COUNTRY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3247, 3 July 1872, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

(keom -ovu ovrs corkb-spondent.)

TAJ EM FKRKY.

The long spell of fine weather which this district was favoured with until lately, is now a thing of the past, and we Beein to have drifted suddenly into the midst of winter, as,, for the past fortnight, there has been nothing else but frost, snow, and < rain, alternately. The Taieri river was flooded to an unusual height on the 24th June, having overflowed its banks below the bridge, and in one or two places swept across the block road made along its banks some time ago for the convenience of the settlers resident in the locality, fhis unusual rise of the river was partly caused by the high tide, and by the various creeks which discharge themselves into'the Taieri being Hooded. The road along the batiks of the river below the bridge would certainly have been none the worse if it had been made at least a couple of feet higher, as it is hardly passable at present, and the settlers have been obliged to travel by boats lately.

A lively trade lias now sprung up between the settlors at the Ferry and the Trieri Beach. Saturday being the market day, and having taken a trip down the river lately, I ws« quito surprised to find a good-sized jetty with a tramway in good working order, and a commodious elicd at the end of it, for the reception of goods. Considering the scattered nature of the population at; the Taieri Beach, there was a considerable number of settlers at the wharf, and the scene of buying and selling going on gave the place an air of commercial importance.

The school which was established at the Ferry some time since, with the sanction of the Education Board, may now be looked upon as a complete success, and instead of 17 scholars, as at the commencement, there is now nearly double that number, .there being 32 on the roll; and with the addition of some half-castes, who are expeoted on the first of next quarter (being subsidised by the General Government), there will be an attendance of at least 40 pupils. The Government having made a grant of the Taieri Ferry Hotel and grounds to the district for a school and teachers residence, the large room of the dwelling-house attached to the hotel is at present being used for school purposes, till the main building is put in a proper state of repair. The store, which was detached from the hotel, was lately disposed of by the Government by public auction to Mr M'Laren, of Tokomairiro, for £21 10s, and will shortly be removed from the ground. Meanwhilo the School Committee have raised by subscription a sum quite sufficient to meet all the expense of repairs.

The Sunday School in connection with the Presbyterian Church of tliis district is also very well attended ; and it is worthy of mention that we lately received from Knox Church, Dnnedin, a present of the old library for the encouragement of the scholars. The establishment of the above school was due mainly to the efforts of Mr M'Bain—one of the settlors here— who commenced the good work about two years ago, before there was any prospect of a day-school being formed in the place, and he is now assisted in his labours by the teacher and two ladies of the district.

A considerable quantity of new land has been broken up this season, and great improvements in fanning operations have been made lately. What has been hitherto designated the "swamp," on the other side of tho river, is now fast being reclaimed by means of good drainage, and before long will vie with any land in the Province in the production of good crops. A visit to tho Henley estate will well repay anyone who wishes to nee what can be done with the low-lying lands across the Taierl river, which a few years ago were deemed useless for agricultural purposes. The Company have just erected a handsome bridge at their own expense, to connect the estate with the main eonth road, which will prove a groat benefit to them, and possibly to the public also in course of time.