The Newtown bee., 1901-05-10

been bad season for the harvesting
of crops in this part of the country.
The crops grew all right, but all the
later crops of hay, OATS wheat, ETC.,
or should say the majority of them,
could not be harvested on account of
the very wet weather experienced.
But what was lost in that way was
made up in the splendid grazing that
was afforded for the cattle and the
abundance of milk that was obtained
through there being plenty of grass.
Strange to say, although New Zea-
land was favored with so much rain,
the Australian colonies experienced
severe droughts and the crops over
that way suffered very much in conse-
quence. New Zealand, however, is a
better watered country and we have
far finer rivers, than any Of the Aus
tralian colonies.
was glad to learn from. your letter
that you got the photos, Christmas
papers, etc., all right. know they
were bit later than usual, but there
is now an alteration in the mail serv-
ices, for instead OF there being a mail
leaving every four weeks only, it now
leaves every third week. II had sent
them in the previous mail they would
have been rather too early for Christ
mas. My wife is amply repaid with
the pleasure you experienced in the
matter Of the doilies and feels pleased
that you liked them so we'll.
was sorry to hear that Mrs Hodge
had been very sick but trust she has
thoroughly recovered. She must be
pretty well up in years now. If you
see her at any time, please remember
my father and myself to her. We
frequently talk of the period we spent
at Chahybes and the folks we knew
there. l remember Mr. Isham very
we'll. He lived to good age. 1 am
afraid Mr. HickOx has formed a wrong
impression concerning my views of
the Springfield Republican. certain
ly do not coincide with it's views con-
corning the South African war, for it
is very inaccurate in some of it's state
ments regarding England's action in
the matter but at the same time am
not one of those who condemn a paper
| because it does not hold the same
view as myself. am little more
broad minded than that and like to
read both sides of the question. 1 do
not hold with Mr. Hickox that the
South African war is one of conquest
and subjugation and if Mr. Hickox
lives long enough he will find such is
not the case. The Beers themselves
forced the war on to England and the
state of preparedness with which they
have fought shows that they were de-
termined to exterminate the Uitland-
ers if they possibly could have done so.
Their reason for fighting is totally
different to that which caused the
Americans to fight for liberty-it be-
ing almost exactly the reverse.
Americas fight with the Filipinos is,
in my opinion, more of the nature re-
ferred to by Mr. Hickox and one that
is scarcely justitiable. hope how
ever that everything will come out all
right in the end.
Great preparations are now in
course Of progress throughout the
Australian colonies and New Zealand
in connection with the forthcoming
visit of the Duke and Duchess of
Cornwall and York. The chief object
Of their visit is in connection with the
opening of the first parliament at
Melbourne under the new Commor-
wealth just formed by the amalgama-
tion of all the Australian colonies, but
advantage is being taken of their visit
to show them the extent, prosperity
and wealth of the whole Of the col
onies and also to show them the loyal
ty Of the colonists to the British
crown. II all goes well the duke and
duchess will visit New Zealand in
June next, Auckland being the first
port of call. Preparation are already
in progress for the decorat ton of that
city by means of arches, floral designs
and other ornamentatiOns, the cost of
which will run into very large sum
trip to Auckland on that occasion in
order to see our future king and queen.
l remain, Yours truly, William Coad.
H-Editor'S note: When a boy Mr.
COad lived for several years with Mr.
and Mrs Hickox and is pleasantly
remembered in Washington. His
father at that time lived in Roxbury
Station, at that time called Chahybes.
The writer of this letter has an uncle
now living in Woodbury..
A SERIOUS FOREST FIRE.
A serious forest fire occurred about
10 days ago on the wood job of George
Clark. 1t is supposed to have started
from a spark from an engine of F. f.
Wetmore. Mr. Clark lost about 700
ties and Mrs E. J. Hine 80 or 40 cords
of wood. A considerable fencing was
also burned up. A force of 100 men
turned out and fought the fire.