THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 8

THE COUNTRY.

Correspondent are reminded that all letters for the current week’s issu- mu-tgreach Dunedin KOI LATER THAN MONDAY MJfHIT. Letters coming to hand on Tue day are too la e, and a e thus a week old when they appear.

MAKAKOIIA. November 3.-On October 15 a very ploa*ant soda! was held in the Makarora to bid farewell to Miss Ewing, who is about to enter the married state. During the ( «venin <r songs and duete -ere rendeied by Mrs Millar and Miss Ethel Ewing and j Messrs E. Cameron, A. Humphrey, K. , Walton J. Hansen, W. Perkins R- Lu , T Allan, J. Matthews, J. Kirieman, and A. Humphrey, jun Recitations wero^lso Kivcn by Messrs O. Norman and J. Hansen, fir Arkle’s graphonola also dispensedsome really good music, which was much apj predated. The items were ah very weU rendered and received, especially tn ee action songs by the school. ch^r^ a i r ?nan ! Re fore supper was announced the cna.i , <Mr Like called on Miss Ewmg, and pro- , iented her with a well-filled purse of sover- • a snull token of the esteem m : Xh “o U had by the | district. She had been a c huS and would be sorely missed in the on men, where her playing and singing were nmch appreciated. In the Sunday ’ sc 'l°° ’ t j, c which she was superintendent, and in tnc Tennis Club, of which dhe was the mai stay. Mr M’Mcnamin and Mr Hansen aso fi* Miss Ewing’s qualities. IVfcfts g±, t a. n“it Uttle spctcfl. thanked the donors' for their (Wncious B lft ; a ”J Jgj •he would long remember the happy cujs spent in Makarora. After “I’or Ae« »| iC’.ly good fellow ” had been sung, tlie Lonntcous supper supplied by c ■ was partaken of. Towards the end of too evening Mr M'Mcnamin moved sotes of thanks to the accompanists. Mrs Luke an W.T Ewing, and 10 all those who had hoioed to make the sociid the great success it had been Mr Ewing then thanked one ?„d all fo" the gilt they had te.de to to daughter that evening. He was very plea ed that sucli good feeling existed in the dis- - triet towards his family, and hoped it would long continue. A very pleasant evening was then brought to a close by the singing of “ MmTiage.-T^'e 0 ' marriage of Mr Samuel Young Smellio. late of North Taien now of “ UrvdMc.” Kak.apita.ka, and Miss Blanche Fwing. of Makarova, was celebrated at tlm ‘h,e bride’s parents on October 28. ceremony wa» performed ■. bv the Rev. James Thomson, of Pembioke. j The bridesmaids were Miss Ethel Ewing j and Miss Dorothy Faulks, and the grooms- j men were Mr M’Mcnamin and Master Leslie i Ewing. The bride looked charming in a beautiful cream dress with the usual veil and orange blossom. After the ceremony the guests sat down to a sumptuous breakfact at width the usual toasts wore given and responded to. The bridal couple then loft for their honeymoon trip, via yuevrwtown To the bride the bridegroom g gdt was a magnificent go'd handle and to the bridesmaids a beautiful go'd brooch each. 'The bride received numerous onci costly gifts from her many friends, also several cheques. The couple carry wtth them the h-st wishes of all for their future happi-ri'-cc. and prosperity. Hunting. —This last week another att'mnt was made to found up the notorious Jumbo land bullocks, and I am pleased to be ahln to renort that tlm party were sue-yr-ssful in yarding 10 of these in prime condition.

pnnUMKI DOWN*. November 3. —We had a terrible blow last ■ftlon(li*v, which unroofed some buildmgs, and the corrugated iron sheets were seen flvinff in the air like airships, and on Wednesday we had very heavy rain, which lasted. T am sure. 30 hours. The Farm.— The rain and subsequent heat kave broueht 'on vegetation -rapidly. A Atrong. healthy braird .is seen in the cats, and the grass is giving plenty of food. 1 ho (period of short-commons is past. Dairy Factory.—l am glad to hear good accounts of our Wairuna Cheese Factory. Considerable more milk is being supplied and I am told that seven more crates of cheese have been manufactured this season than for the same period last year. Small beginnings make big endings. South Otago Freezing Works. —It is very satisfactory to road the report and balance sheet of this company. It has already proved a boon to this Agricultural district, and a large addition is being made for storage purposes. Like_ manv other companies and private individuals, it is hampered by shortage of capital, and the chairman’s suggestion that shareholders should each take up other two shares fully paid up in a good one. I am sure there are many shareholders "who have the interests of the ■works at heart, whocould do this, and thus put the company in a sound financial position. but there are others who cannot do ft. though rhey would wish to do so, and *ll they can do is to supply as much stock

(as possible and rely on their wealthier brothers to keep the money market right. > Farmers’ Union.—The Clinton Branch- of the union held a meeting in Clinton last . Thursday after the stock sale. Circulars were handed round to the members from the Immigration Department with reference to boy labour. Any farmer wishing a boy j has to deposit £lO with the Government towards passage money. This money will be returned to the farmer out of wages earned by the boy, who is to get 7s 6d a week for the first year, and kept in food and clothing. Inquiries wore made as to what was being done to enlarge the Wairuna siding. So far nothing has been done, although it was understood that work would have been commenced some time ago. Mr John Roy. who was one of the deputation to the Minister, referred to a conversation with the engineer about the yards for loading stock at Clinton. The engineer agreed with him that the yards were not now suitable, and were beyond repair, and promised to have new yards put up. The secretary was also requested to write the engineer to provide a weighbridge. It was proposed and seconded that the Auctioneers’ Association lie written to with the request that conveniences be built at the cattle yards. Picir’c. —The annual picnic of the Farmers’ Union was discussed at the meeting, and it was N decided to hold it on Christmas Day at Mr Steele’s bush. A committee was appointed to go into details. Tea and sugar will bo supplied, but families are requited to bring eatables with a bottle of cream and cups. There arc a •certain number of cups in the posecss’on of the union for bachelors. A committee of ladies will receive all the baskets, and their contents will be handed round in duo course. Horse-breeding.—l see that Mr Herbert hac. a very serviceable-looking horse travelling the district called The Captain. Mr Carmichael is also going to travel lbs horse, and I saw Mr Rradfield out with his horse the other day. I think Mr Murray’s horse, The Social'st. will also be looking round, so there will bo enough to choev-'p from. Wa iruna Sunday School. —Wlrlst we are all busy looking after the affairs of this world it i~ pleas'ng 'to know that the Wainma Sabbath School and Bible Class is assuming quite, an important, position. I am told that there are 40 scholais in the two classes; Mr W. CWko in charge of the Sabbath S'-hool and Mr Baird of the Bible Class. Mbs Banka also teaches in the Sabbath S-hool. There was a Sabbath school on the Downs for a long time, but T think "t rs not held at present. I would bke to see the Downs school in full force aeain.

lIUKOKIiI. November 1. —The weather hero has been very rough, and farm work has come to a standstill. A heavy Hood was experienced last week, and some farmers have sustained heavy losses. One farmer lost ewes and lambs valued at £4O, and others had smaller lessee. Farm Work.—Farmers are well ahead with work here. All cats have been sown, lambing is about completed, most of the potato crops are planted, and preparations are being made for the turnip crop. Concert and Ball.—Browns Celtic Society held its annual concert and ball on Friday, October 29. It proved a great success. There was a record crowd in attendance, although the floods prevented some of the performers and many who were coming from a ebstanec putting in an appearance. Dairy Factory.—The Browns Co-operative Dairy Factory has boon receiving milk for some time. The supply has increased considerably this season.

KYRHIKD. November 7.—The weather during the last two months has been all that could be desired. It has been one of the best springs that we have had for several years. Farm work is well advanced, most of the cereal crops being sown and in many cases through the ground. Farmers are now busy preparing the ground for turnips. Feed is plentiful, and all stock is looking well. Lambing.—limbing is now nearly over, and, judging by the number of lambs to bo scon in the paddocks, fairly good percentages may bo expected. I have hoard of one farmer having marked 106 per cent. Ploughing Bee. —A ploughing bee was held here on the 27th October, a number of the neighbours turning out to give Mr Healey a day’s work. Ten teams put in an appearance, and the result was that about 20 acres were turned over and sowed in grain. This should be a great help to Mr Hoalev.

Removals.—Several holdings have changed hands here lately, nnd more are likely to do so before loner. .A social was held in the Hall on the 9th October to bid farewell to Messrs N. Fletcher and <M‘Namara Bros., who have sold their farms and are leaving the district. The former, being a married man. was presenter! with n, silver tea service, and the two latter with a gold albert each. School.—Our school was examined bv Inspector Robertson ‘ last month with very satisfactory results. The teacher (Mrs

Hawk os) has been ill for a considerable time; but we are pleased to hear that she is now recovering, and we hope to see her back amongst, us before long. In the meantime the school has been carried on by relieving teachers. Improvements.—The Taieri Lake Domain Board has been going in for extensive improvements. It has erected a quantity of very substantial fencing and planted out a large number of trees. There are now about 20.000, and as the most of them are growing well in the course of years there should be some good plantations. Rabbit-trapping. Rabbit-trapping has been over for some time, and, owing to the high prices given for rabbits and skins, some fairly good cheques were made. Although they got a good thinning out through the winter and early spring, a good many young ones have made their appearance lately. I do not think many of tho geople around here will % agree with Mr cott, M.P., in trying to have rabbittrapping abolished. There is no doubt that wherever ground has been well trapped and systematically poisoned and ferreted afterwards the rabbits have been kept in check. The real trouble is that a large number of .landowners do little or nothing during the summer to keep them down.

OUTRAN. November 10.—-The weather still continues unsettled, rain falling almost every second day. The ground is so thoroughly saturated that every shower necessitates a complete stoppage of work, and in consequence farm work is in an exceedingly backward state, which will mean another late harvest. Deaths.—l have to record the deaths of Mrs Ballock, Mr Jas. Buchanan, sen., and Mr Jas. Dow, of Newton. Mrs Ballock died in Dunedin Hospital as the result of a chill. She leaves in addition to her husband four young children to, mourn their loss. She was buried in the Milton Cemetery, of which town, I understand, she was a native. Mr Buchanan was up till recent years an enthusiastic bowler, and his “J.J.’s” played many a wonderful shot. During the past three seasons, however, the infirmities of old ige prevented him playing. and he passed away at the residence of Mr Watson.- Mr Jas. Dow’, of Newton, was one of the early pioneers, to' whoso .energies in early days much of the present prosperity and settlement of the district is due. The deceased gentleman was well known and highly respected. Concert. —The Oddfellows are giving another concert on the 21st inst., and, given a fine night, a good attendance should bo assured.

OTA KOI* . November 10. —The weather has been very trying here during the last, week; it has been raining almost incessantly, with severe winds now and again. Work is almost at a standstill, and cows arc not doing nearly .as well as they ought to at this time of th ? your. Farms.—One of the largest farms iTT this district is changing hands again; the last, two tenants between them only occupied the place for about 17 months. It. is to be hoped that the incoming tenant, will remain longer with us, for it is not to the advantage of a farming community to have its residents continually changing. Church. —The concert which was given last month in aid of our church repairing funds proved an unqualified success, and after all liabilities have been met, there should be a goodly sum left for the work in hand.

School. —The new lonelier. Mr 0. Swan, has taken un In's (Inties at our school, and to all appearances ho lias taken a Rood hold of the reins, which had cone rather slack during the interregnum. Wo wish Mr Swan every success in his position, and hope that he will make a long stay at Otakou.

Excursions. —The wreck of tho Tyrone has done some real good to our district. The steamers Waireka and Mahcno run regular Sunday trips to Harrington Point, and a great number of people avail themselves of tho opportunity, and it tends to make this place more popular for weekender? and will give an impetus to residents here to build cribs and so tiring more peonle to our district. . Shrike. —Even here the strike of the waterside workers makes itself felt. Rutter is rising again, families cannot get as much sugar as they reriuirc. and we all wonder where things will end if matters do not to a speedy settlement. ' DI!NTnOO\, ■ November 9. —From October 25 to 28 we h<*rl a continuous north-west gale. On the 291 h the weather changed, and we have had misty and showerv weather every other day since then. There has not been anv heavy rain, but we would like to sec* a good inch before it takes up again. Residents a few miles distant round about us think they, have had enough rai j for the present needs. Farm Work.—The crops are looking well, and the prospects are bright for the season. The farmers are busy preparing the land for rape and turnips. Taking the lambing

season all round, it has been very good, and the percentage will bo 100 among the paddock flocks. During October were registered 112 points of rain hero. Death.—On October 20 the people here received quite a shock by the death of Mr J. W. Lockart, our schoolmaster. Mr Lockart was laid un about a month previously, and had resumed his duties, but was taken ill again on Thursday, 16th, and died on the 20th. The cause of death was heart trouble. Much sympathy is felt here for his widow and two little children. Church Social. —The Presbyterian Church intends holding an annual social on December 4, when a number of church matters will be talked over. It is three years since a social was held in connection with this church. Owing to the death of Mrs Hay and later the Rev. P. S. Hay resigning the charge, the social was postponed, and now that we are settled again with the Rev. Alex. Sangster, we hope it will be held annually.