TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2884, 30 June 1909, Page 39

TAPANUI.

•June 28.— Midwinter is now past, and th' weaihpr co far has been exceptional]-' miid. Certainly on moiv than on/* ccn.-i-:cn it ha= •' threatened " to snow, but beyond a few ~kiff« nothing more serious has resulted. Th<*m has b?sn sufficient moisture to softer the lea irrcund, -but not ono»£rh to make- the roads disagreeable fcr ; raffle, and ivifch the shortest day pa-=t, a snell of bad weather will not be jri-eatlv felt. Fnvm work is all w-ell foiward, am! a 'aig© area of !am3 is getting tno benefit of the occasional frosts, and wiil be in (rood order for sprint? working. Turniping sheep is pi incipal item with landowners at present, and every ;veek a larg-" 1 numbs v leave the branch for Burnsirio and the freezing- works. There will be no scarcity of winter feed, and etock generally should corns through in first-class order. A Dull Season. — Fo'iowing 1 apon the past few brisk years, the present winter is a marked contrast. Clearing sales are entirely afcsent, and But few properties aie

[ changing- hands. With the arrival of poor I prices for grain and prospects not too i bri^iJ" f°r mutton, the farmers have modi- ] fied their outlay in the matter cii labour j and improvements accordingly, and hence !it is 1 * dull times generally. The „" noble j army " of agents must be experiencing j a specially slack time, but they* battle round gallantly, in spite of poor business. Football. — The popular game jf football • i is ths principal outdoor amusement this I season, a.nd sonic interesting games have i resulted in i.eh flag matches -between Tapaj nui, Heriot, Kelso, and Wadkaka "Valley. | So far the' results ar^a in favour of the | Valley team, but a reverse at Heriot on I Saturday, wher the home team pla-yed a winning game from start to' finish.! gave the other clubs a. " lock-in "' for the ilag, and ths remaining .matches will be made more interesting. All the games have been played in a good spirit, and have been well patroni~9cl- by tho public. Gymna&iuin." — The "gym." continues to ■ nourish, aud the junior class ~is well attended. This useful institution' should be j strongly supported by parents, as it I affoidf not. only an excellent form of ' | recreation, -but tends to keep young lads j away from the screet -corners of an evening-. The- young men who devote their time regularly to instruction the Jbest thanks of_ parents. *' Poultry Show. — The, annual xxmltrj show, takes plao& on July 17. and ths committee hope for .tetter sueotKs t-ha-n last year, when a heavy snowstorm resulted - .in a furious lo3s of . entries end a .poor attendance of the public The special, prizelist this year has bsen liberally subscribed to. and there are indications of a successful show Poultry f«;rcying does not appear to be 'so popula.r in, years gone by, 'Vat the annual exhibition in this, and no doubt in other- districts. ha~ ten<Jad to improve the quality of^ the birds kept, a? well as affording opportunities of obtaining- othei varieties. • River Pollution. — 1 notice that the Otagt Acclimatisation Society have taken steps to endeavour to. prevent the pollution of tho Pomahaka by the dre'dg-e operating above Kelso. This stream has afford ?(] C - ocd fibhing' in past yvears, but the whole stretch from Kelso to the Molyneux is now in a pea-soup condition. If tha dredging -industry assumed any dimensions I do not think tlmv* wouid be much objection, but it appears a pity that co much money should have been spent in stockingthe river with fish and tli9ji to be destroj"P-l forcngling for thecak-r of a single dredging enterprise. A great many local people, as I wi?ll as visitors from all 'parts, spend pleasant days in the Pomahaka during the fishing season, and then interests are suioly worthy of consideration. Wherever dredging takes place it .leaves desolation and rum behind, and the chief results of the dredeer a.re unsightly heaps of I 'taU'i-n«js and &n •occumulaTiion ct*" eld machinery. The dredge-owner pockets the profit (if ihero be ony !J and uioves oft. to pastures new.