BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 23

BALCLUTHA.

January 14.—Climatic conditions during the past week have been far from summerlike. The weather was very cold, and a misty rain made things unpleasant for two or three days. Yesterday (Sunday) showed a slight improvement. The surrounding country is looking at its best at present, the growth on all farms being very good. has commenced on many places A solendid crop of autumn-sown oats is to be seen on Mr A. Smollet s farm at Awamangu,. where the owner has a. 16-acre paddock in the stook, the yield being exceptionally heavy.., All hands about tho olace have been engaged in the turnip field" on thinning operations. Daughters and small boys, beside the " guid housewife," have been conscripted for this work on account of the shortage of labour. Holidays.—The greatly-mcreased oost of railway travelling was, no doubt, responsible for the exceptionally large number of people who made 'the seaside their happy hunting-grounds during the summer vacations. Kaka Point proved to be an easy "favourite" for holiday-making, and all available accommodation has been secured right up to the present. The Point provides a starting-point for many delightful rambles in the bush and picnic excursions along the coast, besides having a safe beach for children, and also sea-bathing. Pounawea, on the other hand, has its own admirers. While' lacking the attractions of surf-bathing, the holiday-maker finds the time go all too quickly in rowing trips up the beautiful Owaka and Cathns-*Rivers or fresh water-bathing in the _ estuary. Pounawea's bugbear is the mosquito; but, porhans, some day a second General Goethals will arrive, and the pest bo axterminated. Then will Pounawea some into its own. ~. , , Personal.—The wedding took place a* Auckland last Monday of Miss Hilda Butler (daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Butler. Ryde, Isle.of Wight) and Mr John F. Walsh (son of Mr and Mrs John Walsh, Milton), town clerk, Balclutha. The bride journeyed out from the Old Country, and arrived in Now Zealand but a few days previous to the wedding. Mr Walsh met his future wife while an inmate- of an English lmwital, and thus tha war is responsible for" yet another wedding. The couple are spending the honeymoon at Rotorua, Christohiirch, and Milton.-—Mr John Edwards, loenl .manager of Stewarts's, drapers, who leaves for tho CI training camp on January 14, was met by members of the local brass band on Thursday evening and mado tho recipient of a suitaßle present- for hie services as a bandsman. An enjoyable social evening was spent. Various speakers made eulogistic reference to tho departing member's ability as a music:an and his obliging disposition, and Mr Edwards suitably responded.—Tho following men leave on Wednesday for the CI camp:—R. A. Hair, G. H. Thomson. J. R. Waklio. J. Edwards (Balclutha), and J. F. Hear (Hillend). Picnics. —The Greenfield settlers held their annual picnic and sports on" Wednesday last. Despite the war the function was successful and the attendance good. No better illustration of 'the fact that monov is still as plentiful as ever coulcl well be observed than that to bo seen at the sports ground. Motor cars, costly models of the latest makes, were presentin force, 'the drivers of ' horse-drawn vehicles being in a deoided minority. The takings (over £6O) showed that tho purseetrings have pot yet bc-en'tightened: but, at any rate, tho money was donated t© a good cause, as it is to be handed over to 'the Patriotic Funds.