CLINTON NOTES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 799, 21 August 1900, Page 2

CLINTON NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Stock, both on the hills and on turnips, are looking remarkably well, and the death rate this year should be uncommonly low. I notice a few lambs now in the district, but September is tho month chosen by most, and should the weather then prove fine, a good percentage may be looked for. Quite a number of Government officials have been transferred from here of late. Of course new ones have arrived to fill their places, but it takes some time to get acquainted with the newcomers, and longer to * forget the departure of those who have proved themselves agreeable and obliging when attending to their duties. The latest one to receive notico was Mr Wells, who has acted here for the past four years as rabbit agent, and who has boen transferred to Kurow. I understand Mr Wills is to occupy the pasilion of Chief Inspector for the district, and I havo to congratulate bim on his promotion. A society for the purpose of obtaining knowledge of the art of self dofenco has beon started in our town. The first meeting took placa on Saturday evening last in a vacant section at the rear of the Town Hall, when a large number turned out to see the " go." The contending parties were our local puncher and an aspirant Irani Wairuna. For a time the issue seemed doubtful, but want of training at length became noticeable in the Wairuna man, and in tho seventh round he cried enough. I understand our champion will practise on another* youth from the same district next Saturday, but I would adviso the promoters to shift their quarters up to the hall, and thereby givo all bands a chance of witnessing tho contest in comfort. At the meeting of tho Mutual Improvement Society on Tuesday evening tbo second issue of the Journal was read by the editress, Miss Garden. The contributions woro numorous and ably written, reflecting credit on tho writers. The Society closes its session next Tuesday with a social. I understand the Popotunoa parish is now to be divided. At a special meeting hold at Balclutha on Wednesday last a largely signed petition from the Waiwera end was received, and after much discussion it was decidi d to ask tho Synod to take the necessary steps to erect Waiwera into a separate charge. The congregation, now without a settled minister, is being supplied by students from Dunedin. Mr Catherwood preached to largo congregations last Sunday.