RENWICKTOWN.

Marlborough Press, Volume IX, Issue 607, 2 September 1868, Page 5

RENWICKTOWN.

{from our own correspondent.] •; ; - August 29. ..., If I have a fair* supply of news this time, I am sorry to say it is not of the best’ description 1 . ~ Diptlieria has played its fearful game amongst us, and already four graves have been filled—all from one family. “Mr Henry. Godfrey is dead!” Like a dark, cloud spreading its gloomy shades over the whole district, so was the news which went from mouth to mouth on Saturday, the 22nd inst ; and the downcast countenances of aSI showed that it was no slight loss we had met with. Mr Godfrey had lost two of his family by diptheria, and was himself laid up with a severe attack of the same disease, but up to Saturday morning last he was considered to be ■convalescent, or nearly..so, when a change took place, and by mid-day he was a corpse. A few' hours after and his second son. eight years of iage, also died—thus making four in the family in about a week. In Mr Godfrey we have lost a man whose like for Stirling wortli we shall have a. difficulty to replace ; the province has lost a man that it couldjll afford to -lose ; she.farming community am enterprising representative; and last but not least, a young family a kind and endeared father. We are looking, forward.to the coming season ‘•with, much . interest. The sheepfarmers have made some agreement amongst themselves (that is, a few of them) that shearing shall he done at the rate of 15s per hundred sheep this year, and also to do away with the old system of gangs by having open sheds. The shearers, on the other hand, say that the reduced rate of last year, viz., 17s fid 1 per hundred, did not_pay them wages, considering the great loss of time attending the shearing, through wet weather and waiting for the next flock after one had been finished. It is hard to say whether the shearers will “come down,” or the sheepfarmers will “go up;” but 1 think there will be a good deal of dissatisfaction, whichever way it may .turn. In sneaking of sheep and prices, ho'v natural in 'human nature for the fnihd to revert to mutton and its prices. T We are now getting firstclass mutton delivered -at our doors for 3d to 3Jd per lb, while, in Picton, I believe, you are paying from Gd to 7d., and not of the best quality either. The contract for cutting the channel from the Opawa to Ihe Wairau river is progressing favorably, and is expected, should the fine weather hold out, to be finished within about a fortnight. Farming operations here, for the present, are nearly at a stand still, and the farmers are hazarding guesses as to the price of wheat next year, which seems a very engrossing subject for them just rfoiv. The quartz reef, of which I told you once before as being worked in the KaitUna district, has been abandoned, the party not being strong enough to purchase the requisite machinery for working it. Some of the quartz, however, has been tried o.n a small s.cale, and has proved to be gold-bearing in (what'is thought) payable qualities. It is a pity, if It is a payable, reef, that it should not get a fair trial, ! .. .. ;l •' We. were visited the other .day with a slight fall of snow all over the- plain., making young New Zealand stare with wonder, and older heads turn their thoughts to the far-off land of their birth. It,,has;,.however, .nearly all disappeared without the usual, annoyance‘of a flood, which would do much damage at present.