STRATH-TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 23

STRATH-TAIERI.

Ocroßr.it 16.— Aft* r the inclement weather of a 'few weeks a?o wo aie r.s veiling in the sunshine of a verdant spring. The Rock and Pillar has divested itself of its russet wintry coat and •donned its kirtle of green. The Strath itself is looking- its loveliest. The crops are now really all in and above ground except the turnips, ' land for which is being prepared. Ihe Govern=inent arc evidently in earnest to redeem their .promise of having the railway opened to Hyde ■ early iv the year, as about 40 or 50 men are now engaged a little above Middlemarch in plate-lay-ing and ballasting, while in advance the bridges are being laid in position by another party of men. Some of the men on the Otago Central at Hyde have been playing high jinks, paying too much devotion at the shiine of Bacchus— so much ■so that Inspector Fiaser. thoroughly disgusted -with their misspent energy, has dispensed with their services. Villaue Settlement.— The village settlement at Blair Taieri, about three miles south of Middlemarch, has been eagerly applied for, with the result that all the suction 3 are taken up but one, which means l(i or 17 new residents to the district. Politic vi,.— The female francb.is.ts arc last ciiTolling iv view of the coming .struggle. Mr J. C. Enckland, of Taieri Lake, has already announced himself as a candidate, and I suppose Mr Oarncross will be out in due time. County Election's. — The County Council election is exciting no interest in the public mind, apparently, as Mr J. Roberts has been requisitioned to f.tand and fis yet there is no other " Richmond in the field." I presume that absence of talent— or shall 1 say ynblii- spirit ?— in the district is the cause of such apathy. , ACkvnoe Wanted. —The streets of Middlemarch during the winter months have been most deplorable, and pnint to the necessity of a town board being called into existence. Kccliniastical. — A largely attended meeting took placo recently to celebrate the induction of the Rev. J. S. Reid to the pastorate of the StrathTaieri Presbyterian Church. After the induction ceremony the ladies of the congregation organised ami carried out the usual tea-meeting — the comestibles having been supplied liy the local bakers, Messrs Main and Neill. The visiting ministers each had a little to say thereat about our district, and a kindly word of encouragement to give to both minister and people. Anotiicii Want. — Now that we have a settled pastor, there is some talk about building a new cluu'ch. The church committee are about to collect the subscriptions promised some time ago. These, with the subsidy given by the Synod, should amount to something that will erect a church which will be an ornament to our small but rising -township.