TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2855, 2 December 1908, Page 39

TAPANUI.

November 30.— Our district looks exceed- ■ ingly well at present, and a eplcndid rain on Saturday was very welcome. It was preceded by a few very hot days, and the drying winds — of which we have had too liberal a share of late— tended to retard growth. Although the weather has been ' good for some time past the heavy gales . have not been pleasant. Saturday's down- ', pour will help grain crops immensely, and grass i 3 now very plentiful. Turnip-sow-ing has commenced, and this work will soon bo completed. Shearing is general, and there is no lack of work for this class of labour. With a promising rise in the value of wool there is a mote healthytone amongst graziers. An increase of a penny or so per lb means a lot to graziers, and it would now appear that, although there will be no return to boom prices, a fair figure will rule at the coming sales. The clips this years should* be in capital order. I notice that Tapanui district has been contributing largely to Burnside markets of late, and a persual of tbe Daily Times' commercial reports will show that breeders in this part 'lave topped the market each week. The number of sheep railed to market every week must mean a considerable source of revenue to the railways, and the farmer obtaining over £1 per head clear of charges makes the -business a profitable one to all concerned. Annual Show. — The Farmers' Club's annual show takes place on Friday, December 11, and this year will be held on the rice- . course, as the show ground is under cultivation. The exhibition should be fully up to the average, and it is hoped that those having show stock will bring it forward. The prize-list is a liberal one, and in the ', dairy section — which is invariably a feature i of the show — the prizes should induce keen. ' competition. ._ Elections. — Locally the elections created very little excitement, and the chief interest was token in the Tua-peka contest, the district being now divided about equally between Clutha and Tuapeka electorates. In this part Dr Chappie appeared the most favoured of the Tuapeka trio, but the first" ballot put him out of the running. His supporters fully expected to see him in the second ballot, if he did not lead in the first poll. But when the numbers went up it was shown that Messrs Macpherson and Scott had the pull in the upper -and more populous end of the electorate. The second surprise was the extent of Mr Scott's majority at the second poll, as wiseacres predicted that Dr Chapul-e's votes would naturally go to the other Government candidate. But they went to Mr Scott, who scored well in this part, and as an earnest, level-headed, and practical man he should make a useful representative. Although tho new .electorate is called Tuapeka, it has lost all the old a?sociation«. From returning a Government candidate with a thousand votes to spare the other extreme is now reached. The severing of the L^awrencc portion has entirely changed the conditions. The County Severance Committee will have a firm supporter in the new member, who favoured the now county movement at the bv-electio", and again declared himself in its favour on the public platforms in the late elections . The defeat of the Minister of Lands also removes an j opponent to tbe nevr county. and I under j stand Mr Macpherson was not kindly disposed towards the scheme. In the licen-s-ing- question there was little or no interest locally. The fight that ajritated Dunodin was witnessed here years am, and of tho^c who took the trouble to roooi-d lhe! rolesr *oles a substantial majority favoured conditions as at present existing. Th< j seesaw contest for Dunedin North lias been followed with great interest, and Mr Thomson anpears to have favourably impressed people even at this distance, as the general cyj.iession is that he well deserved his win. Sporting.— The Tapanui Racing Club are already makinp preparations for their nual race meeting in January. The track has been greatly improved by w<*rkins? and too-dressing, and should be in cxci-l f eit order for the meeting. The amount giv-pn in stakes will be about fhP €a:ne ss in previous years, and a* the tide lias turned in favour oT the club another successful I meeting will repair the finances of the institution. Angling. — Fishermen are experiencing a very favourable season, and with the exception of a few short spells the Poir.a- • haka has been in good order since the opening day of thf season. Some very nice baskets are daily obtai.icd, and Ihis season .anglers are pavinp --neoial ailfntkm to the Rankleburn, where heavier fieh aie obtained than on this side of the mountains "With ihe constant fishing the local Ar.gJeis* Association is not neglecting the needs of the river, and already a largo consjcniiient of voting fish and ova has Loen liberaioJ, with more to follow, as the Clinton hatc];i-rv is furnishing a considerable ojtput this year. Land Sale.— The cutting up of what is known as Patterson's property on the town boundary should provide a sale of considerable local interest. This property. comprising some 70 acres, *as acquired by Mr John Patterson in the early eawniilling days, and for ma.nv years has been leased by the owner. The land is good, and being subdivided into suitable area<3, there should be a spirited sale on December , 12. Opportunities of procuring convenient-] sections of a few acres in extent are now becoming scarce, and the placing of half a dozen homes on Patterson's property i« desirable in every way. The success of the closer settlement of run 140b is a notable case in point, and that run now

J contains a number of steadings, where, not. so many years ago. a sledge hut afforded all the conveniences of the lessee, who held the country for a trifling rental. There is no doubt that if the Government would pay more attention to the opening up of waste blocks of land adjacent to towns like Tapa1 nui they would be benefiting tho people , and the revenue of the country. ,