CAVE (Canterbury).

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 40

CAVE (Canterbury).

i September 23.— The -weather is still very unsettled — indeed, we. are beginning to re--.gard .the rain as like the poor— always with xis._ "We have had more . or* leas- every daji since ' the, Ist of September, and it looks as of it were going to be rain for the month out. -Ball.— The ladies of Cave gave their annual 'Jjall in return to bachelors in the local goods shed on Friday, September 8. Al■though'the evening was wet about 50 couples itook part in th« grand march. Music was , supplied by Messrs Kearsley (piario) and CDonnithorne (violin), which -was - everything rthat could ' be^ desired:' Mr D. M'Willianis made a very caipaMe M.C.\The refreshments mere' supplied by Mr Budd (of Tiinaru) and She 1 ladies of the district. The shed was beautifully -decorated for tne occasion with, 'evergreens and Chinese" Janferns, "and everyone declared that the energetic committee, with Miss E. Jones as "secretary, had made the ball one of the most enjoyable ever held in the district. ~ ..School Examination. — On the 14th Chiefinspector Gow held an 'examination of the Cave School, and was well pleased with the work that the teacher, Miss Jones, had done for the year. As -some of the children come 10 miles to school, 'and cannot attend reguflarly, he gave her every credit for the work done.

Weather. — A sudden and extreme change of itemperature, either from heat to old or from «old to heat, is generally followed by sain within 24 hours. According to the observations of Dr Kirwan, in the course' of 41 years there were, six wet springs,. 22 dry, and IS -Variable. He considered a season wet when, I It continued to rain for two months, and a seasoi^ dry- when the 'quantity of rain fell short of sin. Oji these data, he said that a dry spring was followed by a dry summer 11 it'imes, a wet summer eight times, and a , variable summer three times; a wet spring £vaa followed by a Try summer 1 10 timies, a i .•wet five times, and a- variable once; a van- ' 'able spring was followed by a dry summer five, times, 1 a wet seven times, and variable once. During the 41 years' observations, Dr SKirwan further concluded that in the beginning of any yeax the probability of a dry spring is as 22 to 41, of a wet as 6 to 41, <>f a variable as 13 to 41.

October 1. — The weather has taken a turn for the better, and it has been blowing a nor'wester for four days. We have had one fine ;week, but on Thursday night it came on to lain and hail. It was very cold, and aboiit Miree-quarters of an inch of ice was on the pools of water. A good many lambs died tfrom the sudden change, but on the whole we should not grumble, and the farmers are all wearing a smile on their faces this week. to.ll hands are at the spring .'work early and !ate. A good many had their ground cultiyated, ready for the seed, before the rain ■£arne on, and that has all to be done over again, so it will be a late .spring now for jWi-eat-sowing.

Traffic. — The roads are like a quagmire aihei 'ihe plunging ovea' them in tihe bad weather. 3?he 'rainfall Ict September was 5.26 in, }s iihown by_ the Canninglon. Station, rain gauge.