WAIMEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 23

WAIMEA.

September 10. —The signs of spring are all in evidence; but its progress is not as quick as people say it was some other years. However, at the time of writing the weather is very beautiful indeed, and if it continues so for a week oar so everybody should be pleased. The Farm.—'During the coming week sowing will be almost general in the district. In the majority of cases the ground is in very good order, and is proving to be easily worked and in a suitable condition for the seed. Despite the high prices of manure hardly any crops is going in without some being sown with it. Farmers feel that, when sowing dear seed in ground that has cost a good deal to put in order, it would be wrong to hesitate at putting in manure, although the price of it is up over 50 per cent. The. district is carrying a large amount of stock at the present, and the turnip supply is proving quite ample. "Where swede turnips have been successfully grown these arc proving their value now in their carrying capacity. First Division Men.—The ballot, being double-barrelled on this occasion, has accounted fbi a large number of the remainder of the First Division. When cne looks do-wn the list of the familiar names one is struck by the fact that they can ill be spared from the industrial life of the conntry, and in the face of the new burdens of the country in deaths, debts, pensions, invalids, and economis loss, the farmer and worker in this country can hardly look forward to shorter hours and the lightening of labour. Farmers' Union.—A branch ot the Farmers' Union, formed recently at Riversdale, has had successful meetings of late. At the last meeting of the branch a practical paper on how to manage a 300-acre farm was read by Mr John Clark, of Waipounamu. Mr J. T. Prain, provincial secretary, was also present, and addressed the meeting. School Concert. —The annual school concert was held in the Drill Hall, Riversdale, on Friday, August 31; Mr Joseph Small presided. The concert opened with the National Anthem, after which a good programme- of musical items, songs, recitations, dance 3, etc., was submitted. The school children, in the parte allotted to them, did some very creditable work, which reflected to the advantage of tho3a who ciupervised their preparatory work. Tin following contributed items: —Misses Butter and Taylor, and

Mcssts W. D. Shelton and M. Monaghan. Besides several items rendered by ilie school children in groups, tho following contributed on tlieir own: —Misses Cassidv, Kelly, Condon, and Colgan, and Master Ti'her. Supper was provided by I lie local branch of the Red Cross Society. A dance followed, the recepits from which, together with the concert, wiil considerably alignment tho school funds.