WAIPIATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 23

WAIPIATA.

April 7.—The weather here- continues dry and the countryside bears a parched appearance. Farmers are feeliing the scarcity of feed, and a. quantity of stock has been sent out of the district. Frosts- are now setting In. The last two nights in March. 6deg were- registered each night. The New Industry.—On the 2nd inst. we emerged from a quiet rural village and assumed the- dignity of a manufacturing town, and the daily silence is now broken with the noise of steam whistles. The Waipiate Canning Company commenced operations tinning rabbits-, and invited the> residents of the district to be present at the opening, and large numbers from the various districts were in attendance and watched the various processes of making tins, preparing rabbits, sterilising, and packing and cooking same with great interest. After watching the various processes for two hours the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea by the- manager and staff. Complimentary speeches were mad© by the Rev .Mir Lennox, Mr Silas Here (Mayor), and Mr James Howell (ex-Mayor),, the speakers complimenting the management on their enterprise in creating: the industry, and foreshadowed the extension of the works for freezing mutton, etc., with its contingent allied industries, including a woollen mill. Mr D. Jones returned thanks on behalf of the company and staff. The company is not being- allowed to have 'sole control of the fur trade, as outside buyers are operating at higher prices, and we note other buyers are seeking an opening. The rabbits are going to have a bad time, motor waggons running in all directions collecting from the trappers, and more waggons going on. A number of the fia-rmers. have -procured fumiga-torsi and in iiinie will kill the goose which lays the golden egg.

Improvements.—New buildings continue to go up; the butcher's being the latest addition, and workmen's cottages- are- in a gaseous stage

Lecture.—We had a lecture recently on the prohibition question- by the Rev. C. Eaton, from Dunedin, who laid the question of the liquor traffic before us. from the prohibition, viewpoint, and received a good hearing. Waipiata has a mind of it's own, and knew how to vote before the rev. gentleman's appearance.

New Hall.—The opening function will take the form of a concert and dance on Easter Monday night. Lawn Tennis.—On Saturday, April 5> the Waipiata Tennis Club motored to Paearoa tor the purpose of playing a match with the local club. The visiting team scored a win by a narrow margin of 15 games, the scores being: —Paearoa, 35; Waipiata, 50. The following are- the scores for the sets, the Patearoa. players being mentioned first:—Combined Doubles: Mrs Millar and Mr C. Shriek lost to Miss Yorston and Mr R. Paterson—s—6; Miss Thurlow and Mr R. Carr beat Miss E. Paterson and Mr G. Mathias— 6— Si Miss Kirk and Mr B Hall beat Mrs 'Keilson. and Mr L Tregonning—6—s; Mrs T'reacy and Mr Gibbon lost to Miss D. Paterson and Miss Islip— Ladies' Doubles: Mrs Millar and Miss Thurlow lost to Misses Yorston and E Paterson—o—6; Miss Kirk and Mrs Treacy lost to Mrs. Neilson and Miss D. Paterson—--3—6. Gents' Doubles: Shriek and Carr beat Paterson and Mathias—6—o; Hall and Gibbon lost fa -Tregonning and Miss Islip—2—6. Singles: Mrs Millar lost to Miss Yorston—--I—6;—6; Shriek beat Paterson—6—4.