TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 35

TAPANUI.

Deeembar 12. — The weather of the past few | -weeks can hardly be described as seasonable, and the last few aays have been anything but pleasant. Yesterday morning very heavy rain iell, and it is to be hoped that this downfall will clear the. way for a spell of something like summer. It can on.y be said that so tar we have had occasional " growing ' days, and gardeners' complain that is very slow. On top of this a very severe frost one night last week cut down a good few of the earlypotato patches. Previous frosts also appreciably reduced what promised to- be an unusually good fruit crop, and some varieties of apples were completely nipped. Grain crops appear to be doing weil, and a month's genial weather, with occasional showers wou.d make a wonderful diilerence m the face o£ the country. Shearing. — Farmers and stations are now well advanced in, this work, and some of the farmers have shorn and so.d their wool. By the end of this month farmers' lots will be finished — that is, ot course, if the weather permits, — and there is general satisfaction at the good prices ruling for wool this season. For the past few years the price of wool has not been encouraging, but tnerc can be no complaint on that score this season, and agents are tumbling over one anothei m the hunt for wool. Tha grower who is content with the price offered by ground purchasers can quickly realise on his ciip without risking the bigger markets on the chance of a. slightly advanced price. Shearers do not seem to have much difficulty in getting work, and there <toes not appear to be anything like the number of men loUowing up tile game as compared with years gone by. Show.— The annual show last week proved another successful gathering, but was spoiled in the afternoon by a heavy ctownpour ot rain. Ine judging of the popular classes had just commenced when the* rain set in, and spectators unpiovided with overcoats and umbrellas had an uncomfortable time, the grand stand, which is only a small structure, being too small to accommodate many people. However, the programme was gone through to a finish, and the final competitions, in the shape of polo laces and jumping, created a lot oi 1 interest. Taken all through, the show was an advance on previous years, and, notwithstanding the implement combine, there was an advance in entries. The dairy produce mada a fine display, and very high quality prevailed throughout" Bread, cake, and butter were paiticularly good exhibits, and the liberal prizes offered a.re having the desired effect. Now that the club is in a stiong financial position some effort sLou'd be made to improve the show| ring — whether by excavation or levelling up as the committee decide upon. The present ring, at all events, requires to be improved upon, and otherwise the show ground is now in good order.

Circus. — On show, night Fitzgelard Bros.' ciicus and menagerie gave an exhibition in a paddock on the town b<mndad-y. I>espite the wet night there was a good attendance, and the 3s side of the tent was closely packed. With fine weather there would have been a z owJled "' house." There are some fine animals

-v f'ae menagerie, though the collection is not latuierous Of the circus performance, it must be sdid theie are some interesting features, including the trapeze items, bicycle riding, raid trained dogs. Though there was plenty of the comic, element supplied by the clowns, there was nothing very original in their performance that might call for special mention. The JapaiiPse wrestlers were looked for eagerly, and the apparently ferocious bouts were watched with great interest. These sturdy fellows are quick on their legs, and went at f-ne another yi a very businesslike maimec. But it can hardly ba said tlxat^here was anything of an educational character in the exhibition, anci many would have preferred to see the men take holds quietly and prove the stronger of the two instead of the pantherhke springing and slapping. However, it shows the enterprise of the Fitzgerald Brothers to bring cwt a 'team of, men at great expense to show us how the Japanese conduct their siport. The

circus arrived by special train on Friday morning, and before daylight on Saturday morning was entrained and speeding on to the next place of showing. Cricket Concert.— The local Cricket Club had gone to considerable trouble m arranging for a concert and dramatic x 3er f° rnianee ' fQIf Q1 show night, but had to compromise with the circus proprietary for a postponement, and the concert will now be he^d on Saturday even-

ing next A good houss is always assured on show night, and the cricketers were -unfortunate m having to bump against the circus. But, with fine weather, they should have a. failhouse on Saturday evening, and an interesting programme will bo provided. Racing Club — Our Racing CJub has been bumping on the rocks ot late years, and narrowly escaped shipwreck this year on account of adverse circumstances. From

close an a £'iOO cash balance three years ago, three successive lo.3ses have reduced the amount to about £80, and this wa3

due principally by reduced revenue from, the tctalisator en account of bookies being >n the course and adverse weather. At a meeting some

i little tivnc ago it was agreed to closp down this I year, as all attempts had failed to get a proper ' title to the ground, although the necessary 1 claus-es in the Domans Act were printed, and *

only required to be put through the House. But at the last moment word came that the 1 Minister of Lands did not intend-4o make tho necessary amendments in the session just ' closed, and this after no end of consideration | and trouble locally. Some of the members i were discontented, at the first resolution to shut

down, and thus let the totahsator permit lapse,

and a further meeting 1 was held, and the former resolution rescinded. On Saturday evening last i^a well-attended meeting was iieid, and the elec- ! tion of officers, etc., proceeded with. Dcr Robertsen was re-elected president, Messrs R- Elliot

and Janit-s Robertson vice-presidents, Mr A. Mungard secretary and treasurer, and the neces-

sary committees wers also appointed.

decided to hold a meeting >n the last Thursday and Friday of January, and a sub-committee , will subnat a draft programme to the adjourned meeting on Friday evening next. Proposals

were made that may lead to th. club moving

their holdings >n to freehold adjoining the course, and, it possible, this will be given effect to in time for the meeting. Nine new members were elected on Saturday night, and there is a

desire to save the race meeting froro lapsing if it can postibly be done. Even snould the,— cTub tide over the coming year something will surely be done to remove the existing anofnaly in connection with the bookmaking business. If the city clubs wish to keep up the supply of horses for their regular meetings, they should

place fewer obstacles in the waj of country

clubs, which must act as feeders for the big fixtures. Without the country meetings there

will be fewer inducements for men to keep » tew horses where practicab.e, and the big clubs would soon suffer iron: the loss of their smaller brethren.

Scholastic. — The district schools have been examined lately by Inspectors Goyen and Bos&ence, and in all cases have made excellent passes — in a few instances securing clean sheets, 'lapanui School had a very creditable pass, and teachers and parents must be gratilied at the asult of tbe past year's work. The anmud break-up and prize distribution has been fixed for the 22nd inst. The infant division will be dealt with in the afternoon, and in the evening a concert will be held and prizes presented in the higher classes. There is sure- "to be a laxga attendance of the public, as the children's, annual field lay is liberally supported by the public. The ersction of the new oiass room, js now being proceeded with, and it is expected that it will be ready, for occupation when the school takes up after the holidays. The room adjoins the one erected not .long ago, and is of about equal dimensions, contrasting- reniarkab.y in architecture from the old bunding that " is creeping on in age to the half century. Pishing. — The anglers have been getting fair

sport this season, but the weather is too erratic ~* tor pleasant fisliing. Should the Pomahaka be fil good condition during the holidays it should afford first-class sport, and the fish, ought by then to be' in prime order. Some nice baskets have been obtained, but so fa-r I have not .heard of any sensational catches. n ,

Personal.— Mr and Mrs W. T. M'Farlane, of

Musseiburgh, JDomedin, have been spending a,

few days hers, visiting old acquaintances and renewing friendships MV Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., and Mr J. W. Thompson, member for for Ciutha. attended the Tapanui show on Friday, and Mr Mackenzie was welcomed by many old friends who still have an interest in '" Ciutha Tom."