MOKOTUA NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22507, 15 February 1935, Page 9

MOKOTUA NOTES

DAIRYING. In spite of an exceptionally dry season the intake of milk at the Mokotua dairy factory is a trifle above that of the same period of last season. The water supply for cheese manufacture is very low and is causing the manager (Mr C. D. Miiicher) considerable anxiety. Many farmers at this and other neighbouring factories have had their milk graded, “second” due to the scarcity of wholesome drinking water on the farms, while turnip and other winter feed crops are showing the effects of the long dry spell. A good fall of rain would do an immense amount of good. Meanwhile, harvesting operations are being pushed forward. Crops have ripened early and the fine weather has allowed ample opportunity for stocking 'and leading in to proceed.

Oteramika School. The Oteramika school opened the year with a slightly decreased roll number, there being 38 pupils enrolled as against over 40 last year. Mr J. D. Cameron continues as headmaster with Miss Holmes as his assistant. Tennis. The fine concrete tennis court at the Oteramika School, which has had very little use since before the New Year, shows more activity of late and members of that club are now getting into form for the remainder of the subassociation matches. The Mokotua Club continues to prosper and scored a win over Oteramika in their last • match at the township. A very enjoyable dance was held in the Mokotua Club’s pavilion' after the match when there was the best attendance to date. Horses Poisoned. Two local farmers met with misfortune recently in the death of horses, apparently by poison. Messrs J, Hor-

ton and F. Perriam each lost a beast on the latter’s property where they had • been fed upon chaff. Indications poinJ ted to strychnine being the cause of • , death and it is understood that the • contents of a feed box are being ana--1 lysed. How the poison got there is not yet known, but the matter is under investigation. . School Picnic. ! The annual picnic of schools from , along the Tokanui railway line was - held at Riverton on Wednesday, and ) drew a large attendance from this dis- - trict. The weather was all that could i be desired and a very pleasant day i was spent at the seaside. t Cycling. i Four cycle races were held on Wed--1 nesday evening on the grass track ad- !. joining the Waituna school. There was a small attendance. Local riders in the three open races were J. Burke, J. • Enright; M. Clay, and W. Cull, while C. , Robinson, of Invercargill also rode. - The results were:—

Half mile.—Robinson (scr) 1, Cull 2, J. Burke 3. A length separated the placed men. One mile.—Cull 1, Robinson 2, J. Burke 3. Won by a length. One mile and a-half.—Burke 1, Cull 2, Enright 3. The race was run in semi-darkness. There was about 40 yards between first and second. Robinson faded away in the early stages and retired. Half mile novice.—P. Burke 1, J. Meredith (scr) 2, E. Kelly 3. Five started. Is there an Oteramika Cycling Club? As a club, strictly speaking, it would seem that that body is non-existent, as the first annual meeting called for this season drew an attendance of only three and lapsed for want of a quorum. Another called later met with a similar fate. If any further annual meeting has eventuated it has not been publicly advertised, nor have last season’s officials been advised. There is certainly room locally for a properly constituted and well-organized I

club. Public interest is evident and a good evening’s entertainment could be provided to the benefit of both performers and spectators. Several riders have informed the. writer that they have been riding for trophies without being able to ascertain exactly what the trophies are for, or who has donated them. There appears to be a “Brooks cup,”, a “Prentice cup”, and a “club cup.” The writer has been told by competitors that they thought they were riding for the one and then had been informed that the order of things had changed. The situation certainly requires clarifying. Regarding the actual races, last Wednesday especially, the organization has been poor. There is invariably a late start, too many delays and a late finish.