PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3119, 20 February 1909, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

(From Our Resident Reporter). Friday. A meeting of the Pahiatua branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union will be held in the Commercial Hotel this (Saturday) afternoon. Glorious weather is being experienced to-day for the Makomako and JSJgaturi picnics. Mr H. A. Thomson gava a special prize for competition amongst the Makomako School children. The piano used by Pollard's Opera Company this evening was kindly lent by the local branch of the Dresden Piano Company. U.A.O.D. The quarterly summoned meeting of Lo>/.i Pahiatua, No. 56, U.A. 0.D., was held in the Foresters' Hall, last evening, Bro. Swiggs, A.D., presiding. There was a good .attendance of members, and a large amount of business was transacted. It was decided to hold a "mock initiation" next Lodge night, and also to draw out an amusement prosrramvne for the winter evenings at an early date. One new member wa.i in.ria.xd an! fivd proposed for meai'm'ship. PAHIATUA DISTRICT BAND. ' A good brass band is ilways looked Upon as one of the main features of a town, and generally merits the sympathy and support of the residents. The Pahiatua district band has now quite a large membership, more than can be catered for in the matter of instruments. Instead of asking Cor subscriptions, the management of the band have decided to hold an open-air concert on Wednesday night next at 8 o'clock. The Mayor (Mr D. Crewe) has generously placed his beautiful grounds at the disposal of the band, and a good programme of musical and vocal items has been arranged. The proceeds will be devoti to the in3tru • xn'ent fund, and a very reasonable charge of one shilling is being made at the gate. It is to be hoped that there will be a large attendance, as the object is worthy of support. The band intend to play out in the squares on Sunday afternoons after February 24th when the weather permits. FARM NOTES. The recent fall in the price of fat sheep and lambs will be rather severely felt in this district, more especially by those rape growers who bought stores at high prices recently, and consequently will hardly get any returns for fattening. To make matters there have been several blockages at the freezing workn, and owne*s have had to hold over fat lambs often at considerable loss and inconvenience. The amount of fat stock sent away from this district this season will easily be a record, and a well known sheepfarmer informed me that owing to the drought and fires last summer many farmers were lighter stocked than usual last winter, and as the fires had a beneficial effect upon the pastures the result has been an increased number \of fat sheep, and more especially lambs. The stringency of the money market also prevented a large number of farmers from stocking as heavily as they would have otherwise done. Mr Robert Smith, of Onslow Park, has leased his farm to his sons, who, I understand, interid to go in for dairying on a large scale. Mr Smith is holding a sale of ail his stud stick at Onslow Park shortly, which is sure to attract considerable attention. The Pollard Company played ,"The Isle of Bong Bong" here tonight to a crowded house, and met with a splendid reception. The Company will stage "The Gay Hussar" to-n/ight, when there should be another crowded houae.