BLACKSTONE HILL. MIDBLEMARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 35

BLACKSTONE HILL.

MIDBLEMARCH.

not liksly be until near spring-time. I hear that 3£r John Ewac has disposed of his yearling Garthland colt at a figure considerably over £100 to a Gisborne breeder. There are some splendid yearlings by the brother of Hiawatha. Messrs Stornmovth and Shearer have each well-developed, growthy yearling colts by Garthland, that fanciers of promising high-class draughts would do well to have a look at before purchasing in other fields. There are also some very promising fillies, and, if anything, Garthland' s second year's progeny in thia class seem to promise better than the first. Library. — Our Public Library is steadily expanding, and it is to be hoped that as the evenings lengthen there will be an increase in the number of subscribers and of readers among the rising generation. We have never been able to maintain a literary or debating club, and although it is sometimes talked of, no one- moves, and nothing practical has been effected. Personal. — I regret to have to announce that Vr Robert .Bflird. sen., of Limestone Plains, one of the oldest residents in the district, had on Sunday, the 29th April, a very eevere paralytic stroke. He was, I believe, at first •unconscious, but soon recovered consciousness, and although, still confined to bed is slowly recovering.

May 14. — Our town during the last month lias been exceptionally quiet, there being no dissipation of any kind. {Agricultural. — The farmers are still endeavouring to secure their grain. Never has such. a late season been known here, several paddocks of oats being still uncut, and some of th« oats being still quite green. "When a fine day does come the reaper bogs owing to the wet state of the ground. .Personal.— Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.H.E., has taken up his residence in the Tapanm manse ia the meantime. I see Mr Malcolm is a candidate fo- the Education Board ait the forthcoming election. Being » man of experience in educational matters, I hope to see him gain a seat on the board. — Mr Cuthbertson, who has been manager of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co.'s grain store here tor the last two years, has been removed to Edendale. Mr Cuthbertson was a most enthusiastic member of the X M.R.s, and, being a willing helper at any local function, he will be much missed in Kelso, as also will Mrs Cuthbertson, who was ever ready to assist on the concert platform. — The Rev. Mr Jupp, who has been indisposed during the last week, is. I am glad to say, able to be about again. Mr Nicholson, who was here for a few months last summer, occupied the pulpit last Sunday evening, and his many friends here were delighted to listen to him a-gain. Farmers' Union.— The annual meeting of the Kelso branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in Dunnett's Hall on Saturday evening. There was a fail attendance of members present, Mr D. Robertson being in the chair. Mr G. H. Stewart (Crookston) also attended the meeting. After the minutes of the previous meetiiig were confirmed as read the election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — President, Mr James Murney ; vice-presidents, Messrs H. R. Crossan and A. Thompson, sen. ; secretary and treasurer, Mr R. G. Foster. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted as read. It was decided to fall in with the scheme of donating a challenge shield to the Mounted Rifle Volunteers of Otago and the secretary was appointed to collect subscriptions from members, the subscriptions being strictly limited to Is. Several other matters ■were discussed, and at the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr C. F. Dunnett for allowing the U3C of- the hall for meetings free of charge, and also for giving lights, etc., gratis. The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.

Hay 7. — The weather of late has been cold, rainy, and very windy, but there has not been much frost so far. Farming. — The outlook for the winter is a poor one for stock, there being very little grass, -while turnips are almost nil. The grain crops are all safe in the stack, and, taking the harvest all through, it has been a good one, both for cats and wheat. The majority of the crop was got in without a shower. Farmers are now anxiously waiting for the threshing mill, but I am afraid it will be some time before it will be in the valley. I notice ome farmers have got the plough at work. School Committee.— The School Committee elections resulted in the retirement of the old committee in favour of Messrs E. Williamson R. Wade (secretary), E. Turner, P. M'Devitt, and W. Armitage. Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring commitee, some of whon? had serred the community faithfully for over 10 years. The balance sheet showed a balance of something like £8 to the good, so the new committee commences ■with everything in ite favour. Valedictory. — A social and farewell to our late schoolmistress, Miss W. 3£. Mitchell, who is leaving the service, took place in the Public Hall on the evening of the 27th ult. Notwithstanding the fact that the night was very ■wet, about 70 persons, yoVrag and old, turned up, and what gave promise of being a failure in the fore part of the* night turned out to be a thorough success. After a few songs and recitations, which were well received, the school children were marshalled on to the stage, and in a few well-chosen words presented Miss Mitchell with a beautiful clock and silver cream jug. The Chairman, on behalf of Miss Mitchell, thanked the donors for their pretty, but substantial, present. Dancing was then resumed with renewed vigour, and kept -<ip until midnight, when tea and sakes were handed round to all, after which more dancing followed. During the evening !Mt J. F. Anderson gave some capital selections on his phonograph. Votes of thanks •were accorded to Mr R. Johnson, who accepably filled the chair, and to Mr Anderson for his musical entertainment. "Auld lang syne" was then sung by all, and thus terminated one of the most pleasant and enjoyable entertainments spent here for some time past. Mining. — This has been a bad season for miners here, and there ia one continued growl of "No water." I hope they will get a start before the frost sets in. If they don't — well, •I suppose it will be more 'growling until the spring is well advanced. At present, indications are in their favour, as it is now laining.

May 8. — A most successful concert took place last month in aid of the Middlemarch Band, the talent being mostly local, assisted by the Dresden Company. The programme commenced at 8 sharp with a pianoforte solo, "Haiwatha," by- Mrs J. Matheson. This item was. well "received, and. was followed by a song, "Out on the sea>" by Mr T. Milroy. Mrs "W. Thompson sang "Dolly as a coach, - and .was recalled for heT deligthful rendering of the song. Mias Liddle sang "Stay in yom own back yard"; a banjo and mandolin duet, by Messrs Alf. Barker and Bailey, played in a masterly manner (encore); Miss Foote, sang, "A toll," and "Cricket on the hearth" as an encore ; Messrs Matheson and Christie, cornet and euphonium dnet ; Mr Hanna, exhibition of club-swinging ; Mr Alf. Barker, nieser banjo

eccentricities, creating roars of laughter in his song "A boy's best Mend is his mother." He v/as vociferously recalled, and gave a stump hf.-eeoh, entit'ed "Ancient and Modern History, With a Little Bit of Self-government," which brought down the house This item brought the first part to a close. The second part of the programme opened with a tenor solo, •'Maid of Athens," sung by Mr S. Bannister, followed by Mr Percy Jame«, who received an encore for his item. Mr J. A. Wallace then plpyed a. violin solo, for which he received a double encore; Mrs Black, song; Mr P. James, humorous song, "In the piano," with a good collection of jokes, a vocal duet, "Life's dream is o'er," Mrs Black and Mi* S. Bannister; Mr J. A. Wallace, violin solo, "Old Scotch songs." This was the last item on the programme. A dance then followed, which was thoroughly enjoyed, bringing a delightful evening to a close. — Occasional Correspondent.