ALEXANDRA NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 27

ALEXANDRA NOTES.

March 2.

The district did not get the amount. of rain which it .required. The showers only penetrated about two inches. Nothing less than a good soaking will satisfy the very dry ground. Large quantities of fruit continue to go forward. Last month put up a record for the quantity despatched from the local railway station. For the four weeks in February the fruit sent forward totalled 275 tons. Last season 105 tons were despatched for the" same period, and in February, 1918, which was the previous best, 205 tons were despatched. So this past month is 70 tons better than February, 1918. March will continue good as tomatoes are now ripening well, and the late stone fruit is coming forward. The recent slump in the rabbit market has not affected rabbiting operations locally. Bunny Is still eagerly sought after, and although it appears to some a distasteful occupation, many are into the industry this season who never touched it before. Skill is required in this occupation, just as in many another. All who try their hand at rabbiting do not succeed. The Hydro-electric Committee of the Otago Expansion League visited Alexandra last week and had luncheon with members of the Borough Council. The visitors included Messrs C. Todd, president of the. league; J. Inglis Wright, chairman of the Publicity Committee; Mr Mark Coheft, and Mr J. Loudon, members of the Electrio Committee; Mr L. Birks, Chief Electrical Engineer for the dominion; and Commissioner Sadd, of the Otago Land Board. After luncheon the Mayor (Mr W. Bladk) formally welcomed the deputation. Mr Todd addressed the company and gave particulars as to the business of the visit. The Borough Council has formed itself into a committee to take charge of the. petition when it comes along. The Mayor assured the visitors of the hearty co-opera-tion of .the local public in the proposed electric scheme for Otago. Miss Watkin, delegate from the Imperial Government on th'h matter of the immigration of women war workers from England to New Zealand, accompanied the. oarty. She paid a visit to the local rabbit preserves factory and viewed with interest the various processes of dealing with ths .rabbit and the -conditions and class of labour required in the factory. The party then left for Cromwell by motor.