THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 23

THE COUNTRY.

Correspondents are reminded that all letters for the current week’s issue must reach Dunedin NOT LATER THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. Letters coming bo hand on Monday are too late, and are thus a week old when they appear. LAKE COUNTY. March 3. —Exceptionally warm weather is again being experienced. The Late Mr Thomas Johnston. —The funeral of Mr Thomas Johnston, who died suddenly last week, took place at the Arrow Cemetery on Friday last, and the esteem and respect in which deceased was held was evidenced by the huge attendance, ail parts of the district eeing represented. Members of the Arrow Borough Council acted as pall-bearers, and the services at St. Paul s Church and at the grave side were conducted by the Rev. R. de Lambert. On Sunday last a memorial service was conducted at St. Paul's Church by the Rev. de Lambert. There was a large congregation, and the service was a most impressive one. .Accident. —Miss Kate Cosgrove, of Arrow Junction, met with a rather serious accident while driving along what is known as the Ladies’ Mile, near Lake Hayes, cn Monday last. The horse swerved suddenly, and Mjss Cosgrove was thrown out, with the result that she received a slight concussion and injuries to her face. .She was removed to the residence of Mr Leo L:e, where she received medical attention, and she is now making good progress towards recover}'. A little girl was also an occupant of the gig, but she kept her seat, and the horse was pulled up by Mr Lee. who was riding near the scene of the accident. OTAUTAU. March 4. —The ranks of the pioneers of the district are rapidly thinning-, the latest death being that of Mrs Margaret J an© Coulter, who, after a residence of 35 years here, died on Monday, 21st February; aged 69 years. Deceased was born in Glencairn, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and wee noted for her generosity. She is survived by a grownup family of five sons, three of whom served their King and country in the Great War. A large number followed the remains to the Old Cemetery, the service being impressively conducted by Rev. A. Macdonald. Winter Show.—This annual event is to take place in the Town Hall on April 2S and 29, and is to be run, as usual, under the auspices of the Progressive League. Several special prizes have been donated as follows : Southland Farmers’ Co-op., £3 3s; Mr J. M’Gill, £2 2s; Mr W. J. Wesney, AT Is; Otautau Standard, £1 Is; and Mr J. Fisher, £1 Is. Mr Wesney has been elected president, and the secretarial duties are to be carried cut by Miss Laidluw and Mr J. Kirk. Soldiers’ Memorial. —A largely-attended meeting of the public was held recently to consider ways and means cf raising the £4OO required to complete the erection of a memorial worthy of the town .and district. Various gentlemen were delegated to make a canvass, and good progress is reported. It is anticipated, however, that seme big effort will have to be made in the shape of a carnival or bazaar to raise the balance. Choral Society.—rAt a meeting of the Choral Society Dr Stewart was reappointed conductor for the ensuing season, Miss Gould was elected secretary, and Mesdames Porteous and Brooker and Messrs M’Callum, Holmes, and Sinclair a working committee. The society intends making a. start on Monday, 4th April, and the subscription was fixed at £5. The balance sheet showed a credit of £2 10s. * Oddfellows. —The yearly installation of the Manchester Unity Lodge of Oddfellows was held in the Reading Room on Thursday, 3rd inst.. the installing officer being P.O.M. Bro. Taylor, ably assisted bv P.O.M. Bro. Brass and another visiting officer. The following were installed into their respective offices:—N.G., Bro. R. Collett: V. 0., Bro, W. Coulter; elective secretary. Bro. R. Bird; acting permanent secretary, Bro. O. George son; warden, Bro. Jas. Low; and guardian, Bro. R. Greenslade. One new member was initiated, the charge being given by P.O.M Bro. Taylor. Bro. A. A. Liddell was appointed delegate to the forthcoming districi annual meting in Invercargill, when the jubilee of the Manchester Unity in Southland will be fittingly celebrated. After the business was concluded supper was handed round, and an enjoyable hour spent in song and st-orv, the singing cf “God save the King” bringing proceedings to a close.

ORET3. February 28. This has been a hot and drymonth, with the exception of cue splendid j day’s rain, which did a vast amount of good : to the turnip crop. Crops.—The grass harvest is practically | over. Some of the crops were very heavy, | that grown bv Messrs C’.wie Bras, yielding ; over 80 bushels to the acre. Most of the oata are cut, and some growers have started stacking. Dairying.—This district has never gone in for dairying, but this year the farmers, induced no doubt by the high prices ruling, are nearly all suppliers. The Waitaki Dairy Company send round a lorry bi-weekly for cream, -and pay 2s 6d per lb butter-fat. With prices low for wool and fat stock, it is likely that a larger number will go in for dairying next year. Surprise Party.—Last Friday week a surprise party of nearly 50 residen+3 paid a visit to tho home cf Mr and Mrs M’lllwrick. Mr M’lllwrick. who i 3 a returned soldier, has recently had erected a. pretty little bungalow on his farm. The function was organised with the object of holding a housewarming and presenting the new settlers with useful household gifts. Mr Gazzard, on behalf of the party, extended ©. heart v welcome to the new settlers, and expressed the hope that their s'ay in Oreti would be both pleasant and profitable. Mr M’Ulwriok suitably roplied. A pleasant evening was spent with music, and games the ladies of the party providing an excellent supper.

WAIKAIA. March 4.—Exoeptionaly dry weather hae prevailed during the past week, and r»-n is badlv needed both for agricultural and domestic purposes. Harvesting is general, and there are some very fine crops of cats and barley. Sooial. —A social was held in the Coronation Hall, Wendonside, on Wednesday, February 23, to raise funds to pay off part, of the debt on the hall. There was a large attendance, and after the concert a dance was held. -School.—Miss Morris, who was relieving at the Gore Public School, has been appointed mistress of the Waikaia School, and commenced duty on Tuesday. P.W.M.U.—A meeting of tho P.W.M.U. waa held at the manse on Wednesday, February 23, Mrs M’Ewan presiding. Ten members were present.

LUMSDEN

March 4. —We have experienced some very hot and. some very cold days during the past month. We had a few rain showers, but the heavy winds that invariably followed dried up and scorched everything before it. The turnip and grain crop 3 are suffering severely, so is the pasture feed, from want of moisture. The prospects of a full supply of winter feed for stock are anything but bright at the present time. Wa had a heavy fall of snow about a week ago, right down to the snow line —a very unusual sight at this time of year. Cricket.—The game of cricket is booming here. Several matches have been played with neighbouring clubs, but the games of tho season came off on Thursday, the 24th. The ladies of Lumsden had challenged the gentlemen to a friendly match, tipul-ating that the men must bat and bowl with the left hand and wear skirts. Winning the toss, the ladies went in for first strike, and gave a good exhibition, finally winning by 121 runs. Tea and cakes were supplied by, the ladies to players and spectators. -School Affairs.—The Lumsden Public School has resumed with a greatly increased attendance, the number on the roll being j about 190. The standard attained by the school last year under Mr R. N. Wilson j (head master) and Miss C. M’Donald ! (matron), with four assistants, was very j gratifying; but they are now handicapped ! by having to crowd the pupils into l the small ; buildings, the playshed having to be used as a classroom for the younger children. It is time the long-promised additions to- the school were put in hand. General.—Wandering cattle and horses are proving a nuisance to residents, and do considerable damage to gardens.—The Town Board are carrying out street improvements. The lighting of the streets is an urgent need, especially at the railway crossing, and also to enable pedestrians elsewhere to avoid pools of water after . rainy weather. —Mr Grant, cf Gore, has opened a branch of his I chemist’s business here. MANDEV3LLE. March 4. —The weather remains on the dry side to stimulate much growth, although ideal for harvest work, which is absorbingthe attention of farmers at the present time. It is a thousand pities, however, that the rainfall has been insufficient for, with the amount of heat this year, had the soil been sufficiently moistened, the growth would have been phenomenal. The pastures have become very hard, and winter feed is making slow progress, the only redeeming feature is that the province is understocked, arid I unless an exceptionally seycre winter is exI penenced there will be feed enough to carry j through. Taxation.—The increased valuations at a } time when prospects are so uncertain has ! aroused the farmers as nothing lias done i before. The local branch of the Farmers’ i Union was largely attended on Tuesday, Ist j inst., to discuss the matter. It was tmanij mously agreed to support the executive in i petitioning Parliament to retain the old j valuations for at least another year until some stability was established in the markets. Drop in Prices.—The sudden drop in the meat market, the- low price of bi-prod-i ducts, and the unfavourable turn in the [ wool market have nonplussed everyone. The j ultimate result is a matter of the greatest j concern to all, for if. the low level now ! reached is to be maintained it will mean i retrenchment everywhere. General.—The dance run by tho Tennis I Club was a great success. The hall was | well filled, and tho takings must place the j club in -a sound financial position.—Quite | a- number from this district have had a run ; in their motors up to Roxburgh to view the | fruit gardens there, and from what I can | gather the impressions formed wili induce many others to make the journey before the ! season is over, with increasing numbers as I years go on.—Our local teacher, Miss ! Stephens, ever watchful for the welfare of i her pupils, is negotiating a day’s outing for | the scholars at Croydon Bush. I understand she is personally interviewing all those j who have cars in the district to- see if they j are favourable, and, if so, the time most suitable.

v/AIROA (Hawke’s nay). March I.—The "Rev. A. Hodge, of the Congregational Church, Napier, who has been filling the pulpit of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wairoa, while the Rev. W. Raeburn has been absent on holiday, completed the term of his engagement on Sunday evening, when he took occasion to thank the people of the district for an enjoyable time. During his stay Mr Hodge visited Nubaka and the Mere re Hot- Springs, but was not able to visit our other beauty spot, Lake Waikaremoana. The Rev. Mr Shannon, recently arrived from Edinburgh, has commenced his work at Morere-Nuhaka as Presbyterian homo missionary. Personal. —Mr G. W. Smith, who for a number of years has been manager of the Wairoa branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has received notice of his transfer to' Mar ton, and leaves m a few days.—Dr Clarke, medical officer of the Education Department, arrived 021 Friday in connection with the campaign for the betterment of school children’s health, and addressed the children and then the teaching staff of the District High School. In the evening a public meeting was addresed hy Dr Clarke; but the interest that is taken by Wairoa folk in the important subject of this lecture can be gauged by the attendance—about 15 and half a dozen children. The counter-attraction of a circus proved too strong.—Miss I. P. Storthant, of the teaching staff of the local District High School, is at present absent from duty on account of the serious illness of her mother. School Affairs. —The local District High School is rapidly increasing in size, the present roll being 435, including 22 in the secondary department. As the school is built for about 320, the conditions under which work is being carried on can be imagined. Miss Fiances Guest, of the school staff, is leaving in a few days, her parents., Mr and Mrs Guest, of the Tuhara Native School, having received a transfer to To Toko, in the Bay of Plenty district.