RANFURLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 35

RANFURLY.

May 29. — The up-country township, as a rule, consists of a publiehou&e and store. Ranfurly can do much better than that, as there are no fewer than nine places of business established at the present time, and another in course of erection. For some time a good deal oi rivalry existed between the residents of Waipiata and Ranfuriy »s to which of the two places was to take the lead, from a business point of view; but since the appointment of a stationmaster and the alterations in the railway time table (the trains now t cross here at midday, allowing 20 minutes' stoppage each train for lunch), it is generally thought that Eanfurly has established a lead that will eventually make it a township of some importance. The business people axe principally men' who have been in business in i Naseby for many years, and who started i branches here as a convenience to the farmers ' of the district, but who now find that the j principal part of their business is done here. Messrs Brown and Co. do- » general store- ' keeper's business, employing- three handte. Mr George Bell is saddler, harness maker, , and bootmaker, employing three hands also, ' and doing a- good business. Mr J. Mitchell is I hardware merchant and builder, and also runs a blacksmithing and wheelwright's business, employing two joirroejmen smiths and an apprentice,, also a> wheelwright and coach- i painter. All kinds of blacksmith's work axe ! done here, and spring carts, gigs, and drays are built to order. Several carpenters are employed. Messrs A. Smith and Son are also in the- blacksmithing line, and manufacture ' every description of wrought-iron piping, also iron, gates, tomb railings, fencing standards, etc., the piping being made at the Naseby branch of their business. Mr J. Morrison, i licensee of the Ranfuriy Hotel, does a good business-, the house- being very convenient to the railway station. Mr J. Dunwoofie rums tuft railway dining rooms, and. Mis F. Kearney a. boarding house, so that the travelling; public is well catered for. Meat is supplied by Mr B. Moore, of Naseby, and bread by Mr J. Dawson, and Mr A. Jones, also of Naseby. The last named has an oven and shop in course of erection, and intends to start a permanent business here. Banking business is done by the agent of the Bank of New Zealand, Naseby, who visits Ranfuriy weekly. Churches.— The Roman Catholic chapel (Rev. Father M'Mullan) is a large, siibstantial building, erected some six years since by Mr J. Mitchell, smdL is large enough, for the wants

of the district for some time to conic, although the congregation is now a large o-ne The Presbjtery 13 a very handsome friulding m red brick, built by Mr Grieve, of Duneam, about 12 months ago, and although the two buildings must have cost well over £1000, I understand they are entirely free from debt. The Presbyterian church (Rev. J. M'Cosli Smith, pastor), costing £300, built by Mr A. Ball, is just lately erected, and is a substantial, roomy building. State Nursery.— The State nursery is situated some five minutes' walk from the railway station. Large numbers of fore3t trees are raised here, and a number of hands are employed every season planting out on the reserves at Naseby and Gimmerburn. On the reserves at Naseby the trees are doing remarkably well, but I have not had an opportunity of judging the progress made at Gimmerburn. Mo: A. W. Roberts is nurseryman in charge. No trees are sold, on the ground that it would: be in the nature of competition with growers in ihe trade. It ia a pily that it should be so, or that the nurseryman 13 debarred from supplying trees to s-chool committees, domain boards, etc., as the trees grown are aoclimatised to each district, and only those grown here are suitable. In the hard frosts of a year or two ago trees ±5 or 16 years of age perished, while the trees grown here from seed escaped. Domain Board. — The newiy-appomted Ranfuriy Domain Board held the first of its monthly meetings on the 27th mst. Present : Messrs G-. Bell, P. Bleach, J. Morrison, W. jJowiing, J. Kearney, J. Morgan, A. Smith, and R. M'Lea-n. Mr G. .<=d was elected chairman, and Mr Bleach secretary of the board. The chief business before the meeting was the consideration of ways and means to fence the ground (some 10J acres) which has just been granted to the residents of Hanfurly and district as a recreation reserve. I understa-nd it is intended to ask the Minister in charge of the Forestry Department for trees to plant a shelter belt round the ground. A good deal of assistance has already been promised, and it is expected that the board will shortly be in a position to proceed with the work, which, is -very necessary. The various sports clubs in the place are at present dependent on the kindness of Mr J. Law, jun., for the use of a grass paddock for any sports, football, or cricket matches, a'so for practice.

The Premier's Visdt.— The Right Hon. the Premier passed through here on his way to Naseby on Friday, 26th inst., and again on Saturday morning on his way to Omaka-ti. Ihe elite of Naseby turned out on horseback to meet and escort him. Mr Seddon preferring- that style- of locomotion to driving, a horse of dimensions suitable to the somewhat weighty tas-k was procured from. Mr J. R. Smith, of Naseby, for his use. Our phase of the visit consisted in a "Good day, everybody," given in that hearty fashion of which Mr Seddon is such a past master. We have tho glory reflected in out townspeople, who tell us what they said to Mr Seddon at Naseby and what he said in reply, and how they shook hands with him, and how "Dick" is not such a bad sort after all.

Weather. — During the past fortnight the frost has been very severe, effectually putting an end for the time being to all ploughing and rabbit-trapping. Notwithsta-nding the hard, dry weather, sheep and cattle are looking well. I hear of one line of sheep being sold in the paddock for 24s 6d per head, clear of all commission. Sheep are splendid property now, and those of us who have to buy butchers' meat know it.