DISTRICT NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 4, 14 July 1916, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

PUERUA. ►'ROM OUR OWN COEEESPONDENT. This distriet, in common with most others, has had a sample of what Jupitei I Juvius can do with his watering pot. The rain a fortnight ago was the heaviest we have had for a considerable time, and although it retarded agricultural operations, it did an incalculable amount of good. Following Jupiter Pluvius came Jack Frost, who made his presence felt in a forcible manner. Th 6 frosts have 'been severe, and the ploughed land will be much benefited.

The local flaxmillers have suspended stripping f or this season, and' are busily engaged in "scutching up.", If fibre remains at its present high price there will be another mil! operating in the district next season.

Complaints of sheep worrying by dogs have been heard lately. The recent decisiou given by the magistrate in Central Otagb has evidently . been overlooked or forgotten by some local dogowners. The practice'of allowing dogs to roam about as they like is a senseless one, especially in a rural district, and is apt to have an unpleasant sequel to the owner.

Speaking to a farmer ou the subject of laml "exchanges," which are so numerous nowadays an.l' which have been tlie cause of much litigation,, I was informed that such deals are not beneficial, but the reverse. A deal which eventuated not far from here on' the basis of £H) an acre was described 'by my informant as preposterous. He said the value of the landjn question was not more than half that figure, and that the system of " exchanges'' has been the cause of putting highly fictitious prices on land.. The agents' benefit by these deals, but economically the whole system is unsound', and' will culminate" in disaster sooner or later. A somewhat similar remark was made recently by one of the Supreme Court judges when adjudicating on- one of these land transactions.

The boarding-house at Romahapa has reopened, and will no doubt be of great convenience to the travelling public, situated as it is on the road to the popular holiday resort—Port Molyneux. The ladies of this district have completed a handsome autograph quilt for the Red Cross Society, and are able to send along a substantial gum of money with it. Rumour has it that another is required and will very likely be taken in hand by the ladies. It is well known that when the ladies take in hand to do anything they invariably carry the project through. The men usually contrive to get into a muddle.

The winter show passed off very successfully, and eclipsed all previous efforts.

The juvenile propensity for playing, burrowing and delving in banks, and that these miniature quarrying operations are attended with danger not realised by the little people, are well known. The danger attending this form of children's play cannot be too strongly emphasised, as the following incident will show. Mr John Asiitou 's little boy had his leg so severely injured whilst playing in, close proximity to an open bank that it was necessary to perform several surgical operations to restore the use of the limb; in fact, the extent of the injury may be gauged when it is stated that after securing the best surgical skill eight months' sojourn in the hospital was necessary before the little fellow was able to return home.