KAIKOURA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 39

KAIKOURA.

j December 31. — The weather, wiuch hud i been bioken for" sonic rime, with ecwno i iwdvy rain, rck vm on f'f ••]■*! ma* Ev» and I kepi fine, wirli warm „ir from rh" norfh- ' v.e-*. urit'l rlii^ ra'iri'iir, -a stiff fcouiheriy 'ireezi. c-ar.ie up. It has passed over now in a heavy thunder shower, an<i J we trust that the morrow may be pWMtfls

for picnickers and the sports. The Boxing Day rates attracted the usual crowd, where old friendship were renewed. Those inclined to quieter ways drove along the nortr or south road and lunched on the beach. The Howard Vernon Company are drawing crowded houses this weefc here. Crops.— We farmers were glad of the fine weather, and haymaking has been general on the flat. Some fine crops, after being out rather long, were stacked. The oat usual. Some fields are" fee and clean, others show rather much smut. The growth 3iaa been rapid and heavy this last few weeks, and though things are a little )*(e the promise is fine. One or two bush settlers on the Seaward Valley sirfe tried to burn their clearings on Tuesday, but we have not yet heard what eort of a sweep the fire made. Steam Communication.— The s.s. Ripple has been in twice during the week. As the s.s. Wakatu draws Bft of water, and cannot get into the old wharf except with great caution, it is impossible for the Ripple, drawing lift, to approach nearer than 100 or 200 yards. She 6ends hercargo ashore in a launch that will take off 20 bales of wool at a time. The wool is dumped over the edge of the wharf into the launch, and as each bale is stowed a sling is placed round it, so that at the "eteamer's side the windlass is kept going-, and the wool shipped in a "jiffy." The Wakatu has been picking up wool along the coast. A. and P. Association.— The special prize donations for the coming Kaikoura A. and P. show amount to over £70, and should induce good competition. Sir Joseph Ward and several M.P.'s have been invited to attend. We would be pleased to see some of the Canterbury members in our district for a few days, as they would note that it was to the interests of Canterbury to open up this large area of rough country. The scenic and clirnatio attractions of Kaikoura are too little known, and the .difficulties of travel to and from here forbid those with only a short holiday to spend it here. Several parties, however, are camped by the sea under the beautiful native bush.