WAILACE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2721, 9 May 1906, Page 35

WAIL ACE COUNTY.

May 5. — The weather during the past month has been simply atrocious — nothing but a dreary drip of dismal rain day after day. Ag a consequence, floods were frequent, and lowlying land was under water for a week or two. The rainfall at Otautau for April was 9.30 in. and at RiveTton 8.86 in. At the former place rain fell on 20 days, and at the latter on 25 days. The rainfall was above the average, and was ihe heaviest for the past 12 years. The township of Otautau was under water, and it is abont time that rising centre took some steps to safeguard property from flccd. The town is growing, and the urgency cf the work becomes more apparent each year. Harvest. — There is still a good deal of crop out. and farmers on the flat had .a considerable qucntity of crop carried away by the flood. For this season's oats from Is 8d to Is lOd has been obtained, and with the bad harvest more is likely to be realised. There are some splendid wheat crops in the Jacob's Valley, but it is not known yet whether they iiavo been seriously damaged by the. water. The turnip crop will give much better results than was expected. It has been cs + ivnated that Mi Mollison (of the Plains), and Mr Gould (of Strathmore), and several others have crops oi swedes that will yield fully 70 tons to the acre. Horses. — Mr Clark, of Heddon Bush, has sold Tan? o' Shanter. Mr Clark's purchase of the Sandy E-rskinc colt showed him to be a S<«x3 ja3g« of horseflesh He is now on tho lookout fa* something to take his place. Mi J. M'Farlane, of the same locality, has disposed of his two-year-old colt Kelvin Grove to Mr Cox. of Harringtons. The colt's dam wa9 Miss Macarthur, and his sire Mr P. Ryan's Kelvin. It is admitted to be one 0$ the best evei bred by Mr M'Farlane. Property Sales.— A few weeks ago Mr W. H. Stewart disposed of his farm at Dmmmond to Mr Brown, of the Ta-ieri, the price paid being £15 an acre — a record for the district. Although there is a- demand for land, two properties at Gropei's Bush — the Exmedale Estate and the late Mr Johnson's farm, '"Tweeddale" — were passed in owing to tho reserve not being reached. The latter is a first-class property, the river flat being noted ' for its prolific yields of wheat. A Lesson. — At <he l«st sifting of the Otautau Court two Wakio farmers weTe mulcted in fines of £2 each for exposing lousy sheep for sale, and a resident of Nightcaps, for taking a. hare out fit season, was fined £1. Bowling. — Bowls is a very popular game in Southland. The Riverton Club held it<? annual meeting recently, the result of the year's operations showing a credit balance of £10. The trophies won during the season were presented to the winners — Messrs A. E. Willett, S. L. Beer, J. W. Instone, and J. Petchell. Sporting. — The Riverton Racing Club has had a very successful year. As a result of the Easter meeting the club has a profit of £313 16s 3d. It was decided to encourege steeplechasing, so that next year the stakes will be considerably increased. Hunt Club. — Touching soc-rt, the annual meeting of the Birchwood Hunt Club was of an enthusiastic nature. Mr James Ritchie, of Blythe. Nightcaps, presided. The balance sheet showed the club to be on the right side of the ledger, and the following office-bearers wer elected: — Master, Mr J. Ritchie; deouty, Mr M'Gavock; treasurer, Mr W. Walker; secretary, Mr A. M'Gavock ; committee — Messrs Saunders, A. Saunders, M. Gourley. J. Agnew, P. Ferguson, and W. H. Walker. The opening run w?s fixed for June 1. Waiau Mouth Ferry.— Mr John Hunter has resumed his old position as ferryman at Waiau Mouth, and receives a subsidy from the Tourist Department. This ferry is a very great convenience. Need Repairing. — The punts at Drummond'3 ferry want looking to A sum was granted in the Estimates for this repair, and this should be carried out without delay. During the recent heavy floods Mr West, the ferryman, refused, and wisely, to risk the lives of travellers by crossing. Presentation. — Miss M'Leod, an assistant in the Riverton School, who has retired owing to the new regulations regarding the staffing of district high schools, was the recipient of a presentation froni the staff, and was also entertained at a social prior to her departure. Miss M'Leod has been appointed mistress at Waianiwa. Valedictory. — The Rev. Alexander M'Donald, M.A.. pastor of the Otautau Presbyterian Church, leaves shortly on a seven-months' visit to tho Homeland, proceeding via Vancouver, and returning via Suez. He i? to be the recipient of a purse of sovereigns on Thursday, the 10th inst., and no man more deserves the honour. He is a hard-working, conscientious minister, one who has done a great deal of pioneering work, a-nd all who know his worth will wish him bon voyage and a safe return. Quite recently the Weekly Scotsman contained the announcement of the death of his brother, the Rev. Peter M'Donald, M.A., 8.D., of Holyrood. Mayor — Mr W. R. Pankhurst has been reelected Mayor of Rriverton for the third time- — without opposition. This is a fitting tribn'te to a gentleman who takes a. keen interest in everything appertaining to the welfare of the town. The Poison Fiend. — Some raiscTeant has been Ipying poisoned meat on public roads. Three dogs were lost through eating meat picked up on the road between Aparima and Otautau. Some months ago similar complaints were made, but some da\ the offender will be brought to account. These things can be done once too often, "and the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." Publio Libraries and Otautau's Wants. — A, public library has been formed at Colac Bay, one is mooted at Thornbury, and efforts are being made to awaken interest in a similar institution at Otautau, which, at the present time, is agitating for something it cannot get, and that is a permanent bank. The Teason why it cannot get this is because it simply wouldn't pay. There's not the money to be turned over. But people are always ready to agitate for something that costs them nothing. If the place were afraid to venture on a Starr-Bowkett Society, it 'is not easy to see how a bank would thrive. Obituary. — A very highly-respected settler of the Te Tua district, in the person of Mr H. M'Quilkm, paused away at Riverton Hospital at the age of 61. Hei was formerly a guard on the Invercargill-Riverton train, and on retiring from the service took up a 500-acre farm. This has been purchased by the Messrs Horrell Bros. The remains of the late Mr WQuillan were interred in the Orepuki Cemetery on Tuesday, being followed to their laat resting; place by a. larae cortege.

The Game Season. — Reports have appeared in the papers from time to time stating that game was plentiful. As a matter of fact, pigeons are scarce, and one has to tramp a long way to get kakas. Ducks, however, are fairly numerous, but they seem to know that the shooting season is in, and take- up •saffc quarters in protected areas or on big lagoons, whence they can see tho approach of sportsmen a mile off, and they then get off, too. Prospecting. — The member for the district has been informed that diamond drills for prospecting have been ordered by the Government. Of the drills ordered, one will have a boring capacity of 1500 ft, and two others will work to a depth of 750 ft and 1000 ft respectively. It is known that some reefs exist at deep levels, and several prospectors ale ' anxious to have a test made, which can only be done by means of tho drill. I "