LUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 31

LUNTROON.

February 7.— The weather took quite a change last evening. After three weeks of hot diy wea-ther we had some veiy heavy showers Id had been thundering all day around the hills, but it did not reach us beiore night. At 30 p.m. very heavy thunder, with vivid lightning, was heard, and the ram fell heavily at intervals throughout the early pait of the night. The rain was veiy welcome, ar- it was miwn noeded. Nearlj all the tanks were da-y, the grass and turnips wert drying up, bnd food was very scarce.

Harvest.— Most of the raping is finished here now, and farmery are expecting to start the stacking process on Monday should the woather keep fine. A few stacks aie to be ».en new. This haivest gives prc-miso of p bo;i?:tiful return, but we shall have to wait till the t-hiesher has handled the crops before we can. know the result. AM the wheat paddocks havo stooked up well. Ihe oats appear not to ho so good as the wheat, but still I think they should yield a fair average. V^ry little barley has been, grown hero this season. Lien are not too plentiful in the district, some farmers having offered Is per hour and feed, ICd being the regular price this season. The lambs seem to be fattening weil this season, as large numbers are being drafted off to the freezing works every othea* week

Picnic. — The Oamaru united trades pu-nio was hekl here on January 28. The day was fine, and two trains from Oamiru came up with 1400 adults, besides children. Three bands v.-eie-m attendance — the Garrison, Citizens', and the North Otago Pipers. The tiauis readied here about 11 a.m., and I do not think there was 1 ever such a crowd m Duntroon before. The picnickers won bpgan to leave the township for the spoits ground, which had been kindly lent by the Caledonian Society for the day. The eight poitablc boilers which were ready were soon emptied, and after everyone hacl been satisfied the sports and ftm commenced. Races, etc, were kept going from 12 neon till a little after 4 p.m. About Una time a fewspots of ram fell, but not enough to even damp one. A large number of the local residents were present, but fa most of the farmeis were busy with harvest only about one quaiter of the "locals" were able to turn out for the gala &\y. The Caledonian Society carted the water (800 gallons) free. At the conclusion of the picnic and sports, the officials and a number of visitors assembled to hear the wind-up. MiBee, the president, said that before separating he had a duty to perform. But, first, he would: like to express, on behalf of himself and those present, the sincere sympathy they all felt for their neighbours, who had recently been bereaved. He alluded to the family who bad recently lost a child at Xurow, and also to the relations of the late Mr Donald Simpson, of Otiake. He had! known Mi Simpson for many years : he was a colonist of the first water, and had) he still been alive they would have had him with them that day; but as he had passed away, it was only right to remembei one who had teen so well and favourably known. Coming to a more pleasant topic, Mr Bee &aid he wished to heartily thank Mrs Francis, Mr M'Bean, and tho Duntroon Caledonian Society for placing then- splerdid gTouncls at the committee's disposal. He would h'<-e also to thank the Duntroon people gcneraT"y, and to assure them all that he would only be too happy to reciprocate their great kindness. The stationmaster, too, ■was entitled to be remembered) for his services to them that day. There were many otheva whom he could not name, but he thanked all those who assisted them, and called for three cheers for the people of Duntroon, wmeh ?«ere heartily given. His Woislup the Mayor of Oamaru (Mr J. M. Brown) added a few words of thanks to the Duntroon folk, his speech. beiii<r on the same lines as that of thei fiist speaker. The Mavoi called for three cheers for Mi Frith and the cffirials, which were lv-tiiy frivt-n. Mr Frith was also asked to ""•"t. biit L.& remarked that ai» the ether, two

speakers had "taken his say away" he would merely say "Amea" to what Iliad been said. Cheers were once more given for the presid?.it and others, andl this brought a very pleasant day to a close here.