WAIKAIA.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 420, 23 December 1884, Page 3

WAIKAIA.

(From our own correspondent) The return match.' between the junta elevens of Waikaia and. Lumsden was playec here on Friday l^t, and ..resulted in £ win for the local team. The" weather was uot/altogether so fine; as could have beer desired, slight showers falling occasionally causing the -wicket to play rather heavily andc nsiderablyin'erfering with the enjoyment of the day. The bowling of A. Brown for Waikaia, and Barlow for Lumsden was excell^nk.both being, dead on the wicket. Botli* teams "played- with great spirit, and many, of the lads by their style of play give promise 'of future excellence. Waikaia in their* firs.fe. innings scored 30, and Lumsden put together 41. In their second venture, however,' the visitors were less fortunate, all being disposed of for 11 runs, five of which weie.^xtras.. Waikaia put together 27 for the loss of two wickets, thus winning easily. In'battinjr El Mathesori and H. Hardmandid gooi service for Waikaia, and J. Black was lop^corer - for Lumsden. Mr James Dore kindly escoi ted the visitors, who expressed thenfHelves highly satisfied with their reception and treatment. Mr D. Matheson, of the Crown Hotel, and Mr Collie, of the Commercial, kindly undcrto.kg the commisariat department free "of charge both for the visitors aiidhorsen. . These gentlemen are always to be found in the front when wauteu, either to relieve an ..unfortunate citizen or assist at ©ur occasional re-unions, such as cricket matches, racßsJetc. " A box is kept at each house for tke collection of subscriptions for the Southland; Hospital. A few weeks since upwards of Lfi was sent to that most axcellent institution from that source. The.;weatt<er lately, has been all that the most exacting. agriculturist could wish., and crops in general are loiiking remarkably well. Grass is abundanr and "attle and sheep in thriving, condition. The acreage under turnips this year is extensive, and with the prudent growing weather. 10 give them a good start, our farmers may loi.k forward to an abundance of substantial fued fvjr winter consumption. A crop hitherto quite ignored in this district has ,bee» paid a little attention to this season. I allude to field peas. Independently of their usefulness as- pig and horse .feed, this crop does good service to the farmer as a cleaner of foul'lanH. This last winter potatoes were at fabulous prices here, possibly owing to tbe wet summer of last year, but in the main to the small area planted. Now, were farmers to grow potatoes with the view of selling a few tons for consumption in the neighborhood at the current prices and. feed the residue to pigs, with the addition of damaged corn,peas, turnips, etc., they would have for sale, in the, sha^e'of fat pigs or cured bacon articles for which there is an increasing and unlimiteddemand. With the exercise of industry and energy Waikaia may look forward to an era of prosperity net to be excelled in the south of New Zealand. Her fertile valley has already made for itself a name. One hundred bushels of oats to the acre was produced on Mr Gall's fajrm, above Glenary,and our wheat produces a bag of flour second to none in the, world. Our magnificent scenery must eventually attract the attention of tourists, sa the stability of our business men does the commercial travellers who visit us to solicit orders. As a fruit growing district no doubt in the. future Waikaia will take a prominent jKraition, the small gardens at present in cultivation yielding crops in tavorable seasons equal to any, both in quantity and quality. The absence of direct communication by rail is a great drawback to this industry, hence the small area unUer cultivation for horticultural purposes. Mr^Dixoii holds the premier position as a grower of fruit.; he has a profusion of strawberries of the choicest sorts,- selling at 8d per lb. Outside the township Messrs Dapp and Thompson have an extensive orchard. Mr Isbister and Mr M'Kenziel in Welshman's Gully contribute to supply,, the, distriet with fruit. The exhibition of a specimen of the moth tribe, in the ,window of one of our storekeepers has caused; some discussion among our entomologists. .Some, with a learned shake of the ' ; heafl,; - pronounce it the Whitmore moth 'indigenous to the North island of New Zealand, but as the card j.•to „ which ; the specimen is attactip^. bears its, scientific name and class from th'e Bureau Washington I presume it is the veritable humbug, The Codlin Moth. Messrs Brysori arid Mclvej" are making good headway with .their contract—gravelling the main street, have no cause to grumble as of yore at inattention and neglect of oiif wants; for with 'the combined efforts of 'Our, respected county member and his worthy henchman, Kit Kay, our wants are looked '-' 'after and the work properly carried but: ■■■>■■ „.,., -„ I hear on good authority that tenders will shortly be called ,for, the erection of the courthouse. We have efficient men here and I hope they inay secure the job. ■ ■ Our races on Boxing Day are likely to be a great success. As the events are all post entry, -I (iannof specify competitors, but if he be entered Mr Bryson's Humphy will be a hot favorite for the Maiden Plate. Waikaia, 21st December, 1884.

(From a correspondent.) Looking •-. along the new , settlements of "Wendon and Wendonside, what used to be nothing out a sheep ranche is now green with the first crops of the settlers' newly purchased farms, and, l- have no doubt the majority of them are very hopeful and thanking their stars to- : be '80- lucky in getting such splendid land. , Although at first the price paid seemed, high, yet when you take the quality of.,tne land into consideratiou, it iSjCheap.;, in fact, cheaper than any othe'r* J agricultural land in Southland. Mr James Gall, owner of the Waikaia Station, sees this,.a,nd in consequence has had all the ploughable laiid on the. flat broken up and sown in; gyasa.es Wd rape for his stock, as it won't pay him or anybody else on the Waikaia Plain to grow grain for the market, as it is too i far to . take it to Riversdale, the nearest railway station! But we are promised the railway— if that goes for anything, although $he money has been put aside to make it' come half way. If they do make that .half , ; it-will pay the farmer and squatter to go into white crops. There is no doubt the line, would pay interest on the. money expended on it, and be a great boon to all imthis district. ).: :.: :•!.•.. The Mt. Wendon Lodge, No. 4.M.U.1.0.0.F., held a summons meeting last week, at which there was a great muster of the brethren, on account of a "motion being tabled to dispense with the services of br'Druary as doctor to the Lodge/ .There .were' great arguments and counter-arguments, and finally when it came to the i/allbt-box'the voting was found to be equal. The-N.G-. had to give his casting vote which: went against the medico. .Mining on the Upper Waikaia is nearly at a standstill, none of ths river claims being tod .highiat'this season; of the year. There are , a lot out on the ranges prospecting — chiefly alluvial; but .some are loosing for quartz ; reefs;' lower down. I hear that Vernon and^Laloli's party, are doing well. on the Plains Flat. Collie, Hamer, and Lette's,' party' 'are hard at work bringing up a tail race to'yr'psk,> their deep ground. It ig to be hoped that they will get well paid in the end. Anderson and Blyth are doing well just below being on the same run oi met&U .."lt ibelieve : that in the not very fai future, you will see that the Upper Waikau wjll, bs a'greai [quartz reefing, country equa! to any thing ih e tßccblony. .Within the, last .twelve moiithswe have had all T o ? ur streams stocked . with trout o,va and thdse' that are admirers of lsaak Walton •will?: no-; doubt be looking forward to som< sport with .the,, .fly, , as our streams an well adapted for trout. We will have no lack of sport this Ne\ Tear*- On*. Boxing Day wq have our annua laces?' on the 'Tuesday following, we have cricket ffl^cb^^it3y;he Waikaka ,C.,fi. j-.an 1 oil tWsame evening : the anniversary suppe ahdiball of the Oddfellow's. On New Year Day" wefbave our usual sports, and they wi: bemore-'attractlve this, year' than last,as> hear; that; there, isi to .be a wrestling mate between a new arrival from the North. Bnfelarid ; aix4; our -local champxon. Ito ty wW b»ye bis work put pw*. m hn

On. the same evening there is to be a concer ,in behalf of the Good Templars, so that anj outsider visiting us at this time will hav< plenty of fun for a week, even if he can't b< r content with scenery etc , Now I will con I elude with a Merry Christmas to you all. i