The Country

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 35

The Country

LAKE COUNTY. July 28.—During the last few days there has been a heavy thaw, and in consequence the roads throughout the district are very soft, and not conducive to the pleasure of motorists. Football.—The final match in the second round of cup fixtures was played at Frankton on Saturday last, when Country Pirates and Queenstown teams met. The surface of the ground was soft, but was frozen underneath, with the result that players had difficulty in keeping their feet. The first spell was evenly contested, and at half-time Queenstown led by 6to 3. Country Pirates had all the best of the second spell, and added 12 points, the game ending with the score—Country Pirates, 15 (five tries) ; Queenstown, G (two tries), Mr A. J. Jackways was referee. Arrow team is leading for the cup with seven points, Country Pirates five, Queenstown nil. Queenstown and Arrow Juniors played a match at Queenstown on Saturday. The game resulted in a win for Arrow by 14 to 9. Mr W. A. Warring was referee. Personal.—Mr John Cockburn, of Arthur's Point, left on Monday last for Auckland, where he will join the s.s. Niagara on August 9', bound for Vancouver. There he will join his wife and daughter, who left for Vancouver early in June. It is their intention to visit Alaska and other parts Of the United States and Canada. LUMSDEN. July 29. —Variable weather has been experienced during the past week, and a good ! deal of rain has fallen. Sliarp frosts were again experienced on two or three nights. Weather conditions still remain unsettled. Ball.—The Lumsden Tennis Club held its annual ball in the Masonic Hall on Friday, 22nd inst., when there was a large attendance. Previous to supper being partaken of opportunity was taken of presenting the Campbell Cup. The donor, Mr James Campbell, of Lumsden, formally presented the cup to the president of the Northern District Tennis Association (Mr (Houston), who thanked Mr Campbell for the donation of this cup, and in a few wellchosen remarks handed the cup to the captain of the winning club. Dr Brown, of Lurneden. Dr Brown, in responding, thanked the previous speakers for their good wishes, and expressed pleasure that the local team had won as a tribute to the donor of the cup, who was also a local resident. llcnreeentatives of Balfour Club, viz.. Messrs Carmody, Sproat, and Wilson, also epoke. The music for the dance was supplied bv Wallis Orchestra, of Gore. Mr J. Ogilvv carried out the duties of M.C., and Miss Brotherston that of secretary. KAIWERA. July 30— After the long spell of frosty weather the climatic conditions have, from the early riser’s point of view, improved considerably, and we can now rise from bed in the morning without so much disS O -” 1 /? 11 ’ . Bat even although we had a Blight sprinkling of snow lately we have had \ lntry ’ bleak days, and this has £the Strict a reC ° ld dry —ther winter is T no e w h ° n n — nc F party telephone line ? n<3er and in the c°-urse of another two weeks all the subscribers keenlv h n ked up. Those interested are will °°m n 5 fo Q lvald ft > the time when they nlaL u - le to do much of their commondlnttn U f ineSS °\ er the ’phone, and incL dentally have a chat with their neighbours back 1 yariL° leaving their own Iwy°J kin ? Bce ;- time ago a workin» Ground 3 B f n7 U^ d - l ° ? lean Up the less devrne mi,- 6 P re -' ente d in a more or tary and wi’lTn 1 P. 108611 * bpi »g all volunwas done. K he!pers much " Oo ‘l work the^Sic^Le 1 ? to a fancy dress ball which forward « Knn.X "„rL IT,? > ‘'’i t”* a 4’

SOUTH TAIERIT 3.- ■--Heavy i < Greater part of last week ?nd ?hI‘ nS llle Ri™ W throughly The TaVerl River was carrying n . t Ine 1 aieri and in some nlacef „] ume ? f water, flowed its banks with h ®. eaSLern side overthe low-lying land betJ h 1 4 sult that a!I the Main South road TnunduJ 1 ” 1, aad places to a depth of several ‘ t,? so,ne was over the line in tnl • • - The wat<?r Otokia railway station n« t f v ’ CUllty of the of transportation between th ° “ leans the township was by bmt n Ration and x.-u's On th? t weste I m di s S ide P of r t S he fr ° m NUT resumed. The weather is again fine with a recurrence of severe frosts. S ’ River Embankment.— The Ruston dragin. thA a 'n tOr haS had to sus l le nd operations on new river embankment owing to the r>en~inn he f rlvci ? at Allanton, but the suspension ,s of a temporary nature only, and wii u! PeCtCd l hat in a da ? °r two work Will be resumed there. _ ®?2 ial ’T~ Owin G to tile inclemency of the weather it was found necessary to postpone tile eucure tournament and dance which was to have been held at Otokia last Friday evening. The decision of a northern magistrate that progressive euchre is illegal may terminate what most people have hitherto icgarded as an innocent and pleasant pastime.

Personal.—Mr A. P. Fleming has relinquisnea nis duties as overseer of the works being carried out on the Taieri Plain by the Public Works Department, and has been succeeded by Mr Lester. During the time Mr Fleming has been in the employ of the Public Works Department he has been diligent and tactful in the discharge of his many duties, and has earned the esteem and respect of all those with whom he has been brought He will be greatly missed.—Mr ami Mrs John Leech, very olil

residents of Otokia, who removed to Middlemarch some time ago, are at present spending a holiday in this district. SOUTH CANTERBURY. July 30.—General Sir Andrew Russell purposes paying a visit to Waimate on August 9, and a public reception is to be given in his honour. The Borough Council has altered its meeting night for the occasion. Dental Clinic.—The Borough Council of Waimate has raised no objection to the proposal that the dental clinc rooms be made part of the proposed Plunket and Rest Room Building, but has laid down that the necessary money for the extra rooms must be provided. Disappearance.—The disappearance of Mrs W. G..Aspinall, of Temuka, is causing grave concern to her friends and relatives. She left Timaru on her bicycle, and two days later the bicycle was found on the beach at Normanby. No reason can be given for her disappearance, as she had enjoyed good health.

Rugby.—Combined Factories (Temuka) played a football match against the Arowhenua Maoris, and defeated them by 9 points to 7. There was a large number of spectators.

Unemployment.—The following sums of money have been handed in to the Mayor of Temuka (Mr T. Gunnion) from the various churches towards the Unemployment Relief Fund: —Methodist, £2 : Gospel Mission. £3 10s; Church of England, £3; Catholic Church, £ll 16s. Milk Supply.—Mr R. C. Heron, manager of the Wellington Municipal Milk Supply, arrived in Timaru this week in connection with the proposed municipal milk supply in Timaru.

Railway Rates.—lt was announced at the meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that the railway charges on goods railed from Timaru to Christchurch have been reduced. A reduction of £1 Os Sd per ton has been made, and in future goods will be railed at the same rate both ways. The price up till recently has been 37s Id per ton from Christchurch to Timaru, and 57s 6d from Timaru to Christchurch.

Golf. —The following were the results of the Timaru Golf Club's second round of the championships:—Seniors—B. V. Wright beat Webber, G. L. Barker beat Fair, Houlihan beat Bruce, E. A. Scott beat G. W. Scott. Junior —Martin beat Sawell. M'Clelland beat Henderson, Ellis beat Murdoch. ASHBURTON COUNTY. July 30.—A lecture dealing with the writings of G. B. Shaw was given by Mr H. G. Miller, M.A., at the meeting of the W.E.A. The lecturer described the effect of Shaw's writings, especially his plays, in the late Victorian eta, in discrediting many of the Furitanical ideas.—An interesting lecture, entitled “ Business and Farming, was given on Thursday evening in Ashburton by Mr G. H. Holford, of Christchurch, before members of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce and the public. Mr W. A. Fleming presided.

Farmers’ Excursion. —The Ashburton farmers who went on the farmers’ trip to the West Coast arrived back full of praise of the generous way they had been treated by the West Coast farmers and others. They all admit it was the “ chance of a lifetime,” and the railway authorities are to be congratulated on the enterprise of farmers' train excursions to various districts.

Unemployment.—A donation of £lO 10s towards the Unemployment Relief Fund was donated by the Ashburton Rugby Union. The Ashburton Male Voice Choir also gave a conceit in aid of the fund. A total of 56 men have been taken on in the last two weeks by local bodies in and around Ashburton, and this has had the effect of breaking the back of the unemployment situation. The County Council has 44 men at work. Five men have been employed by the Ashburton Borough Council at present, and a further batch is to be taken on later. Work has been found up at Hawarden in road making for some men from xVshburton.

Pheasants. —An endeavour is being made to introduce pheasants into the Ashburton acclimatisation district. Recently six hens and two cocks were received from the Auckland Society, and are reported to be doing well. They are being looked after on a private farm just now. It is intended to liberate chicks in the back country, and if they do well the Ashburton Society will purchase more pheasants for liberation. Bridge Closed.—The Pudding Hill Bridge on the road between Methven and Mount Somers will be closed for repairs from Monday, August 1. Church Transfer.—The Rev. J. T. Paddison. vicar of the Kaiapoi Anglican parish and l.’te of Mount. Somers, has been appointed vicar of the Gore parish. Football.—A Rugby football match between Christs College'and Ashburton Boys’ High School was plaved on Thursday at Ashburton, and resulted in a win for college by 10 points to 9. The match was played °n a, wet. greasy ground in drizzling rain. r armei'S !• inance.—The weather affected the attendance at the Chamber of Commerce lecture, when Mr G. H. Holford spoke on business and farming. His main contention was that the farmers should have put more money into their farms than into factories and works. They had been given too much cheap money. A matter of £25,000,0M had boon lent to the farmers merely on their ability to farm. The future of Canterbury was in growing foodstuffs, but grass was the most important crop for New " Zealand.

Ploughing Match.-The fifth annual Rakaia Ploughing Match constituted a record for New Zealand. Winners were: W. Devon, w- B V„- an > L - Bo =W. C. Dolan, J. Kevern Vt Allison, D. M'Lachlan, and R. Bedwell.

WAIROA (Hawke’s Bay). July 28.—The unemployed question for 74 iS Very , acute at the Present time, and there is a large number of men out of work at present both in town and country. In order to assist the position the Wairoa Borough Council has placed a gang of unemployed men (including both married and single) ■ in grading and beautifying the river bank. An esplanade 10ft wide has been formed along the whole of the emD'lJilcmdit about Ift above wnter nurk, the whole being slope! off to a perfect angle’ This when sown in grass and planted in trees and shrubs should make for a decided asset to the town. Already a number of residents are donating trees and shrubs, and

it is the local council's intention to ask the property owners in the locality to contribute to a fund for keeping the whole in order. Sport.—Both the Wairoa Rugby Union and Hockey Association have been very unfortunate this season, as nearly all their playing Saturdays have been wet ones, and poor attendances at the various competitions has been the result, the gate takings being by far the smallest experienced for many years.

Trout.—lt is anticipated that during the coming season about 200,000 trout ova will be distributed in Wairoa district waters, and already about 100,000 ova have arrived from Tokaanu hatchery. Mower.—The Wairoa Borough Council is at present negotiating for the purchase of a large petrol mower so that the work of mowing the grass in the various reserves may be more expedited. Should the purchase be made it will do away with the old custom of allowing cattle on the streets for the purpose of keeping the grass down, as the mower will then cope with it. Personal.—Sister Agnes Lochore, organiser in connection with the British and Foreign Bible Society, has been visiting Wairoa, and addressed a large meeting at St. Paul’s Church, the Rev. J. A. Shardlow, vicar of the parish, presiding. The speaker gave some interesting statistics of the number of languages and dialects into which the Bible had been translated. She also showed that the New Zealand branch sent out last year 25,000 portions of the Scriptures. Pig Raising.—Mr K. W. Gorringe. agricultural expert, gave a very interesting lecture on pig raising at the Wairoa Farm School, held recently. There was a large number of farmers present. The speaker spoke of the large profits that can be made from pig farming, considerably more in advance of both dairy and sheep or cattle farming. He stated that a great opening for the bacon industry existed in New Zealand, more specially as the Home markets would purchase largely ; also the pig was a good eradicator of the blackberry. He ventured to say that if a farmer was given a large number of pigs to put on a black-berry-infested area, in a reasonable time they W'ould clear it away. The lecturer was listened to with great interest, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Telephone^—About a month or two ago a letter appeared in your paper signed by Mrs Sheehy, of Miller's Flat, Otago, touching on the early days of the telephone in Otago. Your paper has evidently reached out to the backblocks of Wairoa. Several well-known sheep farmers there, several of whom resided in Roxburgh in the early days, have a clear recollection of a telephone existing between Roxburgh Post Office and Teviot Station very shortly after the big flood in the Molyneux in September, 1878. The telephone line may have been in existeuce prior to this for all they know, but their recollection is made clear by the big flood. Incidentally, they paid a high tribute of praise to Mr Thomas Coop, who. in the face of great difficulties and dangers from the severe snowstorms of the Roxburgh and Dunstan districts, used to repair the telegraph wires in those localities. Mrs Sheehy's letter has given rise to much interest, as has revived incidents of the early days of Roxburgh and the Dunstan districts, and the many and varied experiences of those times.