TAPANUI NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 31

TAPANUI NOTES

(From Oce Own Correspondent.) TAPANUI, June 21. On Monday lust there was a coating ol nearly six inches of snow on the ground, and tiiis had just about disappeared on tha low country by Friday evening, when a fresh and heavier fall occurred. On lowlying lands there were from six to eight inches, and varying in depth to upwards of a foot as the mountains were approached. On the high country there must be a great depth, 'ihere was very, little thaw on Saturday, and business people were occupied most of the day in clearing pathways to their premises. Outdoor work was practically impossible, and there was very little traffic on the roadways. Yesterday the snow disappeared quickly, but grass and turnips were still well coated, and stock would find difficulty in obtaining feed. The fall is seasonable, at all events, and may mean better weather in the early, spring than we have had for .mo years. Our stationmaster (Mr C. Haines), who has been in charge at Tapanui for the past two years, has been transferred to Invercargill to take up office work. During his stay here Mr Barnes has proved himself a most, obliging and capable official, and popular with all classes. He was transferred at short notice, and there was littio time for farewells, but the business people handed him a cheque.to mark their appreciation of him as a railway official and a, citizen. Mr Murray, from Invercargill, succeeds Mr Barnes, Interest seems to increase daily in tha war since the New Zealanders have been engaged in the Dardanelles, and , tho casualty list is anxiously awaited. Quite a number of district .men are now on tha wounded list, and a few have been reported killed. Last week Mr James Bromley received word that his son Alexander had been killed in action. This young man, who was 25 years of age, was a native of Tapanui, and a bush worker by occupation. He enlisted at Wellington in the Mounted Rifles, and was just the class of man for enduring hardship. Two other brothers are serving the Empire. From all accounts there will be quite an exodus of young men from here with the next reinforcements, and several are making arrangements for the control of their properties to enable them to go to the front. Tho Kelso district is pretty well cleared oat of young men of suitable age, and that locality has been specially prominent in supplying recruits ever since the warstarted. Two who left for Trentham last week—Messrs James N. M'Kenzie and George Risk (members of the firm of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) —-will be specially missed, as they took an active part in ail public matters. Mr MTvenzie was a most popular official as secretary of the Kelso A. and P, Association, and Mr Risk was auctioneer for the firm he represented.

The death was reported on Wednesday] of Mr Robert Elliot, who owned a property in this district from the days -of the early settlement. The deceased was shepherding on Greenvalc station after arriving in the country, and then selected a block of land at the Flodden. At first it was occupied as a pastoral run, but later the owner started cultivating, and finally had the property all in grass. Pie did a considerable amount of tile draining, and also planted a couple of fairly large plots of trees—pines and larch. These are now advancing to maturity, and stand out prominently. Some years ago, with advancing age", Mr Elliot went north to reside with Tiis nephew (Mr John Beattie), and the Flodden property was taken over by. Mr R. A. Rodger, who built a commodious dwelling, stabling, etc., and continued to improve the land. The late Mr Elliot was generally respected as an upright, sterling man, afid a most capable and successful sheep farmer. Mr James Davidson, who has fold his valuable farm at Grookston to Mr Hill, of Canterbury, had a most successful clearing sale last week. Mr Davidson purchased his section when Brooksdale was cut up, and has so improved the place that it has more than doubled in value during the years he has been in possession. Stud Romney sheep were a specialty with Mr Davidson (who was originally a blacksmith in the Warepa district), and he has been, most successful on the land. He purposes having a tour of the North Island before again settling clown. "The Dunedin Queen Carnival scheme

creating interest In this locality, and tickets are being sold freely. .Needless to say, each visitor to the district is pushi g the sale of tickets for his or her different queen, so that so far as the country is concerned the favours will be well distributed. In the north end of the district Miss Stewart (Queen of Commerce) is well and favourably known, and she is sme of considerable support. Then the C ountry Queen (Miss Smith) will score heavily, and if the latter’s supporters join forces they should stand a fair chance of heading the Mr William Anderson, who met with a, serious motor accident lately, left Tap amu on Friday on a holiday trip. He will probably “ do” Rotorua before returning, and the change s'hould see him .restored to health again.