KAIKOURA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2315, 5 September 1881, Page 3

KAIKOURA.

[PBOII THE OWN COBHKSPONDENT OT? THE “PBEBS.”J

Since I last wrote we have had very heavy winds and rains, and although our beautiful mountains are heavily clad in their winter robes, it has not been so cold as one might imagine. The farmers ore busy getting their wheat in. The sea gulls, by some natural instinct, come in flocks and follow the plough, thus doing the husbandman a deal of good by clearing his land of grubs and larvae. Then come those energetic little birds, the sparrows. Their natural instinct, also, must bo very keen, as there was scarcely a sparrow to be seen until the wheat was sown, and then they came in great flights, so that I fear it was not much use going to all the trouble and expense for their poisoned food. I watched the hawks after them, but I do not think they made much havoc amongst them; they seem so very nimble and wide-awake. If they were scattered for a moment they only changed places, and I did not see the hawks alight to feed.

I am sorry to inform you that Mr Knowles, son of the schoolmaster of Kaikoura, has a son missing nearly a week. He went out pig hunting with some others by the Conway river. He left the others to return, and on their way back they found his dog near the river. They hastened to town, thinking all was not right. The police and searchers have been out, but as yet no trace of him has been discovered, and, from the dangerous locality, the worst fears are entertained of his safety.

An octopus, or, as it is commonly called, a devil fish, was found by some men whilst fishing in the South Bay. It was driving the fish hither and thither; so they got a chance to spear him, andhrought him out in a hurry. He enveloped his oaptor with his long arms, but as there were several men present they soon removed him and bnriod him on the beach. I could not get his dimensions, but

his arms were mori ' than a yard long, and ho was. I may add, pan. 'oularly ugly. The ploughing mat, * " aa a R rand e " oee " i every ono seemed ple& Be< * the result, even the boy who got a prize I° 3 f° r being the worst plougher. It is eh. y° ar< » ince tha laet match took place. The we. 'ther was not propitious ; it rained heavily v*■ bhe commencement, but cleared towards< . mid-day. The work done was very good. Mr John Peoples kindly placed his paddock a', li, ’ disposal of the committee, and also entertain. -,d visitors. The dinner, too, wos all that could 0 wished, and was done full justice to, andl, lfc aB very cold and stormy, you may depen, d “at tha native sauce (hunger) was not *'??• Fifty sat down to a sumptuous dinner, wh ,c b reflected great credit on Mr Evans, enf ItL 0 Commercial Hotel. The cloth having Seen withdrawn, the chair was taken by Mr A, W. Inglis, who discharged bis duty in a most pleasing manner. Songs and speeches wore the order until about II o’clock, when the company separated, having spent a very enjoyable evening, Messrs Geo. Taylor, W. Lawson, and Jesse Bedwood acted as judges of the ploughing, and Messrs Jas. Grey, J. Passmore, P, Keenan as judges of horses and harness. The prize-list is as follows : Class A, double-furrow ploughs. Ist prize, set of harrows, valued .£5, gift of Messrs P. and I). Duncan, Christchurch: 2nd and 3rd, £l. Wm. Johnston 1 Jas, Kerr 2 Jas. Leech 3 Class B, single-farrow’ swing. Ist prize, £3; i 2nd, £3 ; 3rd, £l. T. Smith 1 Jas. Gallaghar 3 P. Peoples 3

This contest was pretty evenly balanced. Class C, single-farrow, wheel. Ist prize, £3; 2nd, £3 ; 3rd, £l. P. Garret 1 H. Schroder 2 Rainbow 3 J. Howard 4 Class D—Juniors under nineteen years of age ; single furrows; swing or wheel ploughs ; Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd, £1; 3rd, 10s. H. Smith 1 W. Garret 2 H. Harris 3

Bpkcia.li Peizes. —Champion of the field, £2, gift of Moesra Reid and Gray, and Star illuminated poem, printed in gold on satin—W. Johnstone. Best Juniors, 10s, gift of Mr Danaher, and sot of swingletrees, gift of Mr Jaa. Gray—J. Smith Worst ploughed lot, 10s, gift of Mr Wayland—H. Harris.