FAIRFAX.

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

FAIRFAX.

May 11 — We ara hurtling on through May, and a great many of our fields are still studded with stooks, which weeks of wTetched weather have rendered sodden, black, and in some cases almost useless. It is very disheartening and tantalising for the tiller of the soil to see the fruits of his labour spoiling before his eyes, just when he was about to stretch forth his hand to grasp them. Mr A. Flack's mill is in the' neighbourhood at present threshing, here a little and there a. little. Most of the farmers are threshing a stack or two, as they require horse feed before commencing the winter work ; but the greater portion of Southland's grain will require to sit in the stacks until Springtime.

Valedictory. — A basket social was held in the Fairfax Hall on the evening of Wednesday, 9th mat., in honour of Mr John Robertson, who has Bold his farm at Fairfax, and is embarking for the "land of brown heath and shaggy Wood" in a. short time. During the evening — which was chiefly spent in tripping the "light fantastic" to excellent music supplied by Miss M'lnn-ess (piano), Captain Robertson, and Messrs Kitto and Urquhart (violins) — Mr D. Younger, one of the oldest residents of the district, in the course of a felicitous speech, asked Mr Robertson to accept a handsome traveling rug and a salver-mounted walking-stick. Other settlers having made characteristic speeches, Mr Robertson suitably replied.

Groper's Bush .Public Library.— The annual meeting of subscribsra to the Groper's Bush Public Library was held on May 2. The balance sheet showed the financial position of the institutipn to be thoroughly sound. It was agreed to devote £7 to the purchase of new books, which vfl'l leave a- sufficiency for casual expenses.

Stock Sale.— At the last Thornbury stock =a!e there was a good atten3a,rice of the public, and a medium entry of both sheep and cattle. Sheep, barring old ewes, which went at boiling-down prices, were in good demand ; but there was no improvement in the cattle market.