Wendon Valley.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 34, 18 November 1899, Page 10

Wendon Valley.

The weather of late has been particularly bad, and farm work has not been advancing 1 as rapidly as it might have done. The sowing operations are practically completed, and one has now the satisfaction and pleasure of seeing all around green fields, etc. The unfavourable weather has had a very marked effect on the young spring grass, complaints about an insufficiency of feed being quite common. The mention of grass calls to mind the fact that a great number of farmers up this way have a great -disbelief in sowing grass seed with another crop, such as oats, wheat, or turnips. It being proved by actual experience that the old method produces less profitable results, most farmers have adopted the plan of ■sowing the seed as a special and separate crop.

A cricket club has been formed in our school, and although the combination is by no means formidable, some good play is shown. About a fortnight ago a match was played between our boys and a Waikaka ■contingent, which resulted in a good win of 10 wickets for Waikaka. The game was played in the Waikaka school grounds. Our boys were most hospitably entertained by the home team, which fact no doubt lessened the mortification of defeat. A return match will be played here sometime before Christmas.

In the k region of politics there is, of course, a little more than the usual amount of excitement apparent. We Lave two candidates in the field, Mr Kelly and Mr Wm. Fraser, our present member. ISeither of these gentlemen has thought it worth Lis while to pay us a visit. Their non-appearance is not easily explained, seeing that this is an agricultural community of considerable importance. , If it wasn’t the outlandisbness of the place that kept them away, then the only satisfactory conclusion we arrive at is that they ’credit us with sufficient intelligence to form an opinion unaided. This explanation appeals to] our vanity, and we accordingly accept it. The contest will be an interesting one. Mr Fraser is widely respected by friends and foes alike, and has a reputation for straight-forwardness and fairness, always giving credit where due, a characteristic conspicuously lacking in our politics. Mr Kelly is also highly thought of as a man, and will no doubt get large support from the farming community.

A concert of more than usual interest took place in Waikaka on Friday evening last. The object, a worthy one, was to raise funds for the local school, and the programme was decidedly above the average standard of country concerts, a circumstance due mainly to the indefatigable and capable efforts of the teacher, Mr J. W. McLeod. The opening item was an overture, ‘lsle of Beauty,’ by a string band of five instruments. ‘ Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean,’ was sung with fine patriotic spirit by Mr Archibald, assisted with a good chorus. Miss McLeod sang ‘Killarney,’ and was encored. Miss Paterson played a well executed pianoforte selection, ‘ The Battle Match of Delhi,’ and later in the evening Miss Aitken played ‘ Aby sinnia,’ and was re-called. Messrs Archibald and F. R. Blue sang, as a duet, ‘The Minute Gun at Sea.’ Mr F. C. McClure gave a fine dramatic rendering of the recitation ‘ Eugene .Aram, ’ and later on contributed ‘ Bingen on the Rhine.’ A trio, ‘ How lovely are the Woods,’ was sung by Misses McLeod, Robertson, and Mr Blue ; and Part I. was concluded by ‘ Sons of the Sea,’ by Mr F. R. Blue, who, being encored, sang ‘The Soldiers •of the Queen.’ Part 11. commenced with a string band selection, ‘ Silvery W&ves.’ Mr Archibald then sang ‘Then Bonnie Woods o’ Oraigilea ’ with chorus, and was vociferously encored. Mr Blue followed with that fine descriptive song, ‘The Diver.’ Mr J. H. Paterson recited ‘The •Street Arab’ in fine style. Miss

and Mr Blue sang a duet, ‘ Elfin Gall.’ This was followed by a humorous quartette, ‘Profundo Basso,’ by Misses McLeod, Robertson, and Messrs J. W. McLeod and F. R. Blue. This item apparently proved the most acceptable of the long programme, its being followed with deafening applause for some minutes. The house was literally packed, and from every point of view the entertainment is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, of the kind ever given In Waikaka.