Country News

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 31, 27 October 1894, Page 12

Country News

(From our own Correspondents.)

RIVERSDALE.

We are haying glorious spring ■weather, and agricultural operations are in fall swing and in an advanced state. The Agricultural Co. have got 3,000 acres of tussock land on the Sandstone Ridge broken up, and this with another 4,000 acres taken up by croppers has given employment to the local settlers during winter and early spring. How to make farming pay is one of the most important problems of our time, not only in Hew Zealand, but in almost all countries. The vast changes which have occurred during the last 20 years, the cost and facility of carriage and communication, have to a large extent revolutionised the relations of the various markets of the world to each other. Farmers have felt these changes very severely. Last season was one of the worst experienced by the Southland farmers for the last 15 years. The poor yield of grain and the low ruling prices for all kinds of agricultural produce have been extremely disappointing and unprofitable tof the farming community. It is to be hoped that the grain market will take “ a leap and a bound ” shortly, and that this season’s cereals will fetch big prices at Mark Lane. Since the advent of the Rev. James McKellar to the temporary charge of our Presbyterian church here the spiritual, as well as the temporal, progress of the church has been very marked. The attendance at service both morning and evening is largely increasing week by week, and the financial progress is proportionally satisfactory. Indeed when the reverend gentleman will settle down here permanently (which it is expected he will do after the first sitting of Synod) Riversdale will soon be one of the best country charges in Southland. Mr McKellar has capabilities and eminent qualities of mind much above the average, and his able, earnest, and well reasoned-out sermons are greatly appreciated, and secure for him the warm friendship of all Presbyterians here. It may not be out of place here to refer to the exceptionally fine singing of the choir of this church, which is led by Mr Holman the talented choirmaster, with Miss Maggie Manson as organist. I notice that tenders are called for the erection of an Anglican Church in Riversdale. The timber has been on the ground for some considerable time, and the building will soon be in the hands of the contractor.

The monthly meetings of the Riversdale Band of Hope and Gospel Temperance Society are well attended and well appreciated by the young people. Ho doubt these temperance organisations are doing a vast deal of good to the young, as they help materially to inculcate habits of sobriety and moral excellence, and also promote a desire for healthy recreation. The temperance movement has made rapid strides throughout the whole world during the last few years, and its power is being felt year by year. While I do not, by any means, advocate total prohibition, I hold that we have far too many hotels and that a reduction of at least fifty per cent would not in any way inconvenience the public, but on the contrary would remove a great deal of the temptation and facility which at present exists for obtaining drink. I am glad to say that the attendance at our school is on the increase, and under the able and efficient teaching staff the children are making satisfactory progress. The other day Miss Alexandria Munro (the late pupil teacher) was presented by the school children with a’handsome gold watch as a mark of respect and good-will. This shows the good feeling that existed between this young lady and her pupils. I may say that a Miss Hamilton from your town has succeeded Miss Munro, and I dare say this lady will soon endear herself to the little ones, and will, some day, be

the recipient of a handsome souvenir as a mark of their good wishes toward her.