RAKAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 2

RAKAL.

From Our Own Correspondent. Work on the trotting track, in pre-1 paration for the January meeting is to be pushed ahead. The grass has been mown, and the intention is to disc, harrow, and roll the ground. Several farmers have promised assistance with the work, one alone offering the use of three teams. The track is pretty rough at present, but a great improvement should be made, and owners need have no fear to send along their best horses. On Monday night, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Mr J. Gumming, the Presbyterian evangelist, delivered a lantern lecture, entitled "A Trip Through Bonnie Scotland." The hall was well filled, and the lecturer dealt in an interesting manner with the historical and picturesque spots of Scotland. The past week has seen a big change in the condition of the grass and the oats and wheat crops. The grass is beginning to dry off, and the local blacksmiths have been exceptionally busy making ami repairing strippers, the demand for which seems to exceed the supply, and inquiries for machines have even been received from the North Island. It is too early yet for their use, but there should be plenty of work for them soon. The oat crops are now quickly maturing, and in the Doric district several paddocks have already been reaped. Nearer Bakaia the reapers and binders are being got in order for the season 's cutting. It is interesting to watch what might be called the march of the harvest. It begins at the sea, passes westward through Eakaia, and finishes up at Methven and the hills. The wheat crops are showing signs of the want of rain and the value of the early rains, which gave the plants such a promising start, will be of no avail towards a good harvest unless a fewmore heavy showers fall to assist in the filling out of the cars. ' A further survey of the damage to the potato crop by frost shows it was not over-estimated, and many acres have been affected. i\ir T. McDowell, the contractor for the new tennis courts, has made a si art with the work. The ground has been skim-ploughed and the levels taken.