GENERAL NEWS.

Shannon News, 30 January 1923, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

A notable drive of a mob of cattle has been made from the Marlborough bounds to Bank's Peninsula. The mob comprised cattle of two-year-old and upwards from Mr E. Hay's Titirangi station in the Sounds to Pigeon Bay. Mr Hay's station hands took out the cattle for a week/s journey to Okaramaro, near Havelock, in Pelorous Sound, and from the latter point Messrs Robinson and Kirkwood, well-known drovers, took them on a five weeksi trek to Pigeon Bay; The route was through the Wairau Gorge, 'Tarndale estate, over the Island Saddle into the Clarence, and over Jollie's Pass to Hanmer, and,on to Pigeon's Bay. The drovers started out with 233 head and vafter the long trip landed 230 head at Pigeon Bay in splendid order and very little sign of the long travel or knocking about. In past years Mr Hay shipped the cattle from Titirangi estate wharf to Pigeon Bay, but this year he decided to send them by road.

Those who have come into close contact with the Chinese people know that a Chinamaa always tries to keep a ; promise. Some few years ago (relates an exchange) a man in" Taranaki said to a young Chinese gardener what a good cook his father was when he was the cook in one of the leading hotels in the district, and what \Lovely plum puddings he used to serve up at the Christmas dinner. '' My father very old and wrinkled now, and is living in China," 'replied the young Chinaman, "and I soon go to China to see him before he dies, and if I go I will tell him what you said about his plum puddings, and I will get him to make you one, and I will bring it out to you." The promise of the pudding had been forgotton, but just before Christmas the Chinaman returned from the visit to his father, and, to the delight of his old friend, brought the plum pudding with him, which was served up with great/relish on Christmas Day." An example of great success in amateur fruit-growing, is provided by a Timaru resident, who this year has grown black currants nearly as large as cherries. He has already picked 441 b of fruit from eight bushes. Haymaking is in full swing throughout the Stratford district, and Sunday last was on many farms not even the day of partial rest it usually is. The weather is fine, but the greatest optimistic has no confidence in its continuing so.