The Country

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 33

The Country

LAKE COUNTY. May 29. —Heavy rain fell on Saturday ■night, but since, then the weather has been fine. Football.—The first round of the Senior competition was finished on Saturday, when Queenstown beat Arrow’ on the former’s ground. The match resulted in a win for Queenstown by 13 points to 3. ■Mr D. F. Macdonald refereed. Rifle Shooting.—The final shoot of the Wakatipu Rifle Chib season was held on Saturday last. The weather was fine, and there was a good attendance of members, Cromwell, Skippers, and Beach Bay sections of the club being represented. A handicap, seven shots at 300, 500, and 600 yards, was fired, and 12 prizes were awarded. The following are the prize-winners:—F. Padget (handicap 2), 08; A. H. Buckham (3). 96; L. Paterson (8), 96; E. Lowen (10), 96; T. P. Lynch (8), 95; D. R; Gray (scratch), 94; W. 11. Nelson (9), 94; F. Middleton (7), 93; H. C. Buckham (10), 92; E. J. Lowen (12), 91; D. H. Cockburn (15), 91; J. C. Parcell (5), 90. Municipal Election. —As only four of the required number of councillors (nine) for the Queenstown Borough Council were nominated on the statutory date, fresh nominations had to be invited. The closing date was the 20th inst., when the required number were nominated—viz., Messrs A. A. T. Scheib, F. Gavin. D. R. Hamilton, E. J. Lowen, and J. J. MTJride. The four first-named were members of the last council, while Mr M'Bride has had many years’ experience on district local bodies. Death. —The death took place at Winton on the 17th inst. of Mrs Mary Ord, daughter of the late Mr A. M'Kinnon, an early settler of Wharehuanui. The deceased "was born at Kippin, Scotland, in 1853. At the age of six years she left Scotland with her parents in the sailing ship Alpine, and after a voyage lasting three months landed in Dunedin. She was educated at the "West Taieri School, and later settled at Wharehuanui with her father. It was there she married Archibald Ord, who was at the time proprietor of a coach service between Cromwell and Dunedin. In 1881 Mr and Mrs Ord moved to Southland, and resided in the Winton district. Her husband predeceased her by 14 years, and she is survived by two daughters (Mrs James Gill, of Winton, and Mrs A. Fidler, of Forest Hill) and one son (Mr H. H. Ord, of Sydney). Wedding"—A marriage of district interest was solemnised at All Saints’ Church, Dunedin, on Thursday, 14th inst. The contracting parties were Mr Alexander Mackenzie, of Mount Nicholas Station, Lake Wakatipu, and _ Miss Vera Wilkin, youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. W. Wilkin, Royal terrace, Dunedin. The Rev. W. Hardy Johnston was the officiating clergyman.

ROXBURGH. May 29. —Winter has come. Wednesday wag very cold and boisterous, and Thursday was fine, but it looks like bad weather again to-night. More rain would be welcome. Ploughing is backward because of the dry and hard ground. Grass is not too plentiful. Mining.—Many miners are anxious for the river to fall lower. It was down several . feet lower than it is to-day, and will require to be down six feet to be as low as it was last season. A wrong impression was given in an article some short time ago, referring to a find that Messrs Parker and Weaver discovered in the river gorge. The find was quite true, and the amount of gold recovered was also true, but the impression given to the public was that it was on account of the lowness of the river, which to a large extent was due to the closing of the Kawarau flood gates at the Wakatipu Lake. That was not so. The find was above the normal river height, and the top end of it a considerable height above. It was a deposit of auriferous ground overlooked by the many hundreds of miners that had travelled the banks since 1862. We hope more such finds will be discovered in the future. Obituary.—Mrs H. Brady passed away at Dunedin on May 23, a*»d was brought to Roxburgh for interment- She was a great sufferer for the last four years. She is survived by her husband and a grown-up family of four. The large cortege which followed the remains to the Roxburgh Cemetery was proof of the high esteem in which she was held. No ostentation marked her life. She was a quiet devoted wife and mother, upright in all her undertakings, and loved by her family and all who knew her. RIVERSDALE. May 29. —We are experiencing cold weather at present with heavy frosts in the mornings. The hills around are snowclad, giving this district the appearance of winter. Harvesting here is not finished yet. this being an exceptionally late year. Church Activities. —The Riversdale Anglican Church Committee euchre tournament was held during the week, and was well attended. The prize-winners were Miss M. Smaill and Mr Geo. Stevenson, while Mrs L. Gee and Mr J. Ibbotson won the second prizes. The men’s trophy was given by Mrs L. Gee, and Mr J. C. Macpherson gave the ladies. After an enjoyable supper the usual dance was held, the music being supplied by Mrs ihbotson and Messrs Walker and Shallard. Mr Geo. Robinson proved an efficient M.C. Euchre.—The fortnightly euchre party was held in the Pyramid School during the week, and proved a big success. After the usual number of games had been played Miss K. Jopp and Mr J. Sheed were found to be the winners, while

Miss L. Jones and Mr W. Middlemiss annexed the consolation prizes. Football,—An excellent game was witnessed on Saturday between Country Pirates and Riversdale, Riversdale being beaten by 9 —3. On Saturday night the football chib held the first of its fortnightly dances, and it was a very enjoyable function. Mrs J- Ibbotson, Mr P. Shallard, and Mr R. Walker provided excellent music. FERNDALE. May 29.—Owing to the wet summer we have had the harvest has been a late one. Most of the crops are stacked, but a few are in the stook yet. There hasbeen a great growth' of grass, but it is failing now, and the cows, arc going off their milk. The Mataura Factory will soon be closing. The turnip crops are just middling this year. Parties.—The euchre parties have started again for the winter, and there is going to be a Scotch concert at the school soon to raise money to get more books for the school library. BALFOUR. May 28.—Owing to the backward season, paddocks of oats in stook are still a familiar sight in this district. The weather during the last week has been very boisterous, and has further delayed the completion of harvesting. A fair number of farmers have commenced the season’s ploughing, which should become general as soon as more moderate weather prevails. lown Hall.—The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Balfour town hall, held on Saturday night, was attended by Messrs J. R. Keown (chairman), Church, Shuttleworth, M’Caldon, Cowie, and R. Grant (secretary), and Mcsdames Church and Keown. The reading of the balance sheet disclosed a profit of £26 on the year’s working. Mr T. Hood was elected a director in addition to all present. .Mr Keown was re-elected chairman of directors. Mr R. Shuttleworth was elected secretary, and Mr F. Young auditor. The Women's Division applied for, and were granted, permission to erect another cupboard to hold library books ; After accounts to the amount of £3 15s were passed for payment, the meeting terminated with the usual compliments to the chair. Farmers’ Union. —The usual monthly meeting of the Farmers’ Union was held on Monday night. Mr Janies Cowie presided over a large attendance. The order paper for the provincial conference was read and discussed. It was agreed not to support the removal of the embargo on the importation of live stock. It was agreed that the delegates when attending the provincial conference should interview the traffic manager to ascertain the reason for the delay in having the lights at the trucking yards repaired, and also bring before him the necessity for having the yards concreted. The delegates were also to interview the Government electrician regarding certain defects in the lights at the trucking yards. Mr Stevens moved: “That the meeting enter a protest to the County Council at what it considers its most expensive methods and the excessive distance that gravel is being carted past gravel pits that are handy, and also that the council furnish a statement of the royalty paid to gravel pit owners in this district for the last 12 months, including the present output.” This was seconded by Mr J. Liddell. The meeting terminated with the usual compliments to the chair. Football.—On Saturday the Balfour first and second grade teams met the Waikaia first and seconds at Balfour, the matches resulting in wins for both Balfour teams.

NEWS TOPICS. The bakers of Owaka have voluntarily reduced the price of bread, after a conference, to the extent of Id the 41b loaf, except in the case where bread is delivered and booked. The cash price is now lid. The Cromwell district is passing through a very mild season. Pastures present a very fresh appearance, and lucerne paddocks on low, sheltered levels are showing a pronounced growth. Light rain fell during the great part of Sunday. Playing on the new golf links at North Balclutha, Mr N. Wilkinson holed out in 1, driving a distance of about 150 yards. On the previous day, with a similar stroke, Mr Wilkinson just missed the hole by an inch, the ball stopping six inches further on. While shooting rabbits recently, Mr W. Cummock, a young man employed on his father’s farm at Galloway, received an injury to his leg when the rifle he was carrying was accidentally discharged. He was taken to the Dunstan Hospital, where he is making steady progress. At a clearing sale at Lovell’s Flat on Thursday, Mr David Bryce, the wellknown octogenarian farmer of the Flat, was knocked down and trampled on by a cow while standing in the sale ring. Fortunately no serious injuries were suffered, although one of Mr Bryce’s legs is still stiff as a result of his experience. At a meeting of delegates from the United Party the nomination of Mr P. M'Skimming, of Benhar, as the party’s candidate for Clutha at the forthcoming election was unanimously approved. There wms only one other nomination, that of a man who lives outside the electorate. Nurse Walsh, who is leaving Balclutha after three years’ service to take up the position of relieving nurse for Otago and

Southland, was entertained by members of the local Plunket Society and presented with a pair of book ends. In making the presentation Mrs Landels paid a high tribute to the capability and willingness of the departing nurse.

The number of people in Balclutha and other parts of the Clutha electorate who are politically indifferent insofar as they have made no effort to have their names registered on the electoral roll is astonishingly large. Registration is now compulsory, but that fact apparently does not carry much weight wtih many electors. Of course, prosecutions aie seldom undertaken by the department in cases of failure to register, but there is always the danger, and if for no other reason persons who have not enrolled should hasten to do so. Mr and Mrs A. R. Lattimore are leaving Balclutha for Whakatu, near Hastings, where they will, with members of their family, occupy a small farm which has been bequeathed to Mrs Lattimore. Mr Lattimore was born in Balclutha, where he has resided for over 60 years, and there are many who, while wishing him well in his new venture, will regret their departure. During last week Mrs Lattimore was entertained at a farewell afternoon by members of the ladies bowling club, in which she held the position of president, and was presented with a handbag.

WANTON DESTRUCTIVENESS. Residents in the vicinity of Lake T.uakitoto are indignant at the action of certain alleged sportsmen in wantonly shooting the cygnets of the black swans that frequent the lake in considerable numbers. The swan, it seems, breeds twice a year (in August and again in February), and it is the broods from the latter hatchings that are in the helpless stage during the present open season. They arc unable to fly, and are easy prey for the senseless sbootist who fails to realise that by destroying these he is likely eventually to deplete the lake of swans altogether. One resident states that he saw one individual “ blazing away’" at a flock of fully 200 of these cygnets, whose maimed and dead bodies subsequently strewed the surface of that particular portion of_ the lake. These young birds have no food value, being all feathers bones, and sinews, so that even the “ pot hunter” has no excuse f— destroying them. , OBITUARY. The funeral cortege of Mr Henry Kirby to the Balclutha Cemetery on Tuesday was an impressive one. Mr Kirby, who died after a lengthy illness, was in his eighty-second year. Up to the last he was in full possession of all his faculties, and his happy and genial disposition was never better exemplified than in his illness. He was born in Kent, and while quite a young man came to New Zealand with his bride and settled in Kai tangata, where he carried on the business of baker and caterer for a period of about 37 years. Some 20 years ago he came to Balclutha, and for 16 years carried on the Coffee Palace Boarding House. Four years ago he retired, and shortly after that the partner of his joys and sorrows died, and it was then that Mr Kirby’s health began to fail, although as indicated he was able to maintain his cheerful demeanour. Mr Kirby took an active interest in local affairs both in Kaitangata and Balclutha, and had sat on the Borough Councils of both towns. He was also a member and strong supporter of the Anglican Church. Mr and Mrs Kirby reared a family of 14 children, of whom 13 survive They areMessrs Joseph (Owaka), Frank (Christchurch), Charles (Balclutha), Leslie (VVaipiata), Horace (Ranfurly), Miss Edith (Balclutha), Mesdame s D. M'Donnell (Oamaru), P. Brady (Balclutha North), IL Henderson (Balclutha), W. Morrison Kaitangata), P. Bungard Rosebank), T. Askey (Balclutha North), and C. Patey (Dunedin). GOLF. A match was played on the Alexandra links between Alexandra and Clyde, the latter chib having issued a challenge for the Dewar Cup, which has been in the possession of the local club for the past three seasons. Although not represented by its strongest team, Alexandra, after a ■ close struggle, managed to retain the cup by 44 games to 34. An interclub match was held at the same time. This also resulted in a win for Alexandra by 9J games to 74. Detailed results are as follow (the first eight representing Dewar Cup games; Alexandra names first): —V. A. Fenwick lost to W. M. Lopdell, 3 down; J. J. O’Kane lost to P. Miller. 6 down; V. Schaumann beat W. K. George, 7 up; A. F. Stewart beat M. Warhurst, 3 up; Rev. D. O’Connell and E. W. George, all square; A. A. Williamson beat W. A. Harlow, 3 up; James Duncan lost to T. R. Robertson, 3 down; H. P. Cowie beat F. R. Bould, 1 up; P. A. Royds beat I. Wilson, 2 up; R. E. M’Lay lost to J. Davidson, jun., 2 down; A. Davidson beat J. Watt, 2 up. Totals: Alexandra 64, Clyde 44. In a match Miss N. O’Kane lost to Mrs W. K. George, 1 down; Miss D. Marshall beat Mrs M'Artbur, 6 up; Mrs A. F. Stewart lost to Mrs E. W. George, 3 down; Mrs G. Frye beat Mrs Hanning, 3 up; Mrs L. H. Denniston beat Mrs Scoullar, 5 up; Miss Robertson lost to Miss Bell, 6 down. Totals: Alexandra 3, Clyde 3. ’ .