POMANAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 39

POMANAKA DOWNS.

December ?. —For some time back the jßaluiation has been, "Fine weather, but too dry." Yesterday the eky seemed to show signs of approaching .rain, and when. I awoke this morning I fully expected to see the ground •wet. But, no. To-day, about dinner-time, very dark clouds were seen circling round the Blue Mountains, and soon, there came " peals of thunder. This gladdened my heart, I can arouse you; but little or uo rain came till about & p.m., and. whilst I am writing this- it ia coming down beautifully. JThat a picture the surface of the earth ■will be to-morrow, for .there is bo much heat in the ground: that the crops will simply walk upward*. , Tb» Goto Show.—During the week now ended the Got* show took place. 'There was •>- first-rate • turnout of cattle, sheep, and horses, and an equally good display of sight•eers and judges'. I saw some of our settlers firing themselves, *but beyond that no exhibition cam* from the Downs. I was very pleased, however, te see. that our neighbour Mr Turnbull, manager of the Vfairuna Downs estate, gained - eecond prize for saddle hack , and first prize fox the same animal as a lHWgy horse. I have noticed this animal on «oTeza.l occasioiis r and it lias -eery fiji«. action when trotting. Our member (Mr Malcolm) was present on the ground, and he was arking me if any of the settlers wished to change the t.i.p. to th« 33 .years' lease. I said I did not know, but I.didn't think it *cry likely. I see our enterprising neighbours, Messrs IClndoe, are getting up - a first-class woolshed. I suppose they think that people who get top prices for. their hoggete must have everything up to "date. , Ecclesiastical. —A good story comes from a church not a hundred miles from this. It reminds m» of eomw pictures which appeared in tbe London Punch a good many years ago -wherein M*Nab, the elder, dressed in kilts, ■with a fine Tan> o' Shanter on. was shown ia different stages of excitement, and, if I remember rightly, in one of these stages MfNab was seen to be dancing a Highland fling >n the top of an upturned organ. From all I can learn, the organ tn the above-mentioned church was nearly subjected to the same treatment by another worihy elder. Wairuna School.—The examination of this school took place yesterday week. The lesult I have not yet heard, but frcin what •the schoolmaster says I think it will b3 a very good pass. The break-uo for Christmas holidays takes place on ike 19th, and on the evening of that day there is going to be * grand concert and social. It is almost needless to add social, for the Wairuna.. ladies are the greatest socialists out.