COUNTRY NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS

OTAUTAU NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent). A very enjoyable entertainment was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening in connection with the twenty-first anniversary of the Methodist Church. The Rev. R. Richards, assisted by Mr N. G. Saunders and Mrs Ireland, was responsible for the effort, and the whole proceedings passed off very successfully. Revs. J. H. Haslam, R. Richards and Miss Harrington formed an efficient orchestra, playing two overtures and sustaining the programme music. An interesting humorous dialogue by several young people, and entitled “Auntie's Visit,” revealed some histrionic talent, and opened the programme. An action song “I Don’t Want To Play in Your Yard,” by Misses G. Renowden and V. Soulsby was much appreciated. Mrs H. Giles (Invercargill), sang “He Was Very Kind To Me,” and for an encore recited “Cuddle Doon,” and, with Mr Giles, rendered the duet “Huntingtower.” These items were very much enjoyed by the audience. The song by Mr Hunter and Miss M. Renowden, “I’ve Lost My Heart in Maoriland,” given in character, and with accompanying dance by the children was one of the events of the evening, as was also Mr H. Hogg’s song, “Floral Dance,” with its accompanying dance effects. Mrs T. H. Cuppies, an old favourite, sang “My Ain Folk,” and was recalled. Rev. J. H. Haslam was a tower of strength, and besides his orchestral assistance, gave a brief appropriate address and recitation and sang two songs, “Do We Believe?” and “Roses,” the latter with a floral dance by the children. The tableau song, “He Wipes the Tear,” by Miss M. Renowden, was a very pleasing item and Mrs Robertson (Invercargill), won much applause wnth her elocutionary number. Miss G. Renowden sang “Won’t You Buy My Pretty Flowers” for which she was loudly encored. Rev J. H. Haslam also contributed two violin solos, and Miss Phyllis Mclvor gave a very pleasing Spanish dance. The concluding number was a splendid tableau effect to “The Holy City,” sung by Mr N. G. Saunders. A special feature of the performance was that every item was encored. Mrs Ireland was responsible for the dancing and Mesdames Richards and McMillan for the tableaus ,Mr McMillan providing the lighting effects. At the conclusion of the programme a good supper was handed round by the ladies of the congregation. There was a full hall, the effort being well patronised, and it will result in considerable financial help to the church funds. At the meeting of the Otautau School Committee held last week, there was a full attendance. Mr J. T. Brooker was in the chair, and the name of Mr J. C. Millar was added to the committee. It was reported that some progress had been made in the scheme for beautifying the grounds. On the resignation of Mrs Hope, the services of Mrs Aitken have been secured as janitor. The report of the visiting committee was received, and the recommendations held over for consideration at a later date. The Education Board wrote advising that the erection of a shelter porch to the front of the teacher’s residence was to be proceeded with. The headmaster’s report was read as follows:—for the month just past the average attendance was 218, the percentage being 92.8. The present roll number is 236. The scholars were very successful with their exhibits at the recent Winter Show. In the vegetable classes exhibits from the school garden secured seven firsts and three second prises. The supply of firewood is just about exhausted, and I shall be pleased if the committee will have some wood sent along immediately. The organ belonging to the school is much in need of overhaul. On Thursday last a number of ladies met the school staff and decided to hold a Paddy’s Market in connection with the School concert. The dates arranged were 28th and 29th June. Arrangements are well in hand for conducting the several branches of work for the Paddy’s Market. We greatly appreciate the action of St. Andrews Society in relinquishing their claim to the Town Hall on the Friday, June 29. Early in the month the school was visited by Mr Inglis, but on this visit no report is made. The headmaster’s report was dopted. A tender from Mr Grieve for the installation of the hot water service in the teacher’s residence was received and application is to be made to the Education Department for a grant towards the cost. Aoeerats amounting to £l2 10s 8d were for payment.

WAIKAKA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Our local dairy factopr is proving its great value to the district and this year considerably over one hundred tons of cheese has been turned out. The main question before dairymen is the one of winter feed. In seasons such as the one we have just experienced, the feed question is a vital one. Towards the latter end of the season the feed falls off, and the first result is a decrease in milk supply, but the much more important one for the dairy farmer is that the shortage of feed means that his herd lose condition which means months of extra feeding to enable the cows to recover themselves in time for the spring calving. This is the fly in the ointment and this weakness of the present system of dairy management. Our dairy farmers will have to scheme out some method of supplementing the natural pasture by sowing cattle crops to come in for use towards the end of summer. The question of having a good and sufficient supply of fresh feed always coming in for use will have to be seriously faced before the dairying industry becomes as profitable as it should be. As a result of the exceptionally w’et season, harvest operations were sadly delayed in this part of Southland, but even the proverbially late man has now got his year’s work well in hand. The yield of oats were not too good and in a great many cases below the average. Very little wheat is now grown, not that the district cannot grow wheat, but the costs of production are much too great to allow of a fair profit to the grower. The old slipshod method of cropping at a loss for the benefit of the middlemen and workers was pricked by Sir Joseph Ward when he com-

pelled farmers to keep books to comply with his taxation proposals. The farmer is now commercialised and has cut out what used to benefit a great manjr other people but rarely the farmer himself. It is reported that another of the local gold dredges is closing down. Costs of working and lessened returns are said to be the chief cause. Searching for the precious metal is slowly “petering out” in this district. And yet there is plenty of gold in the deep ground. The cost of getting it is the bar that is blocking enterprise at present. Mr Chamberlain has been transferred to Waikaia. Mr Chamberlain, during hie stay in our district had won golden opinions for his unvarying kindness and painstaking attention to the busness of his office.