TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 35

TAPANUI.

April 10. — What promised to be a favourable iarvest season in March received a check at the approach of April, and for the last ten days the -weather has been broken and wintry — in fact, we have had skiffs of snow on the Blue Mountains; and in the high country in the north I notice last winter's snow, of which patches have never disappeared, has received a fresh -coating. Harvest operations as a consequence have been interfered with. Al"though there is a considerable amount of crop in stack, a great many paddocks are still clotted with stooks ; and in some later localities there is a lot of crop still to cut. The gales have also accounted for some loss of grain; but a couple of weeks' fine weather would see the 1905 harvest pretty well all saved. The threshing mills are now at work, making broken time; and it is too soon to glean any definite information as to how crops are turning out. In oats and wheat generally the quality should be good. The stock market continues in a very healthy condition, and fat and store sheep can be quickly turned to gold. At the Tapanui ram and ewe fair on Saturday, there was a good turnout of farmers and a large entry of rams. The yards were cleared by Messrs Quin and Kodger, and rams sold up to s|gs. There were drafts from Clydevale, Elderelie, and most of the local breeders, and the sale went briskly. A line of very nice breeding ewes was passed in at auction at 255, but I understand were afterwards disposed of at an advance on that figure. Truly, sheep are money these times! A Diversion. — On Saturday evening the famous J. J. Meikle delivered an address to a fair gathering in the public street of Tapanui. The lecturer ventilated his grievances, -and Indulged in a tirade of abuse anent the administration of justice in New Zealand and the prison system. John will make it hot for the Seddon Ministry if he carries out all his promises. He was listened to patiently, with -a little banter thrown in occasionally for the amusement of the audience.

Poultry Show. — The Poultry Association are getting to work for their annual show in July. At a meeting last week, the prize schedule was revised, judge nominated, and canvassers for special prizes appointed, besides other detail business. The society has a substantial cash balance, and the members look forward to another successful show this year.

Sporting. — The deer stalkers are at present busy tramping the Blue Mountains in search of good heads, but. bo -far few have come in. Several visiting parties are canroed on the mountain, and their number will be added to as Easter approaches. The faces near Tapanui have been cleaned out of late years, and the stags keep to the heavy forest. The "barking" period should start within the next j few days, and sportsmen will then be on the

move early and late. — Anglers have not been doing much lately, and in cold weather there sr.2 no inducements in the gentle art. The season generally has been a good one, but the common complaint is that the fish are getting smaller each year. A matter the Otago Acclimatisation Society should seriously consider is the closing of_the season at the end of March. The fish commence to spawn in April, and as a rule the sport in this month begins to wane. Certainly it will interfere with "Easter outings, but the 7irotection of the fish should be the first consideration.

Land. — This freehold-loving locality has been Iblessed with a visit from the Land Commission, but there was no rush for seats, and if the Commission gained any information, I do not think local farmers were much the wiser. The- Commission will result in the compiling of a great accumulation of evidence, and the politician who wades through it will deserve a special medal. The trip through the country will no doubt bs an interesting one for those engaged, but there are many farmers here who would like to have the cost invested in metal in the back-block roads. Three guinea* a day and "exes," they say, is the fee. And most of those sitting on the commission do not appear to be anything above the average in intelligence or ability. School Improvements. — The addition of the new classroom to Tapanui School, and now in ■occupation of the higher standards, marks another step towards the conirjietion of an up-to-date building in place of the old edifice that Las done duty for the paat 30 odd years. Nearly all the timber used in the new building is seasoned red pine, and the concrete foundations are set upon the solid clay, the ■wall foundations being Gin and the piers Bin x j Bin. The woodwork is set ur>on bluegurn ' sleeper plates of 6in x 3in, with floor ioi&ts 6x3, and trimming joists 6 x I\. Studs 6x3, scarfed at all joinings, and well braced, j The ceiling joists and rafters are 5x2, with ridge board 12 x 11. The walls are covered with Bxl rebated red pine lumber, double mailed ; and the roof is covered with the best corrugated iron, lauped two corrugations. One ■lobster-back ventilator serves for the roof. The finials are of kauri, and barges 16 x Xi, \ with sin mould, covers 8 x lh, collar tie 5x2,' chamfered on upper edge to prevent birds Testing, and neatly stop chamfered on lower «dge. The sash frames are of well-seasoned kauri, and sashes of best deal, hung in patent secret axle pulleys, with sash line and castiron weights, and fitted with sash fasteners and brass ring lifts. The top sash of each •window is hinjted with 3in malleable iron butt hinges, and fastened With a quadrant of an approved kind supplied by the Education Board. This works well, and affords additional ventilation. The floors are laid with 4xl t. and g. red pine. All the outer walls and the ceiling of the classroom are closely covered with carpet felt, and the wall? are ©loss-lined with A. x 5 t. and g. 7Deaded red pine [lining, with a 4ft dado, hand-dressed and figured. Sis wall inlet ventilators are provided, for which the studs are boxed iv to ; form flues, and these up-to-date devices at once commend themselves, enabling ventila- j lion to be regulated to any required degree. A 12in moulded red pine skirting is fitted : round the room. Two kauri blackboards are ' fixeel on tho w?U, extending tlie whole length i «f the room, and these axe made of well- 1

seasoned timber, 2ft 3in wide and lin thick. The platform and steps are set on concrete, and are constructed of heart of totara, dressed. Attention has been given to drainage, a 6m gully trap leading to 3in stoneware pipes. The spouting is supported by iron brackets, forged to fit the spouting, and firmly screwed on. The exterior is painted to match the first building, whilst the ceiling and walls inside are finished with a coat of Bon Accord , mantelpiece painted black and varnished ; *nrl dado and fittings varnished. In every detail of the new classroom there is evidence of a lasting job, and nothing has been spared in providing the very best material and fittings. The contract has been well carried out by Messrs Shepherd and Potts, and the painting work was done by Mr John Fleming. Mr Rodgers (o(f the Otago Education Board) was the architect.