OTAGO CENTRAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 35

OTAGO CENTRAL.

Social at Omakau.— On Friday evening, 27th July, a social was held in the Omakau Hall, being one of a series that is being held throughout the district in aid cf the Blacks Phrmpton Club's funds. Musio was supplied by Meaars J. Frewen and others, and songs ■were contributed by the Misses M'Lemmn (Matakanui), and by MSesarß M'Kearney, Dunlop Ooul«on, Brookes, Brown, Huddlestone, •nd others. MrFielden gave his inimitable darky Cakewalk and several amusing negro ditties, which helped to enliven tihe proceedings. Refreshments were provided, and a first-class evening** amiusement w*s kept up till well on to rooming. The club's funda will benefit by some £6 ot £7. „,«.,. Railway Opening to Cha*to Creek.— The first train ran to Oh«*to Creek on Monday last, lint bo far tihere has been no traffic whatever, and, a* w*s expected, the returns will not pay for axle grease, the trouble being the want of a »hed and sftationmaster. On Tuesday the ■train ran down for three passengers, and the coach reaches Chatto from Omakau almost simultaneously, so that little is gained. However, later on the material for the buildings at Clyde and Alexandra will go on to Chafcto. I understand the railway is ballasted to within about four miles of Alexandra, and it will be finished Iwth to Alexandra and Clyde long before the buildings can be erected. The tenders are just in now, and before the contractors can get timber to the site, and hay«« it properly seasoned, months must elapse, and •A* consequence is that the railway lino will ht ready ah«ad of the buildings— i.e., if there is no delay with the material for the bridge. Up-country people have been agitating for an opening to Ch*tto Creek, which is of litWe ■value to them when obtained, and have never puched the Government to hurry on the buildings, nor has the league in Dunedin seen the delay likely io take place in this connection. I am credibly informed that there will be 1500 tons of material in the buildings, and "the contract time is six months, to which c*n be added at least two more. , . Irrigation. — Coneiderable interest is being taken° in -the Government proposal* respecting irrigation There is abundance of -water going to waste in the many creeks that flow from the Dunstan -ranges, and, properly conserved, there should be an abundant supply available to irrigate the whole country be-, tween the foot of -bbo ranges and the Ma*i»heriMa River. Mr David Barron has recently •pied out the land for the purpose of securing certain water rights, and people are hopeful that ere long this eohenie will be put in operation The value of irrigation can be seen in many places here, notably on Mr John Wilson's Devonshire Farm, and -the bringing of water on to the dry It d here would make it blossom as the rose," whilst all the dry land now lying barren and unproductive between Chttto Creek and Clyde and down to Alexandra could be brought into profiitabje occupation. Irrigation, in fact, will be the aalTatdon of interior Otago. Land Settlement.— The news tha.t the Government toad arranged to take over from Messrs Rosa and Glendindng the lease* of Home Hills and Lauder, in addition to that of Blaokstone. already determined, was hailed •with delight by people here There is a deanand for land that cannot be satisfied, and there will be some excellent properties available on those runs next March. I have no hesitation in predicting, too, that the demand for the land will fully justify all the correspondence that took place hurt year concerning 1' An Ideal Place for a Creamery.— l have often wondered that the people of Ida Valley were so backward in the matter of dairying faoilities. There is no better pW for a creamery, indeed for a factory, than Id* VaH«y with its acres upon acres of splendid cattle counAry. and I am of opinion that a fully-equipped factory, with branch creameries at"L»uder and Spottis, could turn out a local •rtrcle and keep the up-country butter trade in onr own district. Certainly a creamery would p«v handsomely, worked in conjunction with the Taieri and Peninsula Company, aaid ih«t could be easily got if the farmers would take the initiative. Th* Lauder district, too, oould easily run a creamery, a,nd 1 nope to ■cc the matter taken up and pushed.