LUMSDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 29

LUMSD EN.

May 29. — -Of late the weather has been varied, if not pleasing — rain, wind, dense fog, aud hard frosts have all been experienced, but notwithstanding al l this pasture and green crops are looking well, and^.winter sb far promises very seasonable.

Harvesting. — The ingathering of the crops, with one or two exceptions, is now about completed, andthe result, I am sorry to say, is not so satisfactory as we could wish. A dragging ripening summer, and then a heavy shake just when it was about ready to cut have had a most serious effect on the general average yield ;and to crown all, bad and discoloured samples and starvation prices fill up the tiller of the soil's bill of faro for 1839.

Pastoral. — Both pasture and artificial grasses, and also the turnip crop, are looking well, so that stock of all kinds are well provided for during the winter months still to be tided over.

Bunny. — Still they come in thousands daily. The great amount of wet weather that we have had lately has interfered greatly with trappers' monthly returns; yet the trapper does better at it than at anything else he could get to do here at present.

Land Cropping Sales. — The annual sale of cropping leases took place at Balfour about a week ago, and considering the present depressed state of agricultural matters, it is surprising how leasing rents do keep up. Twenty-seven shillings an acre has, I am told; been paid in one or two instances, which is said by the knowing ones to be very high, considering the discouraging prospects now ruling.

Land Settlement. — I vote that the term be buried in oblivion, as it is nothing short of the proverbial red rag shaken at us, raising our ire to cursing point; but I hope that the time is not far dißtant when this will be one of the finest inland farming districts in Southland. Stock Snles. — Prices for sheep and horses are ruling high, but cattle are just the reverse. However, putting one thing with the other, I have reason to believe that farmers and others interested may be able to make two ends meet for another yeai.

Commercial. — Business of all kinds seems lo be rather quiet here at piesent. Of course we cannot be always booming. A new industry has been started — a tailoring and clothing establishment — by Messrs Densem Bros, and by the affable manner of the partner in 'charge and the good workmanship turned out by th > firm they will, I have every reason to believe, ensure prosperous and profitable business, and thus they individually may become very desirable citizens of our town. I wish them a hearty success in their undertaking. Ecclesiastical. — The Rev E. Dickie, who has laboured here during the past twelve months, has taken his departure as quietly and unassumingly as when going out and in amongst us. He is a true and worthy young man. I hear that Mr Lmbourne and family have arrived. The Rev. Mr Linbourne is the gentleman whom the congregation chose as their minister, and I understand ho begins his duties forthwith.

Marriage. — A very popular union took place here on the 3rd of this month, the contracting parties being Mr John Earl and Miss L. Martin, both of this town. The solemn part of the ceremony was performed in the Anglican Church by Arch-deacon StockeT, of Invercargill. The wedding breakfast, at the residence of the bride's parents, was attended by a large number of the bride's and bridegroom's relations and others. A social was held in the evening in the public hall, where all and sundry enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content, and all present voted the gathering to be the most pronounced success of the kind ever held in Lumsden.

Fnotball. — The Britannia First, from Invergill, paid us a visit ou the 24th and engaged in a. match with the Lumsden Club on the school grounds. The result waa a foregone conclusion, yet the winners did not have things all their own way (as they expected befoie hand) by any means. Tho Lumsden team had had no mar-

tice whatever together before the match. If they had, and had worked like they did that day, I feel confident that the scores would have been the other way about.

Educational. — School matters at present remind one of the saying " A cairn before a storm." The teaching staff and pupils have settled down to hard work preparing for the annual examination, which I presume will take place before very long.