CAVE (Canterbury),

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 36

CAVE (Canterbury),

' April 16. — The weather has been all that could be wished for, except for the white frosts in the mornings. The crops are all mostly cut nbw, there only being a. small patch or two that are not ripe yet. The principal harvesting is done, and the mills are humming m all directions. Fairly good yields are the rule all over the district, and there is quite a rush to get the grain away, the farmers doing their level best to get it into store while the roads are dry. Fortunately, no one can grumble at the roa-ds we have got now. ! Sheep. — Dipping is almost finished. The sheep this year are very clean, and free from ticks. The sheep sales are keeping up so far as price is concerned considering the large yardings that are the rule at «-very sale. On the other hand, cattle are not worth owning ; indeed, a calf after it is reared is only worth from 4s to 6s; consequently it wou'd not pay to carry the milk to them ; bu+ farmers have to carry on at the usual game of anticipating an improvement, as by the time the. cattle are ready for sale the market may be better. Land Sales.— The Premier told the Timaru peop'.e the other day that they should not boom the land, but everyone is on the lookout for "a lamb" that has plenty of money and does not care what he does with it. Be it the purchase of land, horses, cattle, or sheep, all the 'arts of legal taking advantage of bis neighbour are tried to get as much as possible for it, and it is thought smart to "have" a brother in a deal as readily as a- stranger. Presentation. — A presentation was made on Tuesday, 3rd ijist., to Mi3s G. Rigby, postmistress at the Cave. A canvass of the district was made, and in a short time money came in from all parts, with the result that on the day mentioned two settlers called on Miss Rigby at her home nt the Cave. The spokesman said that to him had fallen the pleasant duty, on behalf of the settlers, of showing their appreciation of the manner in ' which Misa Rigby had carried out her duties as p° 3 tmistress, and on the eve of her departure from the district the settlers in the Cannington district wished to present her with something which would remind her of them when far away from the Cave. He was sure he was voicing the sentiments of his neighbours when he ssid they had found her to be an obliging public servant, who had looked after the sett'.ers' interests when their goods and chattels came by train to the railway station, and had always seen that they were in safe keeping. On behalf of the settlers in the Canningtou, Motukaikai, and Greenhi 1 .! districts, he presented Miss Rigby with a purse of sovereigns, and said he hoped wherever she might go she would have as true friends as she left behind in the districts named. Miss Rigby replied in a feeling manner, thanking one and all for their valuable gift. All <=he had done was done without any thought of so handsome a recognition j of her service. The other member of the deputation also referred to Miss Rigby's worth as an obliging and attentive postmistress. The Cave township and the neighbouring residents also presented Miss Rigby on the 6th inst. with a gold chain and pendant, Mr G. Litnbrick speaking of Miss Rigby as a useful public servant, and presented her with the gold chain and pendant on behalf of the residents of Cave township ard the neighbouring settlement. Miss Rigby thanked them for ; their kindness.

The Wanganui Herald states that sharp frosts during the last few mornings have/ played havoc with the late garden crops and winter feed in the Kopauranga district.

The following were elected a school committee for the Lawrence District High School : —Messrs Nome (chairman). Allan, Christie, JefTery. Pilling, Clark, Arbuckle, Matthews, amd Campbell.

The meeting of householders at Kaitangata was well attended, 4-1 being present. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year: — J. Serj?ea.nt, J. Fitzgerald, A. Blackie. Duncan, Hollows, Brady, Boylan, and A. Morrison. Grain and root crops have been Ihe subject of many paragraphs this year, but the Wanganui Chronicle- has located an entirely new and prolific growth of an article that was never in short supply. The Chronicle states that " a remarkably large crop of opinions has been gathered v by Mr Edward Ling, of Gisborne. He has obtained three tons from an eighth of an acre — at the rate of 24 tons to the acre."