It is hoped that during the financial year ending March 31, 1916, areas in the following blocks will be brought into the market: - Omarama (probably about April next), Puketoi, Galloway, Benmore, Earnscleugh, and some lake runs at Hawea.
The Earnscleugh area, of about 7000 acres, will probably be available in June next under optional conditions.
The other areas are mostly pastoral runs and small grazing runs.
The Puketoi, Galloway, and Benmore areas may be on the market about November.
The Waitahuna sale has been fixed for March 25.
The date of the Omarama sale has not yet been fixed.
• The annual picnic of the Kaitangata, Castle Hill, and Taratu miners was held at Owaka on Saturday last.
The picnickers were conveyed thither by special train. They numbered about 600 - considerably less than last year.
The weather was cold, and very little shelter was afforded on the Domain Grounds, consequently a portion of the visitors stayed in the railway carriages, and a greater portion enjoyed themselves in the Owaka Hall most of the day dancing.
The committee, the principals of which were Mr W. Stephenson (president), Mr E. Richardson (secretary), and Mr R. Eaton (treasurer), worked hard to make the function a success. The train arrived home at 7 p.m.
• A donation of £5 5s was recently made by the committee of the Auckland Racing Club to the funds of the Manurewa Children's Home, this amount having been contributed by the club annually for the past three years.
A letter has (telegraphs the Post's Auckland corespondent) been received by the club from the secretary of the home, acknowledging receipt of the donation, but expressing regret at having to return the cheque.
The letter states that at various times after the publication of the annual report of the home with the list of subscriptions, certain of the subscribers have protested against the authorities of the home receiving subscriptions from brewers and racing clubs, and that it has therefore been decided not to accept any further subscriptions from these sources.
• The nature of the sustenance which the Waikato Hospital Board has been called upon to provide for one of the recipients of charitable aid, was shown in an account received by the board on Thursday from a Te Kuiti merchant, in account with this particular dependant of the board, who receives aid to the amount of 15s weekly.
The list of luxuries upon which the supposed indigent gentleman has been feasting, includes bananas, tinned herrings, Brazil nuts, lettuce, cream crackers, apples, honey, eggs, walnuts, sauces, lozenges, vermicelli, sago, macaroni, and pine apples, while additional articles, such as tea, milk, and salt, were ordered in regular quantities, tobacco, matches, envelopes, and writing paper appearing frequently on the list.
The board considered the case worthy of investigation.
• All's fish that comes to the net of a certain type of person, and Castlecliff in particular (says the Wanganui Herald), has been unfortunate in possessing more than one individual who cannot distinguish between mine and thine.
Their depredations take various forms, among the latest being the practice of one of them of rising early in the morning and milking a certain fellow resident's cow.
The disgust of the latter at finding himself unable to extract any milk for the family breakfast can be better imagined than described. - ODT, 17.2.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
