COUNTRY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4012, 25 December 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

COUNTRY NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Ci/i-de, December 18th, 1874.

I had an opportunity of seeing the plans and specificationb of the bridge proposed to be erected over the Molyneux by the Clyde Corporation, tenders for which have been called for by ajdveitisement. »jijj e drawings were, executed in the Provincial Engineer's Department. The bridge is to be built on the suspension principle, Two piers of solid masonry, 29ft high, will be built on the. solid rook, the span will be 200 ft, and 12 2-inch wire ropes will be passed over the piers on each side. These will be moored and thoroughly anchored into the banks. The roadway will be 15ft. in the clear, and there will be a railing 6f % high. The whole, when finished, will haye'a light apgearange, though it will be capable of bearing a strain, pf one hundred tons pr more.

We have had an agreaable change in the •weather in the shape of a fine, steady rain, which has done an incalculable amount of good. The fine, warm weather following has made the grass spring up rapidly. Fruit of all descriptions is now plentiful. Strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and currants are in abundance. It is doubtful if the p}wor part will be gathered on aegount of Jaipur being no heft that the fruib will scarcely pay f°r gathering. As a f ruifc producing district the Dunstan cannot bo surpassed,, aa evidenood by the magnificent fruit from tho Monte Chrlsto and other orchards round about j and were water available in quantity for irrigation, this district could supply the greater portion of the Province with its produce. I saw a sample of straw*, berrigs gsown tjy Mr Jv-eson, of Conrgy's Giilly, scarcely, 'one under, an ounoe,, and some nearly double that weight, Preparation is being made to oelabrate Christmas as is our usual wont. A large number of our townsmen have banded themselves together and determined that sport shall not be wanting. They have issued a Kanji programme of Qaledonian sports,. I lieve one of the MiJPhersQn Clan is at the head of affairs, which should be a sufficient guarantee that bust* ness ia meant, A good sum of money is to be distributed in prizes. Nor shall we be sbprt of pipers pn the ocQaeion [ and \i I

am coneetly informed, we Bhall hear gentlemen of no mean ability in that lino. On the 28th, in the evening, there is to be a concert in the Town Hall in aid of the school funds. Tho Clyde Brass Bind have voluntoered their services, as also many amateur vocalists. The affair will without doubt prove a success.

Cromwell, 19th December. The proclamation of ckicellation of pflrt of Loughnan's rim has, as might be expected, caused a rush for agricultural leases thereon, and objections are lodged by some cattle ownbrs and miners against the issue of leases, on the plea that the ground is auriferous ; but, really, with the object of preserving the common intact for grazing purposes.. : The once magnificent Aurora Company passed-through its last stage of real existence yesterday, when Mi Fache sold, under the hammer, the plant and race for the sum of £955 to Mi-Thomas Logan. Sic transit gloria mundi. No one doubts the value of the property in the hands of the new propi ietor. The Bendigo Deep Tunnel Co.'s shares have risen and fallen most violently since its formation. The first week of its existence 500 per cpnt was paid for shares in it; now, par is with difficulty obtainable, the probable necessity fov patching up its honour by reconrse to Law Courts in vindication of its acts, has had a most depressing effect. Our Mayor is determined to leave nothing undone to restore to Cromwell her former reputation for health. That nasty word, " dirty " little Cromwell, has justly aroused his iro, and he wishes to prove by acts, not words, that the term is a reproach and an untruth. He proposes frequent visits of inspection by the Board of Health, and the continuation of the employment of a Corporation scavenger. He h not deterred by the expense—said to be tho whole of tho rates ; and he truly says if we aro to remove the unfavourable impression, we must not only make the town clcaii, but keep it so. ■ ■• .•■ The block IS. question, after one or two opiates, again slumbers, and will probably not be disturbed until the next election as usual.

Blank forms of Waterworks Debentures are being exhibited in the window of the Town Clerk's office, I suppose, to remind purchasers that the Council 'is open to borrow. The Jockey Club have had some difficulty in proeurirg a purchastr for tho booth and stand at the forthcoming race meeting. (Those Good Templars must be at the bottom of it.) Mr Dagg has at length accepted the lot for £100,