STEWART ISLAND NOTES. (From a Correspondent.) HALF MOON BAY, December 26.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 18

STEWART ISLAND NOTES. (From a Correspondent.) HALF MOON BAY, December 26.

After no end of slips between, say, "the cup and the lip," the storm-weather took off, and now shapes forra permanent improvement. Monday morning the wind came away in a nor' -westerly breeze, strong enough to ■ drive the cutting southerlies down into;/, their natural element. It is hoped they will be able to confine them there, so as tojet 'us have a spell of seasonable weather. Saturday brought the Bluff steamer well freighted with excursionists. An extra trip was mooted, but the inducements were not sufficient. The of the Zealandia from Dunedin, "billed" to make the round of the " island, was also a disappointment. Despite these " shrinkages " Oban was quite lively — sufficiently ._so to give an earnest of what may be expected with the return of fine weather. These improvements enabled us to get about and -make a few observations in the sight-seeing .world of this island home. If" not absolutely cheering, they*are hopeful, and that, under the circumstances, is all that could be expected. ' Garden -produce, which is about the sum. • total of our .cultivations, .isjm'-a backward j state, and will probably be weeks later than usual. Potatoes have been slightly blighted, j but so far -as the tuber itself is concerned , there are no; symptoms of it having been ! affected. Possibly the trouble may confine ! itself to the stalk, and 1 the more favourable weather assist in tiding roots over the difficulty. Small fruit bushes appear to have weathered the storm without damage, and the gooseberry ancl currant will, when they ripen, be heavy crops. The rare native flora of the island appears none the worse, but rather the better, for the storm. Rata faces are getting into bloom, and before long cliff lands and abrupt sea lines of the south and southwestern coast will be refulgent in crimson hues. These " faces " are exceptionally grand, adding zest to our finely diversified! seascape scenes. No accessible part of the New Z&aland coast can compare with these combinations of the sea in contact with the land. They lead up into snug, wellsheltered roosts stocked With seaware impounded from the deep. That much-prized plant the tete-a-waka of the Natives (Olearia angustifolia) is well represented ' along exposed situations south from Patereon's Inlet. As yet it has only got the length of "setting," but its settings are so big and bunchy that an excellent seasonal display may be counted upon. It is not I easy to conceive of a grander floral exhibit I than is afforded in these plants. Says ' Professor Kirk, F.L.S. : " The regular out- ' line of the head, the glossy green of the ' leaves, which, when stirred by the winds, ' thow the white tomenttmi beneath, the snowy rays and dark purple discs of the myriad flower-heads form a never-tiring source of attraction ; while a grateful aromatio is constantly exhaled." Thereupon the learned professor moralises: "The climate of the island is remarkable for ita mildness, and so far from being severe, it is muoh more favourable to a luxuriant plane growth than that of many parts of the South Island — for instance, the Canterbury Plains. It is fcroa the atmosphere, is almost

constantly moist, but snow does not fall on the low lande v and frosts are not felt. Not only are many plants- of mild cKmates culti- i vated inf -the gardens of the settlers, but th©^ clianthus," karaka, nikau, and others i from northern parts of the colony grow j luxuriantly in the open air. The peach is j never touched . with frost. Eucalyptus globulus grows luxuriantly — but it is needlees to multiply instances." The islandboasts of. at least 200 flowering plants, and "when these " faces " and -'their ■ blooms get. into full flush, which they will do within the next week or so, foreshores and promontories, will be a sight -worth seeing. "Homely joys and destiny obscure," is the- catch-phrase to an entertainment given - last week in the Library Hall, "Oban. Its beneficiary is a Christmas Picnic Fund to the children attending the Native school at the Neck. The performers were residents there. It is one of our few remaining primitive spots, and a certain curiositywas excited as to how they would acquit themselves in histrionic arts. Considering the material they-'had 1 to ,go upon — stagings as well as individualities — I do not hesitate pronouncing it a decided success. A versatile young lady — Miss H. King,— with a,' good deal of the archness that tells so well behind the footlights, led -off in a popular song with a catchy- chorus. Placing the" audience en rapport, she was greeted with no end of applause. Softer and more melodious songs were sung by Miss G. Wixon in good taste, both as regards tone and execution. The other vocalists were : Misses S. Wixon, Joss, etc., each of whom earned their meed of praise. Mr' Walter IX Joss sang a Native song or apakura, with a weird refrain that might "have suited the "spirit leap" of the ancient Maori. A half-hour was spent in high glee with the tripks of the conjurer, Mr R. N. Burns being trickster. The agility with which he swallowed balls of cotton and reproduced coils of parti-coloured Fapes was, as it should be, incredible, and created jmmense fun. A domestic faTce followed, the entertainment being wound up with a dance. They have been asked to reproduce the performance, and will probably do so during the holidays. As soon as festivities are ended preliminary arrangements for the oystering and mutton-bird seasons will be set about. I have had it stated that the open season for oysters is somewhat badly chosen. Ths> bivalve has not had time to consolidate effectively, and in many instances shells contain nothing more substantial than spawn and liquid juice. Porb Adventure, where the gem of the oyster- crop is produced, is said to be specially susceptible in that way, and it is a pity to have these superior, as well as the other beds, poached upon outside ih& laws regulating their natural growth. If the statutory opening period was fixed for March instead of February great good, it is asserted, would be. the resuit. 3\£utton-bird "takes" last season wore poor, but I understand prospects for the ensuing season are considered 1 more satisfactory. The first move to be made in that direction is collecting seaware for the manufacture of the kelp preserving bags. It is said to be an adroit performance, but, most probably, we will have an opportunity of judging as to that when the proper tinje corner " J

From Mason's Bay we learn that two stations — one cattle, the other sheep — are very little^ The stock in both instances have been pretty well cleared out. The idea is that the locality is not well selected for station purposes. A. flaxmill established in the neighbourhood is. reported; to be doing excellent business. The fibre is plentiful, of superior quality, and a goodly number of hands are employed. The work is so , brisk that, with the exception of. a day or two at -the New Year, the mill * will be kept going through the holidays. Mason's Bay is reached from the head of Paterson's Inlet, jtbence overland by a. through pass. 'To such as are curious in th© science of geology this pass presents strong attractions. The theory is that at one time, and tnat not by any means remote, it was a through pass of the sea, separating the island into two or more parts. A rise in the sea or a fall in theland of 25ft or 30ft would reinstate th© waterway. At the head of the inlet a. beach leadirig Tip^-to the pass covers a distance of two miles. At high water the> beach, carries a "depth 'sufficient to float a, -whaleboat. At low water ; it is completely bare. _ The beach is " gradually . extending. Within memory of the present generation it has_ encroached a considerable distance -upon the tea. That fact would indicate a gradual rise in the land. Actual operation like that might become a study of importance to geology. Boxing Day (Monday) was bright but breezy. The Bluff excursion steamer brought about 100 passengers, three-fourths of whom returned by the steamer in the ©vening. The passage across the straits was fresh, but- not absolutely stormy. It was only the more delicate stomachs that were affected. An Invercargill party of seven arrived on Sunday per special charter of the auxil'ary-engined craft Garnet. They proceeded as far as Port Adventure, returning to th© bay to-day (Wednesday). About noon they left with a spanking breeze, ©n route for the Bluff. A crowded amateur performance in aid of the funds of the Church of England was given on Mondayevening. It took the form of an impromptu concert, in which the visiting portion of the population took prominent parfc. It was an t.njoyai>le evening, winding up with the indispensable dance.