WAITAHUNA

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 35

WAITAHUNA

February 24. — The Horticultural Society held iti autumn show on Wednesday, 22nd inst., and the function was the most successful, as far as the quality and quantity of the exhibits were concerned, that has ever been held under the auspices of the society. Mr Hamel, of Dunedm, performed the duties of judge, and afforded every satisfaction to the exhibitors, besides giving some useful hints for the society's future guidance.

After 22 years service (having been appointed in 1883) Mr Garden has resigned the position of treasurer of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, and I do not think that I am wrong in saying that the members of the club fully recognised that he was most indefatigable in the peiformance of his duties. His successor will be appointed at a meeting of the club to be held Oil Monday next.

The annual meeting of the Havelock Domain Board was held on Thursday, February 23, Mr G arden presiding. The treasurer (Mr E. York) read the financial statement for the year, showing the receipts (including the balance of £2 15s 9d from last year) to have been .•67 18s, the expenditure during the same period being £1 11s 4d, leaving a balance in hand on December 34, 1904, of £5 6s Bd. Mr Garden waa re-elected chairman, and Mr B. York was re-elected secretary and treasurer for iihe ensuing year. Messrs Slack and York were appainted a sub-committee to interview Mr T. F. Ryan, the holder of an adjoining section, with a view of getting the boundary fence placed on the proper line. It was also resolved to render an account to a propertyowner for the use of a boundary fence for two years at the rate o" er cent, per annum ou the half-cost of construction.

March 7. — The showers that wa have had, off and on, during the past 10 days, while being of great benefit, have had the effect of levelling a good deal of the grain crop where the growth has been heavy, and as it is not likely to rise again the difficulty of cutting it will bs a drawback. While the area sown is not so large as in former years, the yield, given ordinary harvest weather, promises to be very satisfactory — any figures between 50 and 70 fairly representing the number of bushels per acre as the probable yie!d. The turnip crop has also benefited considerably by the late rains, and I do not think that I can be charged with exaggerating when I say that tha general crop promises to be a record one for the district; while even the late-sown turnips, in some instances, are showing up well, and far beyond expectations.

Overtures have been made to the Waitahuna Farmers' Club by the Tuapeka Agricultural Society with the_view of holding the agricultural shows at JLawrence and Waitahuna in alternate years, but the movement i 3 not likely to meet with much support here. The Wa tahuna Farmers' Club has been established for the past 24 years, is a popular institution both in and out of its own district, and has a reputation extending to all parts of New Zealand where a paper circulates. It will, I think, prefer, in the meantime at least, to move along alone " m the even tenor of its way." The monthly meeting of the Waitahuna School Committee, held on Monday, was attended by Messr3 M'Caw (chairman), Fuldsetb, W. Thomson, E. York. Toner, and M'Ara (secretary). The teacher (Mr J. H. Patrick) reported the average attendance for the month of February to have been : Boys 40.8, girls 45.4 ; total, 80.2. The highest attendance on any half -day during the month was 42 boys and 50 girls. The number on the roll is : Boys 44, girls 51 ; total, 95. The members expressed satisfaction at the nature of the report. The secretary laid on the table a number of reports, etc. As the train arrangements in connection with the late school excursion to the Taieri Mouth were considered to be far from satisfactory, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Thomson and York, that the secretary bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Eailwavs, the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.

The Waitahuna Cemetery Trustees are somewhat exercised over the action of someone, which necessitates all the books being sent to the auditor in Dnnedm annually. There is no objection to the books being audited, but theTe is an objection to sending the books out of the district, for the very co-gent reason that if any person 6\ied while the books were away tho trustees could not issue a wanant to the sexton to bury the body. A meeting of the trustees is to be called to consider the situation. It is only during the last tv:o veais that the new Older of things has come into existence.