TUAPEKA MOUTH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1218, 30 January 1886, Page 3

TUAPEKA MOUTH.

General. —The weather is still continuing very dry in this quarter. Some of the neighboring districts have been favored with a shower of rain lately, but as yet this corner of New Zealand has not been favored with the much wished-for rain. Some of the people are beginning to think they are being forgotten. A number of farmers have sown their turnips a secoud time, with no better prospect of a crop than after the first sowing. The failure of the turnip-crop is a very serious matter to sheep-farmers, who were relying on it for, winter- feed ; and the state of the grass owing to the drought renders it more serious. There is one thing I think which would be worthy of the consideration of sheepfarmers — viz., to call into requisition their oaten straw for sheep-feeding. Although it would not supply the place of turnips, stillTt might be the means of putting the sheep over the winter if cut into chaff. The crops are ripening very fast, and it is expected harvesting will be commenced in a fortnight. 1 Horticultural. — The dry season Seems to have agreed with the fruit in this district. There are some fine orchards : Mr John Taylor especially has a splendid crop. He will have double the quantity of apples, plums, and peaches that he had in any previous year. The potatoes, I fear, will be a failure ; there are a good many people digging early potatoes, and they are of such a size generally that a person would not require to open his mouth very wide to eat one at a mouthful.

Religious. — Our missionary (Mr Taylor) preaches in the schoolhouse every alternate Sunday to fair congregations, but on. some occasions the attendance might be even better than it is. Mr Taylor has endeared himself to every one in the district, and it cannot be said that anybody stays away from church because he or she does . not like the preacher ; therefore, a fortiori, it must be carelessness with regard to spiritual necessities that causes people to absent themselves. The attend"ance at the Sabbath School has been very satisfactory for the past seven , weeks. Number on the roll, 40 ; average attendance, 30 ; highest attendance on any day, H Teetotalism. — The Blue Ribbon movement, introduced by Mr Taylor some time ago, has been a great success. Nearly thirty have joined already, and it is anticipated that a good many more will come forward at the next nieetiug. 2tith Jauuary, 1880.