MANDEVILLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 35

MANDEVILLE.

June 7. —The weather has been ideal from the farmer’s point of view for a long time, and one repeatedly hoars . from northern visitors what advantages Southland has by a liberal rainfall. Unquestionably we have had a prosperous year, for which we aro truly thankful; but it must not be forgotten that vve have loan years and many of them, although complete failures are unknown. High Prices. —The high prices ruling for all our land produces is circulating such a- lot of money amongst all classes _ that things may well be said to be simply booming in Southland. The small _ acreage of oats and the partial failure of this cereal in the north has caused a great demand to set in, and forced prices up to a level never before reached as far as I am aware, and proves the wisdom of our Government in enforcing the embargo. Jho wheat crops, too, were this year far above the average, and as the frost was conspicuous by its absence until the corn was well past the dangerous stage, the grain is simply perfect, save slightly soft in rare instances. The yields are so good and prices so high that I have heard of several instances where the one crop returns sufficient to pay the cost price of the land. Frozen, meat, wool, butter, and cheese are all in great demand, with prices never before beard of, and the prospects arc that the highest has not been reached, unless this awful war, which is the principal factor, comes to a speedy end. which, unfortunately, in the face of the latest happenings, is too much to look for. A Quiet June. —Our township is experiencing the quietest time on record. So many of our young men being away in the fighting line and so ,vna,ny more in training seems to have brought practically every amusement to a close, save air occasional concert, sale of work, etc., to help those who are suffering from the effects brought about by the war. One would hardly expect it to be otherwise, when each clay we sec pages of names of the dead and wounded amongst thqse who are fighting for us, with the end by no means in sight. Amusements. —The Wallace Company, which is travelling through the province giving concerts to raise funds for the Belgians, paid Mandeville a call on Thursday evening. Although the night was bitterly cold, the attendance was good, and the response was exceptional when we consider that it was but a few weeks before that the local people raised some £BO. Freezing Works.—The block in the freezing works through insufficient ships has had a disastrous effect on the rabbiters, and our townsmen who earn their livelihood principally by trapping bunny have everybody’s sympathy in being _ prevented from taking advantage of the high market value in all importing countries. Personal.—Mr M. Roche, who has just recently entered into possession of the Mandeville Railway Hotel, is an old Mandeville boy. having got the greater part of his education in the local school. As a boy be was verv popular with his school mates, and now he is equally popular with the. residents and travelling public. His sister, too. who has accompanied him. is by no means a stranger to Mandeville, and all are pleased to see''thorn back again, and trust that they will remain in our township and take ' a live interest in its affairs as of old.