THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 27

THE COUNTRY.

Correspondent* are reminded that all letter* lor the current week's issue must reach Dunedin NOT I. A TER THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. Letter* aoming to hand on Monday are too late, and ar* thus a week old when they appear. TUTURAU. May 3.—The annual harvest home was held on Friday, 28th, in Mt 1,. H. Dickie's barn, which was decorated with evergreens, autumn leaves, and oate. About 40 couples took part in the dance. Mr T. Ryan, of Mafcau.ra, supplied the music. General.—Mr J. O'Rourke has leased his farm. The O’Rourke family are old residents of this district. —The chaffcutter is going its rounds iii the district; so with plenty of chaff farmers will be able to make a start with their winter ploughing. WAfKAIA. May 4.—The weather for the past week has been fine, with an occasional hard fro.it. School Committee —The annual meeting of the School Committee was held on April 12. The election of the committee resulted as follows:—Messrs J. Dennis (chairmayi), J. Milne (secretary), Wm. Ayson, \Y. M’Bean, and R. Kerr. P.W’.M.U.—The monthly meeting was held at the manse on May 3. Arrangements were completed for the sale of work to be’held on May .16 in aid of the missions. Harvest thanksgiving service Sunday is May 16. Obituary.— Mts Charles Stirling—one of "Waikaia’s pioneers—died on April 26 at the age of 86. The late Mr and Mrs Stirling arrived at Waikaia 54 years ago. The late Mr Stirling was shepherding for Messrs Menlove and Calcutt on Hyde Home Station, and about 1874 he bought a farm of about 300 acres. The funeral was held on April 28, and was largely attended. The Rev R. M’Ewan officiated at the residence and grave.—Another early settler of Waikaia- in the person of Mr AVm. Tretheway died suddenly on Saturday afternoon at Gore. He arrived with his parents in 1868, and the family proceeded to the Switzers goldfields. The deceased managed a butchery business in Waikaia for his mother for many years. About 23 years ago he settled in Gore and carried on business there. Hast Sunday the Rev. Mr M'Ewan preached memorial sermons at both morning and evening, services, referring to the recent deaths. Miss Ayson (organist) played the Dead March" at both services. Sporting.—Some good bags of grey duck have been secured in the district. CARSTON. May 4. —The weather here for the past week has been more conformable to former periods of the year at this time, but still looks unsettled and threatening either lain or snow. Harvest is now completed after one of the most strenuous struggles in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, especially was it so in the garnering of the grain crops, which hod to be done in almost snatched hours between the falling showers. Farmers are now anxiously waiting the advent of a thrashing mill. The yields being good, the mills are kept at work, and it is now doubtful whether the thrashing season will extend into advanced spring. Our late teacher, 11 r Aubrey Whiting, has been promoted to Oraki. and the s -boo! at present is in the care of a relieving teacher, Mr Beresford Ritchie. Our Sunday ministrations are conducted by Mr James Rattray, late of Arrowtown, this gentleman’s late parishioners having parted with him m a highly appreciative manner. Hi 3 present charge is a widely scattered one, and both skill and energy are required in the discharge of the onerous duties The Rev. De Lambert, Queenstown, held his usual service here last Sunday. The attendances at both Athol and Garston w ere good. The shooting season opened on Monday, and some fairly good bags were secured, the birds being in fairly good condition. General.—l regret to sav that our looal hotel-keeper, Mr Harvey, has lately been in very indifferent health. It is earnestly hoped he will soon recover. Health matters generally are good, no epidemic having penetrated this far, which is a matter for congratulation, as our nearest medical man is at humsden, a distance of 26 miles, over roads not too good. WAIRUNA. May 1. —The weather during- the last two months has been very stormy and wet—in fact, it has been the worst, known for the last 10 years. The last few days have been much better, and it is to be hoped that the month of May, which is usually a good month, will again be so. Harvest. —The harvest this year has been a very long and tedious one. and a good deal of the crop lias been gathered in anything but a, good condition. There are several paddocks of oats 'still standing out in this district, and I am afraid what is still out will be very badly discoloured. The crops in most cases were very good, but it is e great pity the weather lias been so unfavourable. Dairying.—The long s”ell of bad weather has also affected the dairy farmer, the milk snpplv having decreased very fast during the last few weeks. The local factory has commenced taking in milk every second day, and before long will be closing down for the season. This has been the best season tlie factory has ever had. the amount of milk being far in excess of any other year since the factory was built 12 years ago. Sale of Work. —A sale of work and produce show is to be held in Clinton on the 10th of Mav under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, the proceeds of which nr© to go to the Manse Building Fund The present manse is a very old building, and it was decided last year that a fund should be started to erect a new manse. A very successful bazaar was held last year, and it is to be hoped that the one being held this year will also prove a success. Cricket.—The Clinton B cricket team brought, the season to a close with a match at Clvdevale against the Clvdevale team on Saturday. The game was a most enjoyable one, and resulted in a win for the Clinton cricketers by the narrow margin of 7 runs. The visitors were treated to afternoon tea by the Clvdevale ladies. MO MONA. May 6. Harvesting operations are almost concluded, the potato crop occupying most attention just now. The quality of the grain harvested turned out much better than was expected, and there will not be so much inferior wheat as was at first imagined. Perhaps farmers aie not naturally pessimistic, but very often they do their best to give one the impression of being so. Some very good crops of polatoee are being dug in spite of the fact that Irish blight has been rather prevalent- tins season. One variety—Arran Chief —seems able to resist the blight successfully. Amusements. —A concert and dance in aid «} the Hall Improvement Funds was held

on the 27th, and proved to be- a great success, financially and otherwise. The takings amounted to close on £2O. Great credit is due to the performers for the fine programme submitted, and to the d!Pnee musicians, whose music was very much appreciated.—The annual meeting of the Momona Debating Society was held on the 3rd. The report and balance sheet were read and adopted, and the outgoing officers were unanimously re-elected. There can be no finer way of spending an evening than by taking part in an interesting debate, and it is to be hoped that yo-ug and old will take full advantage of this opportunity of improving their oratory. Expansion League —The Momona branch of the Otago Expansion League proposes to hold its annual meeting next week.. It js anticipated that there will be a. large gathering, as some of the city members of the league intend to -address the meeting on' the subject of bringing the electric power to Momona. Conditions have changed since this project was last mooted, and the near future should see the residents of this district enjoying one of the great comforts of civilisation. WAITAHUNA. May 3 —We are having very mild, warm weather just now, quite a change from the cold, stormy winds we have' had for such a long time. There is still some crop out, but it will soon be in now if this weather continues Stock Sale.—The Otago Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association held their monthly sale at Waitahuna on the 24th of April. There was a very big sale, and very good prices were obtained; 2600 sheep and 160 rams were yarded. ' Wedding Bells. —A quiet wedding was celebrated at Mount Steward on the 26th of April, when Miss M. Crazier was married to Mr Gourley, of Invercargill. The weather cleared up on the wedding morning, and the day was bright and clear. Obituary.—lt is with very real regret I have to write about the death of one of our brightest young ladies of Waitahuna. Miss Jessie M’Millan passed peacefully away at her mother’s residence on the 14th after a. long, trying illness. Miss _ M’Millan. will be sadly missed by a large circle of friends, and the deepest sympathy is felt for her bereaved parents, sisters, and brothers in their sad trouble. TAPANUI. May 4.—Very broken weather has continued right through the fall, and we are now advancing into winter. The grain crops have been saved, some of them in indifferent condition, and others better than was anticipated. Thrashing has been held up on account of the mill hands declining to take what farmers offered, and holding out fob the award Tate. However, operations have been resumed, and g-rain should be going! into the market freely within a few weeks. It is to he hoped that carting will be completed before the dead of winter, otherwise roads will be badly cut up with heavy traffic. •Stock Market.—There is a decided improvement in the tone of the stock market, and sheep values are now back to a reasonable thing A good sale took place in the Tapanui yards to-dav, and business was quite brisk again. There is ample winter feed, with good crops of turnips on all hands. The moist season has also been favourable to grass, and pastures are unusually green for this season of the year. Dairy factories should be able to record increased outputs this season, and suppliers to the local factory have been fortunate, as the proprietor was amongst those who sold their outputs at a high figure. Farmers sending cans to the creameries were not so fortunate, as a hig drop was experienced, but the price has lately recovered somewhat. Railways.—The train_ arrangements on the Tapanui branch line are still most unsatisfactory. The Hon. G. J. Anderson passed through Tapanui last week, and on inquiry if there were any matters to' bring under his notice, one gentleman remarked that if he would send along the Minister of Railways there would be some plain speaking. Dunedin mails and papers do not reach here before 5 p.in. during the week, and 9 p.m. on Saturdays. This is worse than the old coaching days, and if it means economy it is a source of much annoyance and inconvenience. To travel to or from Dunedin means the loss of a day for a four-hour journey, and the general tendency is to cause people to adopt the more expensive method of car travelling Electoral Boundaries. —Tapanui Borough and portion of the district is now included in Mataura electorate, and the electors have accepted the change with tranquility. As a matter of fact, we are used to beink kicked about from one electorate to another The Heriot pub. went out by a change of electoral boundaries. It comes into a licenced area by the latest shuffle, but it seems the license cannot be restored. We have certainly more community of interest in the Mataura electorate than in Tuapeka district, but the voting power has now been split up, and there may be a lack of interest in the election of representatives. We have in the Hon, Mr Anderson a painstaking representative, who will do his best for the new area. Football. —The popular winter sport has now started in earnest, and we have teams from Tapanui, Kelso, Heriot, Crockston, AVaikoikoi, and Waikaka engaged in a series of banner matches that promise to prove highly interesting. The first matches were played on Saturday last in splendid weather, and the surprise packet was the young 'Koi Club putting down the Waikaka team. However, it is encouraging for the young team to meet with success, and if they succeeded in 'carrying off the banner their victory would not be begrudged by any of the competing clubs. Last Saturday’s matches were played in an excellent spirit, and it is to be hoped that the season will be free from any serious accidents. Fever.—A couple of cases of scarlet fever were reported lately, and were confined to the isolation ward at the local hospital. Beth have recovered, and it is highly satisfactory that the malady has not been allowed to spread. If the isolation ward is responsible for this, then it can only be said that it has already justified the cost incurred. Of late the hospital lias been fully occupied, and there appears to be no lack of patients. WAIROA (Hawke’s Bay). May 2.—Mr Jessep, vice-chairman of the Meat Pool Board, was given an enthusiastic send-off at Wairoa on the eve of his departure to organise the Dominion meat trade in Great Britain. There was a large attendance of settlers from all parts of the district, including representatives of public bodies. Mr Jessep was congratulated on his appointment, which was a compliment to the district, lie having been a settler of Waiioa, for eight years Mr Jessep, in returning thanks for the many complimentary references made, and the presentation of two handsome rugs, gave some details in connection with the meat trade and the difficult. problems that were facing the consumers, who, he considered, were at present paying the highest prices, and the producer was getting little or nothing also. Better marketing methods, he considered., were

neoessary, as the Dominion was losing trade owing to neglect and inaccurate information of the past year. The formation of the meat pool gave opportunity” to trade on a better basis, and Government backing up would give a, fairer proportion of the final values of their produce. Mr Jes&ep, accompanied by Mrs Jessep and Miss Jessep, sails for London in the Tainui about May 10 next. Anzac Day.—Fine weather favoured the local celebration of Anzac Day; There was a procession consisting of South African veterans, returned soldiers, ex-service men, public bodies, and a large number of school children. These marched throug’h the town to Coronation square, and there, together with a large attendance of the public, an open-air ceremony took place. The Mayor of Wairoa (Mr J. Gorkhill) presided, and made some introductory remarks in keeping with the occasion, followed by the Revs. AV. Raeburn (Presbyterian) and G. N. Watson (Chuich of England), who gave short addresses. Suitable hymns were sung, and at the close the “Dead March" was played by the organist, Mrs J. Haughton. At the conclusion of {be service a large number of school children marched to the cemetery and placed some beautiful wreaths on soldiers’ graves there. The sale of red poppies in connection with Anzac Day was a complete success, every poppy having been disposed of, and numbers had to go without owing to an inadequate supply. School Committee.—The annual meeting of householders to elect a school committee was well attended. The following were elected: i —J. Haughton (secretary), H. AV. Brown, J. Macdonald, J. Somerville (chairman), T. Lambert, R. Boyd, G. N. Watson, T. Browne, AV. T. Whelan. Wedding.—A quiet, though pretty, wedding was solemnised at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Napier, when Mr A. Simpson and Miss Molly Gerrard (both of Waives) were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by the Rev. J. A. Asher. At the conclusion of the ceremony the newly-married couple, with their many friends and -wellwishers. were entertained by Mrs Di Gerrard,_ sister-in-law of the bride, and where many congratulations and beautiful presents were received. The honeymoon is t-o be spent in the South Island. Farmers’ Union.—Mr O. C. Om-erod, who is the newly-elected president of the Wairoa branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in returning thanks for the position, deplored the lack of unity ' among farmers generally, and expressed the opinion that farmers must- organise properly, or every little union in the country would be walking roughshod over them. He firmly believed that the farmers, properly organised, ■would be the greatest power in the country. ALEXANDRA NOTES. • May 3. The autumn has been an exceptional one. Usually there is an absence of wind in (he fall of the year, but this autumn has had an unusually large number of gales. There is now quite' a touch of winter, and on Sunday morning 10 degrees of frost were registered and 5 degrees were registered on Monday. This will bring to an end uhe crop of tomatoes. The rush of the fruit season is now over, apples being the main fruit now going forward. On the whole the season has been a favourable one. The output of fruit from this district was considerably increased on past seasons, , and while the average price was not as high as that-ruling last season, still the increased production gives the growers a good return for the season. The prices ruling jn the North Island markets were below the prices of the southern markets, and this brought the average price down. The gradual development of the fruit industry in this district is seen on comparing the amount of fruit despatched jrom the local railway station. The figures for the past few years are as follow:

There has not 'been much development in the way of increased acreage being planted in trees during the past few years, but with the new irrigation scheme in operation ard more land being commanded by water, there should be a further increased settlement with new orchards arising. At the meeting of the Vincent Hospital Board, hold last week, Mr John Smart, of Clyde, was re-elected chairman, a position which he had held for the past ten years. His devoted work in hospital matters, Ins tact, courtesy, and common sense, and over all his large-heartedness make him a particularly suitable person for the position, rhe board at its meeting reiterated its strong objection to the proposed site at W-aipiata for the South Island sanatorium for consumptives, and in view of the proposed conference of delegates of all the South Island Hospital Boards, to be held some time this month, urged that before deciding on this site the delegates should inspect it and! all other sites recommended. ’ The board expresses no opinion as to where tiie best site is, but is unanimously and emphatically of the opinion that a very serious mistake would he made by deciding on the Waipiata site. The department had ignored the repeated requests of the Vincent Hospital Board for a perusal of the official report on the sites inspected. The board fears that the present financial position is being allowed to influence the decision of the department. The first consignment of apples from Central Otago for export, to London has now gone forward for shipment per s.s. Cornwall. The Railway Department is taking particular care of the handling of this consignment to ensure its aiTival at the steamer with the least possible chance of harm from handling. Included in this consignment are 50 cases of Winter Nelis pears sent as a trial! shipment by a local orchardist. Pears from other parts of the dominion have not exported successfully in the past, but the local growers have strong faith in the keeping quality of his fruit, and is giving this shipment a trial. It will be interesting to learn later how this shipment pears opens up

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