The Country

Otago Witness, Issue 3688, 18 November 1924, Page 31

The Country

LAKE GOUNTT. November 13.—Shearing has commenced amongst the small llucks in the district. A start will be made in most of the large sheds in about a fortnight’s lime. Tennis.—At Queenstown on Saturday last a Central Otago Association shield match was played 'between teams from Pembroke and Queenstown clubs, the latter winning by 12 seta (89 games) to 7 sets (69 games). Rifle Shooting.—The Wakatipu Defence Rifle Club o;iened the season on Saturday last with a shooting match at 'Walter Peak. The weather was fine, and some fifteen members took part in the match. As in former years, the members and their friends were right royally entertained by the Mackenzie family, of Walter Peak. Dairying.—Owing to the favourable season, there is a big increase in the quantity of milk being received at present at the Lake County dairy factory. The Milk payments for October amounted to £247, being an increase of £53 on the amount paid during the corresponding period last year. Golf.—The final of the Ladies’ Championship of the Wakatipu Golf Club was played on the Prankton links on Saturday, when Mrs L. Curtis defeated Sister M’Rae after a close and interesting game. Mining.—Mr .T. Thompson, of Queenetoam, has commenced boring operations in his river claim at Lkiwer Shot over. It is reported that Mr Thompson is well satisfied with the prospects. Personal. —The Rev. C. Dig*by Wilson, who was recently appointed to the cure of the Dunstan Anglican parish, is at present in temporary charge of the Arrowtown parish, and will remain in the district for about six weeks. Nurse Summers, of the Dunedin Hospital staff, is at present on a visit to her parents in Arrowtown.——Mrs E. G. Poster, of Christchurch, is spending a holiday with her sister, Mrs Laird, of ■’-Bendemeer.” WAIKAIA. November 35.—Warm summer days and winds are making the ground very dry in the orchards and gardens, but grass is splendid. Euchre Tournament.—This function was held in the Masonic Hall on October 31 to help the sports carnival. More than sixty players took part. Suitable prizes were provided, the winners being Miss M. M’Kee and Mr M’Millan. Mrs R. Garvey and Mr F. Cavan agh received booby prizes. The sports carnival committee has divided the district into two parts—Upper Waikaia (above Dome Creek) and Lower Waikaia (including Wendonside, Dome, and Freshford). Princesses are to be nominated by each section. An art union is proposed, and tho necessary negotiations are proceeding. The date has been .changed from March to possibly the last week in April. 1925. Death. —Mr Alexander M-acdonell passed away on Saturday last at Anderson’s Bay. He was an old identity of Waikaia district, arriving about forty years ago. He was very highly reepected. and was shepherd at. Glenaray "Station for many years. The funeral left the Catholic Church, Waikaia, on Wednesday, for the Waikaia Cemetery, many very old friends being present. Cricket. —The Wyndliam cricketers played Waikaia at the recreation ground on Wednesday, and won by two ltus. A large gathering was present, and the weather was good. Excellent afternoon tea, which the ladie3 provided, was greatly enjoyed. s OTAUTAU. October 13. —Members of the A team journeyed to Orepuki on Saturday last to play the tennis fixture match with that club, and were, successful in scoring a victory by 15 sets to one. They were hospitably entertained by the seaside team. The B Grade team went to ILverton on Wednesday 7, and were defeated. Show Stock. —Mr Thomas Norman, the %'ellknown Western District Jersey breeder, has purchased a champion bull, Golconda’s llesembler, from Mr W. It. Hayne, Timaru. Tins bull is just over three years old, and took first and champion at the recent Timaru Show. Hi s sire was a New Zealand champion, Remarkable of Meadowbrook, while his dam, Coliingwood Sweet Pea, was the winner of the bronze medal against all New Zealand as a two-year-old, her yield two years later being 11,3711 b milk, representing 6161 b butter-fat. Mr Norman i 8 to be congratulated on his enterprise in bringing each good stock to Southland, and it is his intention to show him at the Wallace Show on November 19. Bowling.—On Wednesday the members of the senior president's “stars” rink journeyed to Otautau to play the holders, Messrs Lair.g, W. Seat ter, L. Moore, and W. Porteous (e). Beautiful weather was experienced, and the green was playing well. The visitors, Messrs Pbilp, M’Kinnon, Hill, and Rouse (s) scored on 11 heads, but could get only ones and twos, while their opponents were scoring lb rees and fours. The game finished up: Otautau, 34; Aparima, 17. If no other challenge is received before 26th inst. it is the intention of the holders to allow Orepuki, on the occasion of their visit to Otautau to play the first fixture match of the season, to play one of their rinks against the “star” rink. Athletics.—The Otautau Athletic Society purposes holding an afternoon eports meeting on November 26, when the following events will be decided; —100yds (open), 220yds (open), harriers’ race, approximately two miles, over a course to be decided by the committee, and a primary schools’ race, 100yds, for boys under 15 years. With the exception of the last-named, the prize for which will be a medal, it is proposed to give £1 for each event. The following officials were appointed:—Handicapper for running events, Mr George Bone and Mr Collett; schools’ race, Mr Tunnicliffe; starter, Mr G. Bone; judges of running events, Messrs Saxelby, Erooker, and Aitchison, and Messrs A. C. Howe, Tunnicliffe, and M’Curdy (Scott's Gap) for the school event; timekeepeic, Messrs M. Gonley, M. O'Brieiv, and W. A. E. H. Fi aser; protest committee, Messrs Liddell, Matheson, Jas. M'Dougall, and Sinclair. The Pipe Band is to be asked to be in attendance. TAPANUI. November 14.—Tho weather has been fine, ftnd the country around ha-3 a green appearanco. Show. The Kelso Show took place on Wednesday. 4th inst. The dav was wet *fter the dry spell. ’Hie show, aa a whole, mutt be classed as the best in the history

of the association, and there were record entries.

Motoring.—Messrs Wylie are running cars to Monowai for passengers,, making a day trip, and spending the night at Tuatapere. The trip is via Hedgehcpe and Invercargill. Caledonian Society.—At the annual oire!ing of tire Kelso Caledonian Society held last month, Mr J. Dickinson was elec-ed president, Messi-3 -I. Rae, T. Weir, W. Blackmore, and AY. Dickinson, vice-presi-dents, with a strong working committee. Mr R. Leask was re-elected secretary and treasurer. Judges, handicappcrs, etc., were appointed for the annual sports on hew leap's Day. , Death.—Mr James O’Dowd, who died at Blenheim on the 6th ult., after a short illness, was born in Liverpool, England, an came to the colonies -40 years ago. Be came to Tapanui 26 years ago. He entered into possession of the Commercial Hotel. The deceased was a member of numerous local institutions. mandeville. November 14.— The weather has been good, with little rain. Showers, however, are frequent, and when they come are quite welcome. Indeed, a good day’s ram just now would not be objected to. Growth lias been good, and the district never looked better. Grain crops are promising heavy yields. Cows are milking splendidly, and the prospects of a record percentage of fat lambs from trie mothers was never better. Annual Meeting—The annual meeting of the Hall Company, was held here last Monday, when the directors were able to present a very satisfactory balance sheet. A movement is on foot to enlarge the ball, and definite efforts in that direction will bo launched in about three or four months time. . Wedding.—Mr Henry Hargest, oi this district, was married on Wednesday in the Riversdale Anglican Church to Miss Mary Horrell, of Waipounamu. A number of friends from hexe journeyed to Riversdale, and after to the home of the bride’s parents, where they enjoyed a very pleasant day. Mr and Mrs Hargest left for Christchurch, where the honeymoon is to be spent, after which they enter into possession of a portion of Mr Hargest’s father’s estate of some 1400 acres on the Retreat road. MOMGNA. November 14. —Never has there been such a spring! Plenty of heat, plenty of rain, plenty of grass, and plenty of milk. Let us hope the dairy farmers are satisfied. But one never knows; it is human nature to be e-rumbling about something. I fancy I can hear my" Silverside friend dissenting, but surely lie will agree with me when I saw that it is a ple&ure to be alive these days. How can a man grumble when his nostrils are filled with the scents of Mother Earth? Scents which go to the head like wine. Yet the state of the cheese market is apt to ra’ss disquieting thoughts. Farfwell Social. —Tie residents of the district assembled in the hall last Friday evening to say farewell to Miss Murison, who nas now left for Dunedin. Miss Murison had been assistant teacher in the local school for the past five years, and I am sure that her departure is much regretted, not only by parents, but by all who had thie pleasure of her acquaintance. In a few well-chosen remarks Mr A. W. Amos presented the guest of the evening with a verv handsome toilet set. Mr Blair also spoke. Miss Violet Johnson, on behalf of the pupils, presented Miss Muii&on with a •beautiful little clock. Miss Murison suitably replied, voicing her regret at leaving Momona. During ihe evening a very enjoyable programme was rendered, and refreshments and dancing followed. Electric Light.—The reticulation of the district is proceeding apace, and another week or ten days should find every house ready lor the electric light. Tho poles were delivered about a month ago, but, alas, instead of being ; n a vertical position, they are still in the horizontal. Very soon they will be hard to find, for grass grows very quickly these days. WAIROA (Hawke’s Bay). November 12.—Shearing operations, much to the farmers' chagrin, have been suspended for several days owing to heavyrain falling. Washing-Up Bill.—One of the clauses in the Washing-up Bill put through in the last hours of the session extricates a Wairoa farmer from an unenviable position which arose from his apparent want of knowledge of the regulations governing leases of education reserves. Mr T. Davey, of Wairoa, ha~s such a lease, and though he effected improvements running into several thousand pounds without obtaining the consent of the I,and Board, he is unable to claim compensation for the same. This has now been remedied, and on application to the board, formal consent can he given. Ijiew Road.—The Public Works have placed the sum of £10,009 on the Estimates for the formation of the Wairoa, Ruakituri and Waimana (Bay of Plenty) road. This road will open up to Wairoa a large area of country hitherto under-eloped. Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce.— At. the usual monthly meeting of tile Wairoa Chamber of Commerce, several new members were elected. The postal authorities also notified that a dailv mail service overland from Nap'er and Gisborne would start very soon. Mr H. A. Mossman (an old settler) wrote asking the chamber to support the request of ' back-block set tlers for the re-opening of a former mail-service; a resolution being carried expressing sympathy with same. Further correspondence was received from local business men complaining of ths exorbitant steamer freights prevailing between Napier and Wairoa, and suggesting as a solution that Wairoa purchase a steamer of its own. They further desired the chamber’s support in this direction. The question was left over for further information. Evangelists.—Two well-known G isborne evangelists arrived in Wairoa recently, and conducted several evangelistic services. They also gave valuable assistance at the North Clyde Mission, large congregations being in attendance at all the services. Abandonhment of Flower Show.—For the first time in the history of the Wairoa Horticultural Society, the annual flower 4how was abandoned at the eleventh hour owing to lack of interest. The cause of this cannot be a want of blooms worthy of

exhibition in the district, so some sort of an inquiry should be made into the cause of the present failure. Boxing Tournament.—The Wairoa Boxing Association lias decided to hold an amateur tournament on December 5, and a sub-com-mittee has been appo.nted to make all arrangements. The Foruson Wehr.—The Wairoa County Council is reported as being the first local body is New Zealand to secure a new make of a grader, the Fordson Wehr. It is difficult to suggest any kind of road work which it cannot perform, and the saving is stated to be £I per day over the horsedrawn grader. Concert.—A concei t just held in connection with the local convent was very largely attended, and a ver5 r fine programme was presented by the pupils. The committee was indebted to many outside helpers in making the concert 3uch a success. Meat Trucks.-—The meat trucks to be used on the Wairoa-Waikokopu line during the coming meat-freezing season are now practically completed. This line is already proving very useful to the Wairoa proprietor**, there being both a saving in time and a lessened cost. Obituary.—Twc cad deaths have occurred here in the past week, the first being tbat of Master M. JCirk, aged 16 years, son of Mr and Mis A. Kirk of Nubaka, Wairoa. The deceased lad had won a free place at the High School, ar.d was just finishing his course at the Napier High School. He had developed into a fine lacl, and was the very picture of youthful health. Influenza, however, intervened, and while being treated for that complaint, appendicitis set in, resulting in the poor lad's becoming a victim to biood-poisorhng. His parents, who were summoned hastily, travelled all night, arriving a few hours before the end. The removal of such a promising life from amongst us has caused a profound impression in the district. A few days following the foregoing, there passed away at the Gisborne Hospital Mr Thomas M‘Kee, aged 65 years. Deceased was one of Wairaa’s early isettlers, having arrived here more than thirty years ago. He was emp'oyed as shepherd for many years on the Clydebank estate. Finally, about twenty yeais ago, he purchased a farm near Wairoa, upon which he resided until his admittance to the Gisborne Hospital. The late Mr M‘Kee was of a' very genial disposition, and highly respected for his integrity. He was for many years an active member of the Nuhaka School Committee, and was also a member of tiie Presbyterias Church of the same district. The body was conveyed by motor hearse from Gisborne to Nuhaka, where a short service was held, and was thence taken to Wairoa Cemetery, where it was attended by many friends. Every sympathy is extended to the bereaved family, Mrs M‘Kee and a grown-up aon and daughter, who are left to mourn their loss.