WAIRAKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 23

WAIRAKI.

February 25. —The ■ weather, taken as a whole, has been- sultry for some time past, with now and again cold snaps, suggestive of frost.

The Farm.—The farming part of the community are busy with their harvest, which seems to be fair. The prospects for winter feed are good, the turnip crops, in some instances, being extra good. Birchwood fanners are disposing of their surplus calves at a highly remunerative price: £i is quoted as the average of one place, £3 10s of another, and so on, a purely speculative price, one would think. Railway Matters.—The Ohai Railway Board have had their suxvej-brs on the Wairio to Ohai route, making slight alterations in the survey preparatory to coming to some kind of arrangement with some of the coal mine owners, whose mines might connect up with the line. Messrs Tinker Bros, and the newly-formed Coaldale Coal Company feel that the time has arrived when railway facilities are necessary for development, and a private line from their respective coal areas could be easily laid down the flat to Wairio without a great deal of trouble. However, the Ohai railway route not being far distant, the Wallace County Council thought that perhaps they might be able to come to some kind of agreement whereby one railway would servo both coal areas. Scholastic.—Secondary education is evidently receiving more support than formerly from this district. From Nightcaps School alone about 15 scholars are attonding secondary schools in Invercargill, the Southland Girls' High School claiming sis, the

Southland Boys' High School five, and the Technical College four. Last year three girls secured senior free places, and it is gratifying to know they are continuing their studies. The alterations in the railway timetable last year did not affect the Girls[ High School, as tho lady principal has evidently brought her school time-table to suit, so that the train- children suffer as little as possible from the alteration's. Not so the Boys' High School. The powers responsible declared tho school open earlier than formerly, and tho train boys now, if they want to gain senior free places, will have to board in town, which makes a free place not a free place where parents cannot afford to board out their unfortunate boys, and gives all the advantages to the town boys. Fires.—The several traction engines engaged in carting coal from the different coal pits have been a source of worry to pro-perty-owners along the roads traversed by the engines for many years.* This season the dry weather has been in favour 01 fires, and it was not surprising to see a house in flames recently. Mr George Dickson's house caught fire, and would have been destroyed but for the timely help of the men from the Nightcaps Coal Company's works. The men got the fire under in a surprisingly short time; but a good deal of damage had been done, and the incident will serve to make the residents along the roads more alert to danger from passing traction engines.

General.—Private M. Colligan has returned from the war zone to this district, and was accorded a hearty and sincere welcome home. He received the customary gold medal from the Nightcaps Patriotio Committee, Miss Wright performing the task of pinning it on. Some time before Private Colligan arrived Private James Brighton camg_ home from the war. He was treated in like manner as others. The district wee pleased to see him home again, and looking so well after a severe illness.—lt is reported that no less than six motor cars are under order to bo delivered to gentlemen in the coalmining trade in Nightcaps. The new representative of law and order has a particular fancy for filling the cattle oound in Nightcaps with stray cattle. If he keeps up his vigilance the County Council will be offering tenders for cutting cocksfoot next season, as there are more householders using the long paddock than tie widows and fatherless, end the grass hitherto has never had a chance to seed.