HYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 32

HYDE.

April 20. — During the past month the hand of Death has bsen busy in our small com* munity, two well-known and highly-respected residents having been called away. On tha 26th March Mr P. Howard, of Ivy Bridge, Hyde, died very suddenly at the age of "65 years, failure of the heart being the causa of death. Deceased had resided in Hyde for over 20 years, and was well known and highly respected in this and the surrounding dis» tricts. Mr Howard was of a retiring disposition, and did not take any active part in public matters, but his kind, cheery, and obliging disposition as a friend and neighboui made him a large circle of friends, whose sympathy is extended to his widow, son, and daughter, who are left to mourn their loss. The funeral took place on the 28th mst., and was largely attended. Another death took place on the 4th inst., when Mr P. MAuley, a, young man of 26 years, passed away aftei a lingering illness, and was interred in the Hyde Cemetery on the 6th inst., a large number of friends following the remains tc their last resting place. Deceased was a son of Mr Hugh MAuley, one of the former diggers of Hyde, and was very populai throughout the district, where his quiet, industrious, and amiable disposition ruade him many friends.

Weather. — Dining harvest the weather wt; almost perfect, but harvest being now finished, the farmers have decided that it is much too dry, and that rain is badly wanted. Light showers of rain have fallen within tha past week, and steady rain fell during th» greater part of last night, but a lot more is wanted to enable "'fall" ploughing to start, not a single furrow having- yet been turned. Harvest. — The harvest was carried on under the best of conditions as regards weather, and the crops have been stacked in. splendid order, and the sample, as regard 3 condition, should be first class. jSTo threshing has yet been done, but Mr Kirkland's mill is expected here from Middlemarch immediately after Easter. Judging by ths number oi stacks in some paddocks, very good! yields of both wheat and oats should be recorded.

Root Crops. — The dry weather has caused considerable injury to the turnip crop, and in many cases fields that promised good crops have been parched up, and will now produce only a very medium crop. Some of the later-sown paddocks, raised drills in particular, do not appear to be much affected, by tne drought, and the vivid green colour oJ these is a welcome relief to the eye amid the brown and whitened hue of the dry and dead grass.

Live Stock. — Stock of all sorts are doing well, notwithstanding the dry weather. Sheepdipping is finished, and sheep are being drafted to their winter quarters, and owners are hoping, though hardly expecting, that next year will be as profitable as this has been. The weather has militated greatly against the milk suppliers, and. the supply at tha creamery has fallen considerably, but it will probably improve latei on, when artificial feeding resorted to.

Departures. — Slowly, but surely, the population of our district appears to be shrinking, at least the number of families are, and at short intervals during the past year several families have left Hyde, the latest to leave being Mrs A. Teviotdale, of Sunnyside Farm, and Miss Teviotdale, and Mi D. Teviotdala and family, of Strathview, both of whorr have sold out their property to Mr Alexandei Tiotler, and gone to Dunedin. \