THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 31

THE COUNTRY.

Correspondents are reminded that all letters for the current week's issue must reach Dunedin NOT LATEB THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. Betters coming to hand on Monday are too late, and are thus a week old when they appear. LAKE COUNT*. May 13.—The weather for tho past few days has been extremely lruld. Good headway is being made with threshing operations. Kesta Brothers’ mill made a start at Crown Terrace this week. Mining.—A Keystone drill, which is to be used in prospecting on Mr Janies Brown’s farm at Lower 8 he lover, arrived on Saturday last, and has commenced operations. This work is being done on behalf of an Australian syndicate. Charged Hands. —Coronet Peak station, one of the largest sheep stations in the district, has changed hands, Mr David Young having sold the property to Mr William C. Maclean, son of Mr J. A. Maclean, of Blackmount station, Southland. Heath.—Douglas Thomas Lewis, eldest eon of Mr and Mrs H. J. H. Lewis, Long Gully, passed away at Queenstown on Friday last. Deceased, who was thirteen years of age, had been in bad health for the past twelve months, and death came as a happy release to much suffering. The deepest sympathy prevails for Mr and Mrs Lewis in their sad bereavement. The funeral took piece at Queenstown on Sunday, the burial service being conducted by the Rev. J. rr. Robertson. Personal.—Mr and Mrs Peter Reid, ot Lower Shotover, left yesterday for W eilington, wiie re they will join the steamer Maunganui, on the 27th, for San Francisco. Mr and Mrs Reid will be absent for about five months. CROMWELL. May 17.—A meeting of the members of the golf club was held last week, when the following were nominated as officers for the season. Rev. W. P. Rankin (president), Mr George Wiehart (vice-president), and Mr Alfred Scheib (secretary). Football. —The game wae started last Saturday—rather disastrous for the Cromwell team. They were defeated by Alexandra by 12 points to 3. The juniors also suffered defeat at the hands of Alexandra B by 20 points to nil Hockey.—At the annual meeting of the club, Mr Blaekler was appointed president, and Mr Kernohan, secretary. It was decided to arrange county matches against Lake County and Vincent County at Cromwell, and Tuapeka county and Vincent county at Alexandra. X-ray Plant- Fund—To celebrate the jubilee of the Cromwell Hospital, the fund lias reached the handsome total of £462. With the government subsidy, the total should reach £IOOO. Cromwell Borough Council. —At its last meeting Mr F R. Teague, of Timaru, was appointed to the position of dayman. Chautauqua.—The guarantors last week mat the representative, Mr Abbot. . Arrangements were made for the season. This year it was arranged to present six single programmes at intervals of about one month, the first being held on Saturday, May 31. ilydro-Kleetricitv.—A : meeting of all interested in hydro-electricity was held last week. Mr W. Black (chairman of the Otago Power Board), Mr Waigth (chairman of the Teviot Power Board), and Mr Aldridge (engineer) were the speakers. They briefly outlined what had already been do no in Roxburgh and Alexandra, and urged Cromwell to come ill under the scheme. After a lull discussion, it was decided to join up with the Otago Power Board. The following were apointed a committee to make all the necessary arrangements:—The Mayor (D. C. Jolly), W. Lind, D. C. Middleton, J. R. Webb, Rev. Rankin, D. Carson, J. Smith, C. Saunders, J. Quartermain, and James Ritchie. The scheme embraces the towns of Cromwell, Ripponvale, Bannockburn, and Lowburn. From all accounts lighting and power will be obtained at a very cheap rate. Easy terms will be given for installations, which will cover a period of three years. This should be of great advantage and should assist all householders to obtain the necessary power. The cost per point for installation will l>e £2 10s —i.e., a five-roomed house with five lights, an electric iron and cooker, will cost £l7 10s, with three years to pay. The power for the same is not likely to cost more than £7 per year. We will be glad to get the power at any plice, even though it be dearer than Dunedin or Christchurch. WASKAf A, May 16.—The weather has been of very mixed variety—heavy showers, gales which removes tops of grain stacks, and some warm days which melted the snow on the high levels. The river is consequently high. Football. —The Lumsden team journeyed to Wr.ikaia and played a friendly game. " Waikaia won by 15 to nil. A large gathering of spectators was present. Duck Shooting.—Mr Xarthcoat and others up the Mataura River were very successful m obtaining good bags. The party at Post Office, Glenaray Bush, consisting of Messrs Sutton, M’Kecknie (2)„ C. Mackay, Cook, and others also scored good bags. At Winding Creek darn Messrs A. Christie, Seale, Kelson and Jeffrey shot about 70 grey ducks. P.W.M.U. —The monthly meeting was held at the manse yesterday. Rev. R. M‘Evan and Mrs M’Ewan and a large attendance of members were preesnt. Mrs Elliott (Wa'kaka) formerly of Waikaia, was also present. The harvest festival was fixed for Sunday, and the sale of goods for Tuesday next. Harvest Festival. —The Anglican Church held the harvest festival on Sunday, May 4. The autumn flowers and leaves and vegetables being beautifully arranged. The Rev. Mr Lawrence preached an excellent sermon, and appropriate hymns sung. The vegetables, etc., were forwarded to St. Mary’s Orphanage, Dunedin. The Late Father O’Xeill.—The gad tragedy in which Father O’X'eil! met his death at Riversdale cast a deep gloom over the community. He was deeply loved by his congregation. The building in which tile rev. father met his death was erected many years ago by Mr A. J. Pease, now in Manchester, ar.d consisted of ten rooms. LAKE WANAKA, May 13. —We are still having fine weather for the season. The days are sometimes a bit cloudy, and sometimes bright and sunny, and the weather is warm. The crops are still growing, and are beautifully green. Anzac Day.—The day generally wae observed as a close holiday in the townships, but a few of the farmers worked their teams, and a threshing mill was going. It is rumoured that, under similar circumstances, next year the police will investigate. Lew Hall. —At Pembroke the new hall has

just been opened with a grand ball, arid a gain of £IOO was the result. There was a jazz band from Dunedin. This building cost about £2OOO, and has about £IOOO of a debt on it. It is a boautiful and commodious building. Threshing.—Mr Max Windes3, one of the threshing-mill owners, has just finished a fine season in the Mount Barker part. A cook-house has been attached to this mill, and it has evoked the praise of farmers. A year or two back some of the Oaraaru millowners were approached, to install a similar convenience, but they suggested that the country was too hilly to pull it about. The success of the Wanaka experiment would indicate that this contention was not correct, especially as the Oamaru men had metalled roads, while here they are gravelled, which makes heavier pulling. Accident.—Mr John Lange, the puntman at Albert Town, had the misfortune to break his leg below the knee quite recently. He has charge of the two punts, and drivers of vehicles frequently give him a lift from one punt to the other. Mr Kaymond Thomson came over the lower punt on a motor cycle, and gave Mr Lange a lift behind him to the upper punt. While passing the corner of the post-office building, they collided with Mr Aubrey from Cattle Flat in Ins motor car, and both riders were thrown off. Mr James Templeton’s little daughter Ethel rendered first, aid, and Dr Hester Morton v of Pembroke, attended the sufferer. Mr Wm. Perry, of Hawea, was installed as acting puntman. New Settlers. —The new settlers on the Mount Pisa run are making a big push to get settled before mid-winter. Several flocks of fine sheep have lately passed through Mount Barker for the Cardrona part, and several motor lorry loads of building material and fencing went through, and yesterday two big loads of furniture went forward. OTAUTAU. May 16.—0 n Monday evening Messrs Poison, Boss, and Harding addressed a representative gathering in the Town Hall, farmers being present from Nightcaps, Wairio, Aparima, Mount Linton, W aikouro, Drummond, Fairfax, and Isla Bank. The meeting was held to foster interest in the Farmers’ Union. Mr M'Kenzie was voted to the chair. These gentlemen gave addresses on the four main points in the planks of the union, namely, immigration and closer settlement, shipping legislation to enable farmers to get their produce away, the establishment of agricultural banks, and reduction of taxation. Each gentleman handled the subject in an able manner, and at the conclusion of the speeches exhorted all farmers to join the Union and thus beneut themselves. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered, after wnich votes of thanks were carried by acclamation A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. Bowling.—The annual meeting of lue Otautau Bowling Club was held on the stage of the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, and was attended by twelve members, Mr H. Laing (president) presiding. The president’s annual report was submitted, showing that the Club had experienced a most successful season. At the beginning there was an overdraft of £2B, and an outstanding liability of £4O With the assistance of the croquet ladies, the catering at the A. and P. Show was undertaken, this netting £4l for each club, while a plain, fancy, and poster ball had realised another £l6 10s for each, bringing the grand total up to £57 10s. The club now stood with a credit of £3 13s lid. Ten matches were played, tho club winning six, and on tile total were 44 points to the good. The senior president’s “stars” had been co tested, and four members now retained possession of these- coveted emblems. lire report and balance-sheet were adopted. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr H. Laing (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs Brooker and Lumsden (re-elected); secretary, Mr L. Moore (re-elected); treasurer, Mr A. C. Mills (re-elected); management committee, president, vicepresidents, and Messrs Porteous and Mills; selectors, Messrs Breaker, Lumsden, and J. Seatter; green committee, Messrs R. Aitchison, W. Porteous, and G. B. Saxelby. The secretary was directed to write thanking the Ladies’ 'Croquet Club for the valuable assistance rendered by them during last season. The subscription was fixed at £2, and 30s for members outside a radius of six miles. The appointment of a green-keeper was left in the "hands of the green committee. A hearty vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. A social and smoke concert was held afterwards, when a large number of members and friends attended, Mr Laing presiding. A lengthy toast list was gone through, and the prizes won at ihe Competitions were presented by Mr Fisher as follows: rinks, Messrs Porteous, Hay, C. Aitcliison, and Laing, who each received a pipe, one of which was piesented by Mr W. J. Wesney; doubles, Messrs Mills and Knighton, the former receiving a Doulton teapot and jug, presented by Mr W. Porteous, and the latter a tobacco pouch presented by Mr A. C. Mulls; Mr J. ~ T. Brooker won the Gordon Cun, as a championship, and holds it for one year; and Mr L. Moore was piesented with a silver teapot donated by Mr Laing, as the winner of the President’s Singles. Songs were rendered by Messrs Buchanan, Hodges, M’Gill, and R. Aitebison, while recitations were given by Messrs Laing and Hay. A very enjoyable function was brought to a close with the singing of “God save tile King” and “Auld Lang Syne.” EDENDALE. May 12. —After an autumn that will be long remembered for its uninterrupted succession of fine days, we have had our first snap of winter. Most of last week was fairly stormy, but the culmination was yesterday (Sunday) morning, when flashes of lightning and loud thunder awakened good people before the time. The wind was also blowing furiously, and the remainder of the day was inclement. In contrast- to the wintry weather, one notices garden flowers blooming unusually late with the lovely autumn, another reminder of which is bushes of manuka nearly in full bloom. Schools. —Local schools paid a visit to H.M.S. Dauntless, at the Bluff, on Thursday—a rather stormy clay, with snow on the lower hills; —but no doubt the visit was interesting to teachers and pupils. One cannot help uttering the wish that these mighty armaments may never be needed in the dread arbitrament of war. School time has been much broken lately, Easter and Anzac Day coming close on a holiday granted by the Prime Minister. There were also the day of the Teachers’ Conference, and of the school visit to the warship. Term holidays are now on, and the teachers may -well wish for good weather thereafter, so that the school work may be overtaken. Wyndham is starting a high school with an enrolment of over £0 pupils, and the prospect of more. This school will cater for tire needs of those who v.ould have- to undertake long train journeys daily, or else have to board in the larger centres. For these reasons, some pupils m the backbloeks, who have gained their pro-

ficiency, do not go on to secondary education at all. LUMSDEN. May 13. —Since Easter the weather has been boisterous and cold. The surrounding hills have now taken on their winter coating cf snow. There has been a good deal of rain, consequently the Oreti River has been running high. Hockey.—The hockey season has now opened, and several matches have been played. On Saturday last a team from Athol journeyed by train to Lumsden, where a match was played, the result being a win for Lumsden; the score being: Lumsden, 4; Athol, 1. Miss N. Menzies scored three, and Miss J. Campbell one of the goals for Lumsden. On Wednesday Lumsden journeyed by train to Riversdale to play against the latter team; the result again being a win for Lumsden, the score being: Lumsden, 4; Riversdale, 1. Miss N. Menzies scored three goals and Miss W. Belsham one for the Lumsden team. The visitors in both matches were hospitably entertained to afternoon tea. School. —The annual meeting of householders to elect a committee for the ensuing year was held in the school, when there was a good attendance of householders present. Mr W. G. Clark presided. The head teacher reported the roll number as 158, and tlio average attendance for the year as 148.7. The annual statement was submitted, also the balance sheet which showed a credit balance of £8 13s. The following were elected as members of committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs W. G. Clark (chairman), T. J. M'Cutcheon (secretary), Rev. G. H. Lawrence, Messrs H. Graham, J. Irving, J. Gordon, and G. W. Johnston. The senior children of the Lunrsd-en school, in charge of tho head master, journeyed to Bluff to visit H.M.S. Dauntless, where a pleasant time was spent visiting the- different parts of the ship and seeing all that was to be seen. The local school is now closed for term holidays, re-opening on May 26. Bazaar. —A very successful sale of work was held in Crawford’s Hall, on May 8 and 9, in aid of the Presbyterian Church and Missions. The ladies of the guild, of which Mrs R. Burns Watson is president, and Mrs James Campbell secretary, have been working hard for some considerable time to make the bazaar a success, and the result exceeded all expectations. The Rev. Mr Tylee, of Dipton, in the absence of the local minister, formally declared the bazaar open, after which brisk business was done. The sale closed with a concert on the Friday night, when there was a large audience. The concert was in the capable hands of Mrs M’Conville together with Misses Flynn and Fisher. Mrs Wilson acted as accompaniste. The first part of the programme was comprised of children’s items including choruses, recitations, songs, duets, trios, march, a scene from the “Sleeping Beauty,” and a sketch “The Court of the Fairies.” Part 2 of the programme was as follows: overture by orchestra (Mrs Wiley, piano; Mr Wiley, cornet, and Mr Heyder, banjo); song, Mrs AJ’Conville; banjo solos, Mr Heyder; eongs, Mrs Gordon, Miss Fisher, and Mr Scott; recitation, Mrs M’Conville. Mr Ward acted as chairman, and before the second half cf the programme thanked all those who had worked so heartily to make the bazaar a success. The stall-holders were: sweet stall, Miss Heath (convener) " and helpers; soft drinks, Mrs P. Bell; produce, Mesdames M’Cutcheon and Williamson; plain and fancy stalls, Mesdames Watson and Campbell; bag and wool stall, Mesdames M’Fetridge and Fisher; book stall, Mrs H. Dagg; tea rooms, Mesdames M’Lean, and Ml’Conville, and li-elpers. Altogether the proceeds amounted to £l3B. SI L V E RSI D E (Taieri). May 14. —Several weeks have elapsed since my last notes were written—not that there has been any dearth of material to write about, but a spell of indolence, fostered by my usual habit of procrastination, has been responsible for my long silence. However, there is, perhaps, no need of an apology, as I am scarcely vain enough to hope that’my contributions have been missed, and a resolution to be more diligent in future may not meet with a large amount of sympathy from Witness readers. The Weather.—Winter is with us once again, though there is nothing in the atmospheric conditions to-night to suggest that this is so. The air is warm and more suggestive of an evening in late spring than of early winter. The weather during last week and the early part of this week” however, left no doubt in our minds that winter is at hand. It was exceedingly rough and stormy, and there was a good deal of snow on Maungatua and the surrounding hills A good deal of ram also fell, and this would be ot advantage in softening the ground and making ploughing operations easier. Hitherto lea ground lias been so hard that ploughing lias been almost impossible. The ram came too late to be of any benefit to the turnip crops or pasturage, but it has been welcomed tor the reasons stated above. There m now httle grass available and, very shortly artificial feeding will have to be resorted to Dast- winter we commenced feeding our stock tiiiee weens before this time, but the heavy floods were responsible for that, and the root ciops were good, so there was not the same reason for economy as is the case this year when the root crops are light. cW«i' 5 ]” g r T \ e Ul j l! b supply at the local cheese factory has fallen away rapidly during the past few weeks, but this is only to e expected at this season. Cheese is 'still being manufactured, but the factory is now running on alternate days only. Social —The annual social and dance held under the auspices of the Mosgiel Co-opera-tive Dairy Factory Company, was held in the Coronation Tlall on the evening of Friday last, and proved one of the most successful lunctions of its kind held in Mosgiel for a very long time. Almost 300 people were picsent, and everyoue had a good time. The result must have been particularly gratifying to the social committee, who had worked hard to make the function a success. Farewell Social. —Last Thursday evening in the Coronation Hall a social was tendered to Mr Alexander Douglas, who is one of the best-known settlers on the Taieri Plain and who has departed on a trip to the Home Country During the evening a presentation was made to Mr Douglas, and opportunity was taken to ‘speed the parting guest ” Ail mil join in washing Mr Dougias a very happy holiday in the Old World Taieri Pipe Band.-During the past few months the members and supporters of the Taieri Pipe Band have been working assiduously in an effort to strengthen the finav.'c’al position of the band. The pipe band has held conceits all over the Taieri Plain, the campaign culminating in the grand carnival in the Coronation Hall last week. Mr James Findlay, manager of the Co-operative Dairy Company, has been appointed drum major of the band, in succession to Mr M’Dougall The Late Dr Fulton.—There are & few readers of the Otago Witness who are not familiar with the name of Dr Robert Fulton.

The series of articles on “Medical Prut.ee in the Early Days of Otago and Southland’” which appeared originally in the columns the Otago Witness, and were subsequently collected in beck form, attracted thousands cl leaders in both provinces, and very general regret will be felt at bis untimely death. Our province, and, indeed, I might say our Dominion, has had no more enthusiastic nature lover than Dr Fulton, and none has woiked harder or pleaded more stronoly for the preservation of our native birds For some years prior to liia death, it was my privilege to be personally acquainted with urn, and I can sav without fear of contradiction, that the young student of nature has fht, *ll U ; a ; me I r , P ore sympathetic friend than the late Dr .Robert Fulton. QUEENSTOWN NOTES. Tl.fi weather for the past weaker more T s l ot “J 1 !S to be expected in May ™,IH ( b f e ' n ? Sharp and cold-with A good lute of frost about it-there have been mild days, witn an overcast sky and wind m gusts 1 noiigh wo are enjoying this postponement of winter conditions (having in mind the severe frost of last year), there unseasonableness about it lhe air here is charged with “mining.” Lever since the early days has such interest been revived in the industry. First the original Kawarau venture figured on the horizon, and then its extension into the Shotover. Now. within the past few weeks another enterprise has been launched near the junction of the Shotover with the Kawarau. lhis is being undertaken by a Melbourne syndicate. Its representative (Altai M< ? or ?) ia vor .y much impressed with the outlook for electric dredging in this locality. Tile first prospects which were obtained by quite primitive means a few days after his arrival in tho district were highly encouraging, so much so that he arranged forthwith to procure a Kevstone drill thoroughly to test the ground 1 h ' s w »? brought to the district last weekend. and upon the result of (he tests that will be made within the next three months or so will depend the. further developments. An electric dredere can be worked at a fraction of the cost of the old-time class of machinery, and can treat a much greater quantity of detritus in a given time. "Hence ground that would not have paid for the working under the older methods can be made to pav handsomely when electricallydriven machinery is employed. Options have been secured by the Australian syndicate over other areas in the district as well and tests will be also applied in these so that, with all these enterprises afoot the future of mining in Wakatipu is fraught with great possibilities. We are all looking forward to the completion of the municipal hydro-electric scheme It was promised that the current would be turned on in July, but a good deal of delay lias occurred in (he delivery of the poles and other important requisites In addition, delays of other kinds incidental to a municipal enterprise of the kind have held up its establishment. Herce it. will be much later in the year before Queenstown possesses all the conveniences and comforts which hydro-electricity can afford. Things are fairly quiet here just now in the matter of tourist traffic. The strike worked considerable harm in that direction, for many Faster visitors who had intended remaining till rbe expiry of their tickets because anxious lest the strike trouble should extend to other hranches of the service and possibly to allied means of transport. This would have left them in an awkward predicament, so they betook themselves off while a service of any kind was available. Since the crisis the lost ground has not been recovered, but when normal conditions once more prevail in railway circles it is hoped that a trial will be made again of the week-end excursions to Queenstown. The duck-shooting season saw a good many sportsmen out early with gun and bag. Some of them seem to have had very satisfactory results, though it is not considered that the game lias been overplentiful.