ATHOL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 16839, 15 September 1911, Page 2

ATHOL NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Although we hear that there have been a few showers of late along the several Southland coastal towns, yet we have had a long term of dry weather. Many tanks, and even wells, are empty, and but little moisture exists In the surface of the ground to nurture the tender shoots, clover, and cereals. The fine dry weather is ideal for road traffic, formation, and repairs. The northern part of the district, from Lowther up. Is, we understand, to be apportioned to .the care of one surfaceman. who will then be on full time. We trust he will give a good exhibition of his road-repairing abilities. There is one small matter that we desire to bring under the notice of the head of the telephone authorities In your town. We find In practice that it is Impossible on Sundays to ring up any doctor in Lumsden or elsewhere on professional business, no matter how urgent. This was vividly exemplified last Sunday. Whatever the rules and regulations may be, we trust that the matter will be looked into. We at present say no more on that point. The long and successful season of • rlnklng will be closed on Friday night, when after the rlnklng there will be a dance. Of late Mr S. Soper has engineered the show with energy, rectitude, and financial success. The rlnklng, notwithstanding its many ups and downs, was well patronised, and will probably be successfully revived next winter. Mr George Tomlin, who was for some years a resident of Athol, has sold out to Mr D. Stancombe and left for Ids' old home In Victoria. It Is but seldom that I have to take up my little black pen. that is specially reserved and ready for manipulation in vindication of what is fair, reasonable, and just, against the doleful criticism of some budding Sir Oracle. 1 have no craving ambition to dance to his music or to pay his piper while he gesticulates. Any general address to the “Times Correspondent. Athol,” will find me. Instead he forwards a letter to headquarters. I remember that years and years and years ago I did make a mistake, but that was by my substitute When I was absent. The letter referred to appeared in your issue of September 4th over the name of Mrs F. Parker. There Is but one lady of that name in this township and she is my esteemed friend, the honest, energetic, and industrious Mrs Parker, who. after a long residence here and a successful struggle against many adversities, deserves credit from the broad-minded, and credit she shall get. That letter purported to show that Mrs Parker’s land tenures diminished to small sections. I received information concerning the land transactions from Mr Murchland and from Mr Parker, sen.. Inter alias, and if I could not believe them, whom could I believe ?