Kaitangata.

(From our own Correspondent.) Sept. 22nd, 1873. The beloved wifa of Mr John Stevens of the Gask Farm, who had been con Sued to her bed for man} 7 months, died on Wednesday the 17th. She was much respected and beloved by all who knew her, and h??r loss is much ielt by tho?e with whom she has been intimate for many years. The funeral took place on the Saturd iy following 1 , and a very large number of settlers and others who followed her remains to their final resting- place, fully testifies the truth of the above remarks. It goes still further, it speaks volumes for the respect in which the whole family is held by the inhabitants of this district. Passing 1 from this painful subject to tun everyday occurrences of this place, I may inform you that the late heavy rains have raised the waters of the Kaitangata lake to a most unpleasant height. The whole or nearly the whole of the swamp is covered with water, and a great part of the farm of Mr Hay is under water. A pretty large paddock which had beep sown with whe-U and had begun to braird is partly under water, so that the harvest prospects of that gentleman are p^or indeed, Our No. 1 Goal Company, as yon are aware, has pass°d into ths hands of Mr /.M'Laven. As yet work hss not been resumed, but I sup,visa bc/'.)"« the week i;« out we may expect to see thy coals con. ing down in the tracks a^ u-usl. T'ao other Coal Company intend to extend tlitir wharf and to erefli; thereon a large shod, so that every facility will be given to steamers for getting quickly laden. f paid n visit to this mine and fjund t h h t the most energetic • measures are being taken for the further developing- qf their coal regotircos which appear to be inex-hau-tible. About; ten day ap:o or a fortnight ago a large seal was killed by Mr Johr.s r on of Wangaloa. I saw the remains of the monster whjch measured nine fest from snout to tail. Mr Johnston, vyhose experience of seal hunting is very extensive, ha hawing been engaged in that, occupation in the Arctic regions before he became a settler here, informed us that it was one of the right sort and would yield a goodly supply of; oil. The skin was preserved by the abovenamed gentleman,

-inn desiu'e a hole here and there occasioned oy former wounds, some waistcoats and caps can he made out of it, which are no; o be despised on a cold day.