly will in the near future. There •re now many youwr peonle going in for fruitgrowing, knowing the railway is at hand. If ihe question of extending the railwny to Alexandra and Clyde were definitely decided many more would acquire small holdings for th<* purpose of raising fruit. Thf very undecided question of extension was hindering settlement din the Molyneux Valley. Ilie Government should make some authoritative statement about the matter, -bo that the present feeling of unrest might bs -quieted

Mr Dawson seconded tho motion, and it was carried.

Mr Noble moved— "Thnt in the event of the Minister of Railways making hia intended tour of Central Otago at some near future date, this meeting depute Messrs Iversen and Dawson to interview the Minister, to urge upon him the great necessity of forwarding '.he construction cf the Otago Central railway to tho Molyneux Valley." Seconded by Mr Lyt Bow. and carried. i^a^iKv flic^nmiinrn. t*"*"^ £la.CQ aH£nt UIQ

good achieved by the Government pomologists •who visit these districts. Mr Noble said he was always interested in Mr Blackmore's visits. Personally he had received much valuable instruction from Mr Blackmore. The one regrettable thing in connection with Mr Blackmore's visits was their infrequency.

Mr Iversen agreed with what Mr Noble had said regarding Mr Blackmore's abilities, and also as to the long intervals between his visits to those districts, and his brief stay on the occasion of such visits. It was impossible that one man should perform the duties of pomologist in the provinces of Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago honestly. We in Otago required the services of a pomolcgist for duty in this province alone. Such an expert might be stationed at Dunedin, and pay bi-monthly visits to the centres of fruitgrowing. In the meantime the secretary of the Lands Department should bs asked to authorise an expert to visit this district, and make a stay of a fortnight here, and deliver lectures on fruit culture in Clyde and Alexandra. Mr Iversen moved accordingly, and Mr Noble seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Daweon moved — "That the next meeting of fruitgrowers be held at Clyde, on a date to be fixed by the chairman. — Carried.

A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.