OUR HAMPDEN LETTER. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hampden, July 9.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1632, 13 July 1877, Page 2

OUR HAMPDEN LETTER. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hampden, July 9.

Your correspondent " Oaradoc notwithstanding, I must still re-assert the winter here has been hitherto characterised by mildness, though it has been pretty wet. We have had no severe frosts, and thole that have been experienced have been of •hort duration; and though one day last week we had as near an approach to snow as is usually seen so near the tea, the winter altogether has been mild ; and with the lengthening days it is at least unlikely that any very severe weather will now be felt. Last year this district was distinguished by an alr*ont entire absence of grain crops, soarcely a farmer in it having a full day s work for the thrashing-mill ; but the coming season will be different, for a large part ot the available agricultural land will be uuder grain.* Everywhere the doublefurrow is to be seen at work " breaking up" the land, and already the hard-up " unemployed" is comforting himself with the assurance of plenty of work in harvest time, but what he is to do until that time arrives is best known to himself; for what with a large increase in the price of necessaries, and a scarcity of work, I must confess time* are a little hard here. You will be glad to hear, Mr Editor, that the promise of the Cemetery Trustee* to your Peripatetic Correspondent, has at last been kept, and that they have " done something," and the gigantic work in procress is repairing the fence, digging a ditch about it, and planting a, live neage. This will have the effect of making it si whitedsepulchreindeod, with a fair outside, but an interior that must be seen before a just estin.ate of its condition can be arrived at, and if the object of the Trustee! is to leave the place emblatnatic of the desolation and confusion so often caused by the visits of the Arch-Enemy, I must ■ay it is attained most fully, but whether it is right, decent, and proper to do so, I leave for decision between themselves and the public. However, let us be thankful* for what is being done ; half a loaf is better than no bread, and perhaps the Trustees, having made a beginning, may toon tee their way to make further improvements.

The foot-bridge over the Kurl River id now completed, and is a very stronglooking and durable structure; it it not 00 high as the bid oho. but it several feet longer, and is creditable alike to the contraotort and the County Council. As a - further proof that we* are not forgotten at this end of the shire, several small contracts are advertised, and amongst others one for supplying wing walls to the bridge over Douglas Creek, the want of which has been often complained of, and abuse freely showered upon the Government for leaving the bridge "unfinished." Whilut speaking of the County Council, I should lifco to ask through your columns how they expect the rates to be paid, as it it a question agitating many of the rate-payers hore. They surely do not expect people to journey to Oamaru to pay amounts varying from one shilling to ten, nor, seeing the rates themselves are a sufficient burden, can they expect postoffice orders costing Od each. Will they then accept the various amounts in postage stamps, or (the best way for nil parties) will they send round a collector. I do not know whether or not this is the season of " big gooseberries," &c, in the newspapers, but. anyhow, I cannot help telling you of a big potato to be seen at the storo of Mr N. Campbell. It was grown by Mr Q. Murray, farmer, of this place, and was, when taken from the earth, of the respectable weight of 61bs. I doubt if you can beat this in Oamaru, but if so, why we'll grow one next year still larger -