TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 23

TAPANUI.

March 4.—Harvest is proceeding satisfactorily,. with "a continuance of fine Weather for another fortnight or ,three weeks will see the work pretty well through. There are some good crops of oat* to be seen, although in places tSicy may not thrash up to expectations. 'JL'fi© dry, hot weather ripened the grain too quickly. The area in grain is not large, and on many farms only sufficient is grown for home use. Turnip crops and grass paddocks are looking dry, and a soaking rain is much wanted to revive them. Slight showers last week were beneficial, but a steady downpour is needed. Roads. —With so much motor traffic the gravel roads are becoming tno worse of wear. Car traffic is severe on the metalled tracks once they begin to break, and the result is that the surface is swept away in dust. Some of our' principal roads are very rough for car use, and will take a lot of patching to improve them. Labour Shortage.—One local mill-owner is having difficulty in manning his plant, whilst other ' teams have been on strike for higher pay. One rate asked (Is 9d an hour) is a record for this class of work, and labourers should knock out good cheques this season. The runs, however, will be short, as there are only small lots to be thrashed on most farms. Some thrashing from fire stock has been done, hut it is not safe to take any risks when the grain is ready to go into stack. Death.—The death occurred on Thursday last of another of our pienedrs, in the person of Mrs John Howat, who had reached the great age of 82. Mrs Howat came to New Zealand in 1866 to join her husband at Tuapeka Mouth, and after a short residence there they removed to Tapanui. Mr Howat owned the ” Milrig”_ sawmills, and was well known in the timber trade until the native forests in this district were cut out. The family grew up at Milrig, and have drifted away to homes of their own, with the exception of one daughter. For some years past Mr and Mrs Howat have lived in retirement, with the daughter mentioned, and until a few years ago the deceased lady enjoyed robust health. She was generally respected, and leaves another blank m the rapidly thinning ranks of our pioneer settlers. Tire remains were interred in Tapanui Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, the Rev. S. E. Hill conducting the burial service. In. the Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning the Rev. Mr Hill preached an impressive sermon on the influence of Christian homes, and made special reference to the death of Mrs Howat, who had been connected with the ohuroh for so many ycaj?s.