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Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 743, 1 June 1894, Page 4

Ketch stranded near Wellington Heads. Crew safe. Hack Race Committee meets on Tuesday evening to ‘ settle.’ The Town School was dosed this afternoon for a fortnight's holiday. The South coadi is expected this evening, bad weather having delayed it since Tuesday. More sheep worrying is causing another farmer, in this case Mr Close, to notify that he will destroy dogs found at large on his farm. The Marlborough lixpres states that Mr Vorbach had a trial of his newly patented potato digger on some land belonging to Mr Gee at Renwick. Several persons were present, and, adds the £xpress, they were perfectly satisfied that the machine is quite a success. The Wesleyan Conference has passed a motion in favour of Direct Veto on the liquor question by a bare majority, but it decided that, with regard to its own affairs, when the final vote is taken consummating union with the other Methodist Churches, of Australasia, there must be a two-thirds majority. Consistent, very! The caterpillar nuisance has pressed very hard on many of our settlers during this season. Hundreds of acres of grass have been devoured by these farmers, pests, and no one, it appears, has yet discovered a remedy except burning the pasture laud, which means losing a valuable lot of feed. We would draw the attention of the Agricultural Department to this matter as one of great importance to all those who have taken up hush land, for if anything can be done to prevent such a calamity the information should be widely circulated.— Pelorus Gnardiau. The offer of Mr W. Cooke to provide a Posting Box at Kaikoura House (Mr F. H. Flower’s) has been accepted. When in use the box will be cleared at 4 30 p.m. daily, Sundays excepted. West-enders and Suburban residents will find this a convenience. Mr Angus Kennedy started south on Monday morning with a mob of about 600 sheep, to be taken by road to Culverden, and tbence by rail to Christchurch. He only got as far as Lynton Downs when bad weather confronted him, and he has been storm-staid since then. Now that the Wakatu has so much work at Port Robinson it appears impossible for her to carry sheep. This is much regretted by local sheep breeders, some of whom find themselves inconvenienced.

The inclemency of the weather on Tuesday night led to ibe abandonment of the Mutual Improvement Society’s meeting. Consequently smokers have smoked on in peace—and ashes, eb ?—during the wintry weather. The Society meets on the 12th inst.

Very stormy weather has been experinced throughout the Colony this week, but, while boisterous here, more so than at any time during this year, Kaikoura has fared better than other parts of the Island. The ranges have a considerable quantity of snow upon them, and in all probability it is deep on the Whaie’s-back. The North mail did not reach here until Wednesday evening, and then only by horse service, the contractor riding down from Kekerangu. Mr McCallum says the Awatere was very high, and he has not for years seen so much water in the Clarence river, the bridging over of which thus proved a boon.

'l’he Marlborough Times reports that pigeou and glass-ball shooting matches at Renwicktown attracted a good number of ' sports,’ some of whom did excellent shooting. Messrs F. Redwood and Eyles tied for first place in the big match and divided the prize, and Messrs J. H. Redwood and Whitling divided in the second match.

In another column will be found a letter from Mr Kenner on the Direct Veto question. His contention is in favour of personal veto, but that when local veto favours Prohibition the rights of the self-govern-able shall be respected. He is opposed to both the would-be legislation of Stout and the actual legislation of Seddon on the question.

Owing to the non-arrival, on Tuesday, of the South mail, the Directors of the Dairy Factory Company did not deal with tenders for the building on Wednesday, but meet to do so tomorrow afternoon. Tenders are expected from Christchurch builders. Six tenders have been received by Mr Renner, Hon. Secy., three being those of local contractors, the others from Wellington.

The pasteurising of skim milk has (says the Hangitikei Advocate) been lately occupying the minds of the dairymen in the colony. Mr A. H. Wilson has discovered a method by which the skim milk leaving the separator can be immediately heated to say 140 deg. Fahrenheit, by means of the exhaust steam from the engine passing through a special constructed coil. The milk can be given to the calves without further heating, and as it scalds the milk it can be kept a much longer period. The first will be fitted on the Maharaka Dairy Factory’s plant next month. The Pelorus Guardian of May 25 says : On the last trip of the schooner Falcon from Blackball to Lyttelton she took with her two carrier pigeons. On Monday morning Captain Green let one go with a message for Messrs Brownlee & Co. giving the state of weather &c. The pigeon was let loose off Cape Campbell at 9. 15, and arrived at Blackball before noon, thus being about three hours doing the distance. The Falcon arrived at Lyttelton at six o’clock the next morning. The other pigeon will be turned adrift on the return voyage. It is evident these pigeons will prove most useful as carriers of messages from vessels at?sea.