HYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 39

HYDE.

February 20. — A welcome fall of lain of & few hours' duration occuried on Sunday night, and was followed by a further and heavier fall on Monday, the total fall probably amounting to an inch. Since then the weather has been cooler, with dews and slight frosts at nights. Although the rain has somewhat relieved the situation, drought conditions still prevail, and the slight amount of rain will do litt!e permanent good. i'he crops are practically all in the stack, as this week will see the last of it in. It is the earliest harvest ever known heie. Unfortunately -he expectations of early December have been far from realised. Owing to the drought, the crop oiatured much too fast, and the grain is consequently light and thin, and the straw is ako light, without substance. Heavy not-west gales a' so contributed their quota' of damage, many crops being badly broken * down and somewhat shaken. Green crops «re, all things considered, holding their own remarkably well The turnips are keeping a fine healthy appearance, and are making fair growth Rape crops have matured somewhat early, and have bad to be stocked too ear'y , but so far n<v, blight has appeared. What the potato crop will amount to yet is not known, but the dry weather has severely checked their growth, and ram now would probablj have the effect of causing a second growth. Price of Stock.— Some buyers have been busy in the district for the past three weeks, and prices ha%"e been gocd — up to 15s being

reahssd at the works fo- lambs. Unfortunately only small drafts are available, the balance ha\mg lo be fattened on rape, etc OutEide llis '"fat" market the sheep market is lifeless, not a single sale of stoic sheep taking place in the district. The fust of the Otago Central sales takes place at Waipiata to-morrow, but entries will probablj be sm-all and no guide to prices obtained. Tho future of the store stock markets now demands almost entirely ci rain, as there is this year no outlet in Southland, as was the case last year.

A very p^epsant gathering was held at the lesidence of Mr Patrick Kinney, runholder, of Hycla, on Friday eiening, 14th inst , to ce'ebrate the coming of age of his eldest' daughter. Miss Ellen Kinncy Quite a host of people from Hyde and surrounding districts were preg-ent. and a most jnjoyable e\eninsr was spent .n dance and song by the jounger people, and exchanging of Temmiscences by the eMers Miss&s- O'Connell and Bi«hop Mrs Trotter, and Mr M'Minihan presided at the piano, and the veteran M C of Hyde (Mr Alex. Trotter) superintended the dances. During the evening songs were rencleied, -as far as my memory seves by Misses Bishop (Dunedm). O'Coimell (Rock and Pillar) Mrs C G Trotter, and Messrs D. and J. O'Connell, and J. Carvalho ; a duet was given by Mi=s and Mr Krnnej . jun , and yocitations by Mr J. J. Rarnsav. Nor were the rants of the inrei man neglected, a sumptuous lepast being provided in an interval of the p'.ocedings Sbcrilj bsfore the company dispersed Mr J J Ram=av sflid he wished to take the opportunity zfforded by an interval in tlie dancing to ask the company to join with him in congratulating Miss Kinney on attaining her maionty -'nd m tvi=lnng her a long, happy, and prosperous life. — (Loud npplause ) He likewise .vishei \o express his pleasure— and he knew it was the feeling of all present — at being able to l>e present on such a happy occasion — (app'.ause> — and to thank Mr and Mis Kinnej for the kindly invitation extended to them all. Personally, it gave him more than ordinary pleasure to b3 there. He and Miss Kinney's mother went to school together, and were boy and girl in Hyde m the old days, and h*d been friends ever since. Then lie had been a, friend of Mr Kinney since that gentleman first arlivd in Hyde, and it revived o'd-time associations to be present that night. " Stand up now," said Mr Ramsay. " axd give Miss Kinney three lieaity cheers." These being lustily given, Mr Ramsay called for three more for Mr «nd Mrs Kinney. and they were followed by the pinging of "They are jolly gocd fellows." Mr Kinney lesponded m a neat, appropriate speeoh, in which he thanked Mr Ramsay and the musicians. Ihe time-honoured custom of singing " Auld lang syne " brought ciw ol tne most pheasant gaiherings held in Hyde to a close