Modernizing Stewart Island

After remaining dormant for some years the west coast of Stewart Island is again waking into activity.

Two sheep runs have been taken up in the neighbourhood of Mason's Bay-one by McQuarrie Bros., and the other by Mr Thomson, a well-known resident at Halfmoon Bay.

The McQuarrie run, 700 acres in extent, calls for a considerable amount of fencing, which work the occupants are now engaged upon.

The area of Mr Thomson's run is 500 acres.

There is (writes our Bluff correspondent) a vote of £150 on the Estimates for tracks in this locality.

The Mason's Bay residents contend that they have a strong claim for expenditure of the money on the through route from Halfmoon Bay by way of Paterson's inlet.

• Visitors from Australia and other parts of the world frequently express their astonishment at the very high percentage maintained in the attendance of scholars at our schools.

The Kaitangata School was yesterday visited by the Hon.

Mr Fowlds, and the attendance of the scholars reached a very creditable total.

On the roll are 375 names, and the number present was 358.

This works out at practically 96 per cent. - a figure which is unheard of in many countries where the value of education is not so highly appreciated as it is in Scottish Otago.

• There are at present 232 newspapers published in New Zealand and registered at the General Post Office, Wellington.

Of these, 67 are daily, 32 thrice weekly, 26 twice weekly, 68 weekly, 4 fortnightly, 33 monthly, 1 every three weeks, and 1 every four weeks.

- ODT, 11.3.1910.