THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Nelson, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1908. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12159, 6 February 1908, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Nelson, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1908. SUMMARY NOTES.

The'all absorbing topic of conversation of late has been drought and bush tires. This province has had a visitation of calamity in these directions, sucn as it has not experienced for many years pas*^ and although the results of the latter may not be altogether cvii, thosrp of the former will be deplorn'j'to in the extreme to many settlers who had looked forward this year to rich harvests, which the indications a few weeks ago promised. We have the dubious consolation of not being alone in misfortune. The whole country has suffered seriously from the prolonged dry weather, and where there was bush to burn it has been burnt. ' In most parts of the province bush and grass fires have raged with varying degrees of severity, and the toll of losses in stock, buildings and fencing is a long and melancholy one. As has been stated, however, some degree of benefit will be felt as a result of thelbush iires, which have cleur^d more land of bush, scrub and noxious weeds than artificial moans could have accomplished in a nunh longer space of time than the flames took to do the work. 000 would, however, have preferred amor« controllable agency for this goon work than fire, whicb* when it g» ■?.-. v"! of hand in bush and grass ns v.ry ks tinder, is not easily chec!?M. -Many have been the sleepless ni/v i - n^sed by settleis, and many a s';.«> n i ..-title has been fought with tun II: ■:■ :. In the Tadmor, Sherry. :■*.; ; hitupiko districts, the fires ■«•;■..-.• moßt disastrous, ravaging thou.s:;mla of acres of valuable bush, icserved for milling purposes, aihl destroying farm buildings, crops, v.\\ \ fences representing years of lihir on "the part of the occupiers < f the land. Fortunately there was no loss of life. The value of stock, especially sheep, has naturally shown a marked decline in the affected districts, where it was extremely hazardous to keep them. They also had to be got rid of at any price; to sacrifices in some cases which the farmers will realise when "the time comes to buy them back to restock their lands. Probably the heaviest loser by fires in the province was Mr Henry Baigent, who lost two sawmills, besides standing bush representing work fora lengthy period. The Long Plain creamery K was also destroyed, but this is not attributable to bush fires. The towns of Blenheim and Timarn have also suffered severely by fires. The Golden Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association held its fifteenth annual show at Takaka this week, and most successful, as will be seen from the report contained in the Summary. The entries and their quality, and the attendance this year established records in the history of the Association. The show demonstrated the wonderful fertility of the Golden Bay as for a comparatively small tract of country to produce the admirable exhibition seen at Takaka, and that during a period of phenomenal drought, must be considered little short of marvellous. One can readily endorse the prediction of Mr Roderick McKenzie, M.P. , that if the present rate of progress be maintained the Golden Bay show must in a few years become a very important fixture. r- i Loss of life, under any circumstances is always saddening, tut when it occurs by such means as the distressing coach and train accident at Appleby, it is invested with additional tragedy. At a tin o when the people of Nelson were celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the province, a number of persons were brought face to fuc: with a terrible death, from which all but one escaped miraculously. A sad feature of the affair is that the victim of the disaster, a young woman, was enjoying with her husband and sister, a holiday visit to this district, and but for a misunderstanding regarding the time of the departure of a train, would not have been near the scene at the tirr.e the accident occurred. With the bereaved husband and relatives general sympathy is felt. It is not as yet certain ti-.at the accident will not mean the loss of more than one life, for the driver of the coach still lies in a very serious. condition at the Hospital. The College schools have all reopened after the Christmas vacation, and are now settling down to the routine of the year. As will bo seen from the examination returns contained in the Summary, Nelson last year added to its reputation as a scholastic centre. The long list of passes |in all the public examinations is highly creditable alike to instructors and candidates, and we hope that this year's results will be equally so. Little of moment has transpired in other parts of the Dominion since the last Summary appeared. Politically,'this is the quietest time of the year, "and Ministers are taking advantage of the opportunity of?a absenting themselves from the Empire City to look into the requirement of various parts of the country, most of them being at present in the north. The Hon. W. Hall Jones has returned to New Zealand with,.the gratifying that his trip to Europe has completely restored his health, which had formerly occasioned his friends some anxiety. He is now getting into harness again, and relieving his colleagues of the additional loads placed upon their shoulders during bis absence.