NORTH OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 24

NORTH OTAGO

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT. (Fboh Our Special Correspondent.) MANY VISITORS. Wu> New Zealand and South Seas InterRational Exhibition has not been without benefit to Oainaru. Dozens of motorists bare been passing through for the north and south every day. The majority of the toayelleis have remained here for meals •nd not a few have spent a day or two in the “while city" either going or coming Many flattering tributes have been paid by visitors to th© well-kept streets and the charming environment of the town. lhe public gardens, in themselves, are worthy a visit of inspection. They have been greatly improved since Mr Barnett (formerly of Dunedin) was placed in charge. THE “NATURAL” ENEMY. Some years ago stoats, weasels, and ferrets were imported to North -Otago. They were supposed to be the natural nciny of «*e rabbit. They do not appear to have devoted as much attention to the furry animal as to feathered game. Recently fenineholders in various parts of Oainaru kpve suffered Josses of poultry by the depravations of both stoats and weasels. One *f these wr.s captured a night or two ago ■fi it playing havoc with tne occupants of a poultry yard. DIAMOND TUBILJ sLis is the diamond jubilee of the bor Vigh of Oainaru, which was the third bor■Sb to be founded in Otago. Dunedin was the first, and Queenstown the second It was at a meeting held on January 13, I*6, that it wag proposed by Mr J. Ash tvoft, seconded by Mr J. Lemon, and •avried: “That it is desirable that steps ha taken to bring the town of (daman* •Inder the Municipal Corporations ordi aancds, 1865.” This resolution was given effect to and the first meeting of the 3oroogh Council was held on August 6, 1866, with the late Mr J. C. Gilchrist as Major. Jt is worthy of note that the town rate for 1866-67 was fixed at Is 9d in the pound. The borough was first operated under the Ward system, there being four wards. Subsequently, however, tne wards were abolished. MINING REVIVAL. In rece-.it months there has been quite A revival in the interest in mining matters, •o far as North Otago is concerned, and the share market is eagerly scanned from day to day. Two or three companies have been formed locally, notably the . St. Bathan’s and Shotover. and shares in those are reported to be going off f:eely. Evidently land does not offer tne dame inducements for the investment of aapital as it did prior to the war A 1 though broad acre 9 are cheaper in these parts than in the North Island, the heavy taxation seems to have frightened capital to some extent. Apart from gold-rr ining, A good deal of local capital is being in vested in other mineral enterprises The lime and white stone industries have become fairly active, while coal measures are being developed at Kurow, Papakaio, and other parts. The New Zealand Malay Rubber Company is also controlled from Ouuuru. This, it is interesting to note, has Jimt paid out a dividend of 10 per cent, ea ordinary and preference shares. * This mokes a return of 20 per cent, on all shares since December last. ELECTRIC POWER PROJECT A report is being widely circulated that the Public Works Department intends erecting an auxiliary electric power station on the Waitaki River, a few miles beyond Xlurow. The headwaters of the Waitaki could be harnessed at a comparatively small cost, j nd there is an abunclcnce of power available. -\n auxiliary station here would be a con* citing link between Lake Coleridge and Waipori, and sufficient current would be available to serve the whole of North Otago and South Canterbury. Should ♦be report prove correct, a large number of men wonirl be employed in the construction of the dam. Hydraulic and foundation iurvcys are now in progress, and ifO doubt a definite proposal will be anby ihe Minister of Public Works jo the near fntuio. RAMS FOR VICTORIA. Mi J. Gilchrist (Rosebery, Oainaru) recently sold a line J Border Leicester flock runs At a highly .satisfactory figure to go fct> Victoria. This is the second draft Mr Bilchr»t hr> shipped tins season. Immediately *ki arrival of the first, lot the buyers <nbf»d ashing r.is agents, Messrs Wright, Siephnutc-.y mui 'Jo. (Ltd.), esking if Mr Gilchrist could supply them with any more rams of a similar type. Mr Gilchrist's sheep nave long had the reputation of being second to none in the .Dominion, and •i the show in Christchurch last, Novernbei a gtud ram bred at Rosebery was awarded file championship against New Zealand’s test. SALES OF LAND. Several rather important land transactions have recently taken place in these parts. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Ltd.), report having sold to Mr A. J. Pearse (Waiareka) on account of tho trustees of the )ato J. Ryan (Morven) a freehold property of 918 acres. Mr Pearse fakes pos session at an early date. THEN AND NOW. Although the prico of sheep this year is not, qs high as 12 months ago, it is stiff satisfactory, so tar as North Otugo settlers are concerned. Old identities recall tho time when logs of mutton were being sold at sixpence, and wool was fourpenee per lb. This was before the days of the refrigerator. It wa3 the inventor of the refrigerator who set the sheep-farnier 8 of New Zealand upon their feet. The lamb trade is. of great importance to-day to the ♦armors of North Otago, and close attention is being paid to the class of stock that is best adapted to the British trade. Strangely enough, the tasks of the Homo consumers in regard to meat are not what they were 20 years ago. Tho heavy and fat carcase

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. Mr L. H. Sumpter presided at tho monthly meeting of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society on Thursday. T he secretary reported that one reserve had been clearad of rabbitg and a good job had been made. The Southland Society advised that, it would be able to supply unlimited quantities of eyed brown trout ova for delivery about August. Two applications for blocks for deei stalking were granted, one to Mr James M'Kenzie and party, and the other to Mr H. H. Nortou and party. CASHING OF DEQUES. The risk run by tradesmen in indiscriminately cashing cheques was again emphasised in Oamaru a few days ago. A man of apparently good address purchased goods to the value of a few ghilings from a tradesman, and tendered a cheque foi £lO. He secured the goods and about £9 10s in notes and silver. The cheque was dishonoured, and the man has not since been seen. The lesson, though dearly bought, will not be lost upon tbe tradesman. This is not the first occasion in recent months ill which the confidence of keen business men has been misplaced. LAKE TROUT. The Wataki Acclimatisation Society has been endeavouring for some years past to stock Lake Ohau with rainbow trout. It was hoped that, in time, this lake would become as popular to fishermen as the Rotorua and Taupo Lakes, in the North Island. The reports that have reached the society, however, have not been encouraging. A party intends leaving for the lakes district next week to secure first-hand information regarding the progress that has been made. INSURANCE RATES. . At the meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council on Thursday night the Mayor stated that insurance rates on properties ou the South Hill had been increased by 50 pA* cent. This seemed to him to be anomalous at a time when the council was spending a large sum of money in improving the water supply in this locality. On the motion of Cr Grenfell, it was decided that a protest be forwarded to the Underwriters’ Association, with a request for an assurance that when the water reticulation was completed the rates would be reduced. THE WAITAKI BRIDGE. The Waitaki road and railway bridge, which lias recently come into prominence in regard to accidents, was opened just 50 years ago. The contractors for the work were Messrs M'Gavin and Hunter, of Dunedin, the contract price being £31,255, exclusive of the iron cylinders and girders, which the Government supplied. At the time of its erection it was considered to be one of the largest bridges in the world, being three-quarters of a ! mile length. It was built of 220 iron I cylinders, each 37ft 6in long. They are sunk 25ft into tlie shingle. It contained 2000 tone of* iron and 1600 cubic yards of concrete. PECULIAR DISEASE. A peculiar form of disease is just now attacking residents in many parts of North Otago. It is characterised by swollen glands, bleeding at the nose, and in cases violent vomiting. The doctors consider that it is a form of influenza. It is more prevalent in the country districts than in the town. WHEAT AND FLOUR. Advice was received by an Oamaru miller on Saturday that the export price of Australian flour had been reduced by 2s 6d per toil. As the North Island market is being swamped with Australian flour, it is not improbable that the New Zealand millers, at an early date, will reduce the price of flour by £1 per ton. This would involve a reduction of 5d pci bushel for all varieties of wheat. Farmers who are holding for a rise should contemplate that possibility. QUINNAT SALMON. Regulations gazetted this week provide for licenses for the taking of quinnat salmon for sale. The scale of fees for licenses is as follows:—For a license to take salmon with nets or traps, £5; for a license to take slamon with rod and line, £2; for a license for licensed fishermen to take salmon at sea, £1; for a license to take 6alnion with rod and line by the holder of a license to take trout, £l. The area on the Waitaki River within which quinnat salmon may be taken by means of nets or traps for the purposes of sale is as follows:—Between a straight line drawn from the south bank of the river at Uxbridge railway station to the Redclitfs on the north bank and the Kurow-Hakataramea bridge. LAWN TENNIS. OTAGO v. NORTH OTAGO. Otago and North Otago played their annual lawn tennis tournament at the Oamaru courts on Saturday. There was a largo attendance, and the weather was all that could be desired. Some very interesting guinea were witnessed. The results were as follows, North Otago names being mentioned first:— ■ SINGLES. G. Sumpter beat Boddy, 9—7; O. Midi son lost to Fulton, B—9; J. Hamilton lost to Black. B—9; M‘Gregor Deal Gale, 9—3; N. Manchester lost to Jenson, 4—9; G. Cocks lost to Matson, 6—9; G. Manchester beat Gale, 7—6; King lost to Miss White, 4—7; D. Manchester beat Miss Todd, 7—2; Mrs Dewar lost to Miss Turner, 6—7; Mias Davis lost to Mies Fleming, 6—7. DOUBLES. Sumpter and M'Gregor lost to Boddy and Fulton, 7—9; Mollison and Familton lost to Blank and Jenson, 3—9; Manchester and Manchester lost to Miss Patterson and Gole> 4— 9; Mias Perkins and Dewar lost to Miss White and 'Turner, 7—4; G. Sumpter and Miss G. Manchester lost to Fulton and Miss Patterson, 4—7; Mollison and Miss D. Manchester lost to Boddy and Miss Gale, 6—B; M’Gregor end Miss Porkim

l>eat Black and Miss White, 9—7; Familton and Miss King lost to Gale and Miss Todd. 7—9; Manchester and Mrs Dewar beat Jenson and Miss Turner, 9—B; C. Cocks and Miss Davies lost to Matson and Fleming, B—9. Totals: Otago, 14; North Otago, 7. PERSONAL. The Mayor of Oainaru (Mr James M’Diarmid) and Mrs M'Diarmid have been on a visit to the Exhibition at Dunedin. The death of Mrs Margaret Glass at Dunedin recalls the fact that her husband, the late Mr Thomas Glass, who was a stonemason, was one of the first members of the Oamaru Town Board, formed in 1803. The other members of the board were Messrs William Falconer, Henry France, Samuel Gibbs, Michael Grenfell, James Hassell, Edward Hudson. William Sewell, and Charles Traill. GENERAL, fad named Jack Gower, a boarder at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, was admitted to the hospital this morning suffering from injuries sustained in a fall from a bicycle. Birds have been working much destruction in local orchards this year. They have not been satisfied with small fruits, but have done much damage to pears, apples, and plums. Although farm labour has been in request for some time, the local office of the Labour Department has received a number of applications for work during the last week or two. The plea .vas raised by counsel, in mitigation of a penalty for alleged assault, in the Magistrate’s Court at Oamaru, that the defendant had served in the Boer war with the senior sergeant of police. The plea did not avail. The Oamaru Athenaeum Committee has decided to erect sample rooms at the rear of its premises. These will fill a longfelt want. Tenders are shortly to be called for the rooms. The North Otago A. aud P. Association’s sub-committee has decided to hold a ram fair on March 31. For some time past negotiations have been in progress for the provision of two large petrol tanks on the Oamaru foreshore. It is understood that the negotiations have now been completed, and contracts signed foi two leases—one of one and a half acres and the other of one acre. The firms interested are two of the largest petrol importers of the Dominion. The work of erecting the tanks is to be com menced almost immediately. The petrol consumption of North Otago will, it is anticipated, warrant two oil-tankers a month calling at this port. Besides being a great public convenience the new oil tanks will thus be a souce of revenue to the port A number of Ashburton school children who had been visiting the Dunedin Exhibition, called in at Oamaru on their way home and spent a profitable hour inspect ing different portions of the town. Several parties of deer-stalkers are leaving Oamaru for the back-country during the next few days. An old identity of Oamaru, Mr Thomas Dwyer, passed away to-day at the age of 67 years. He leaves a grown-up family. Mr Murray H. Jackson, a well-known settler of the Wairarapa. is at present visiting Oamaru. Mr John M‘Farlane, whose death is reported from Dunedin, was well known in North Otago. In the early days he and his brother Andrew were in business here as grocers. Both were identified with all movements associated with the early development of the district. The deceased was a well-known breeder of Ayrshire cattle, and did much to popularise the breed in North Otago. He was also a member of the committee of the A. aud P. Association for some years, while he and his brother financed the Oamaru breakwater in its early clays. Mr S. C. Gibb, of Awamoko. lias completed his examination for the B.A. degree. Archdeacon Russell, the popular parish priest of Oamaru, has in recent years ridden many hundreds of miles on his motor cycle to visit the sick and afflicted. His wide circle of friends will be delighted to know that the vestry of St. Luke’s has now provided him with an up-to-date coupe. With this his ministrations will be conducted with much less physical inconvenience than was formerly the case. Many hundred-weights of mushrooms have been gathered in the Oamaru district during the last Sew days. Applications are now beginning to come in more freely from the rural districts for supplies of electric current. The Prime Minister, when in North Otago last week, inspected the site of the proposed dam on the Waitaki River for the supply of hydro-electric power.