POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 39

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

February B.— We have, had very dry weather for some- considerable time, and feed was getting scarce, and consequently we farmers were looking anxiously for rain. It was a great satisfaction to me to know that the Pomahaka picnic was fixed for the 7th mst., as I was sure rain would fall on that day, as it has done on three out of the four picnics held on this estate. Yesterday morning, then, I scanned the glass, but it was at ''very Spy " "Surely," said I to myself, "the Pomahaka picnic is not to be let off without ram. At dinner-time the glass had gone back about 15 points, and a little later a drop or two fell. I wended my way to Mr Erskme s paddock Before I had been there half an hou* the. lauies, with umbrellas up. were trooping to the barn, arill there was a real good downpour So now, ye Oamaru rain-makers and Ministers of the Cabinet who flew away a lot of the people's money in the vain endeavour to get ram, just organise a picnic to the Pomahaka Downs and you will get rain. Keep the money in your pockets. Before the ram became too heavy a few children's mce3 came off, and when gathered in the barn Mr Erskine entertained us all by giving a large number of graphophone selections, whilst some of the light- heai ted picnickers engaged in some games of skill, and; a dance was held m the evening. Although the ram damped the grass, yet it dad not damp the spirits of those present, but rather rai=ed them, and it cleaied up rather too soon However, we are thankful for small mercies. Farmers' Union Picnic. — On the 29th of last month there was another celebrated picnic, under the auspices of the Clinton Farmers' Union. It was held at Mr Steel's bush — an ideal plaai for a picnic • a nice level grass paddock for games, with the bush behind and a murmuring stream, threading its way through it. The President, Mr Thomas Taylor, was determined! to make it a success, for he had two pipers in Highland costume up from Dunedin, and he a'so had Mr Andrews's fife and drum band from Clinton. This band is composed of boys trained by Mr Andrews, and they play-ed some tunes very creditably. Mr Taylor informed the company that this band was nrach m'want of a dium, and he went round with the hat and collected £2 Is 3d for the- drum. Each member of the band was presented by Mr Taylor with a Scotch cap. and in addressirg the boys, he tod them that a Scotch cap meant obedience, bravery, good conduct, adventure, and several other attributes which I did not catch, and that when the Arctic explorers reached the South Pole they would find ai Scotch cap on the top of it. Headed by the pipers, the large company of farmers and friends and the Clinton school children! marched to the front of Mr Steel's house, where lunch was partaken of. The usual game? took place, and after tea, we had speeches from the President, Mr Malcolm, M H. 8., the Revs. Blair and Williams, Mr CuS. secretary of the Clinton School, and Mr M'Gregor. The latter proposed a vote of thanks to Mr and iirs Steel, and I think they well-deserved the vote, for they seemed to be kept as busy as bees getting tea reiady and serving out cakes Harvest — Mr Trusslei has been through, with his mill and done a, bit of grass threshing, and already a good breadth of the oat crop ha 3 been cut, the harvest being much earliea- this year.