COURNTY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11808, 10 August 1900, Page 7

COURNTY NEWS.

(Fhoji Quit Own Co-respondents.)

TAPANUI.

August 7.—The weather during the past week has been perfectly springlike, and quite a, treat after so much frost .and cold. The days are rapidly lengthening, and all outdoor work has been carried on at high pressure. It is wonderful how quickly the farmers make up for a few weeks' lost time when they get a straightahead go at the work, and if wo are not treated to a second edition of winter in September or October the season should not be so late as was anticipated.

Poultry Show.—l am informed there is a splendid entry for the annual poultry show on Saturday next, and given a fine day there is sure to be a good attendance of the public, ihe secretary is making every effort to promote the success of the exhibition, and the hundred and one little details may be expected to be carried out in first-class ordei.. Mr James Robertson, of Dunedin, will act as judge. Spring Lambs.—A few early lambs are to be seen in paddocks near the township, and there is promise of roast lamb before the usual Christmas season. Church Organ.—As a result of the last sale of work, the ladies of All Saints' Church congregation have purchased a new organ at a cost of something like £60,- and the instrument has. arrived. It is expected to be in use on Sanday next, when the pastor (Rev. A. R. D. Tosswill) makes his monthly visit..

MILTON. August 7.—Captain Dunkerley, of the Salvation Army, who lias • been in charge for the past six months arid who has proved an exceedingly popular officer, has been removed to Kiverton. His place here has been taken by Captain G-unn, of Gore. Presentation. —On the occasion of her leaving Scuthbridge to take up the position of matron at the Palmerston District High School, Miss Sinclair, 8.A., was the recipient of a handsome gold watch from her many friends in the district. During her residence at Southbridge, Mies Sinclair has carried out her duties in a most painstaking manner, and Mr G. I. Martin, chairman of the school committee, in making the presentation', leferred to her in very complimentary terms. Miss Wilson, of Saddle Hill, has been appointed to the vacant position'at Southbridge. . ■ Obituary.—Another very' old settlor in the district passed away at his' residence, Atwell Farm, yesterday morning, in the person of Mr John Porter. Mr Porter came to the .colony in the early sixties, and shortly afterwards commenced farming .pursuits in the South Tokomairiro district, where he has resided ever since. Being naturally of a quiet disposition, ho did not take a very active part in public affairs. He was for a long time, however, an active member of the Farmers' Club and was last year elected a life member of that body in recognition of the many services he had rendered during his long connection with it. He was also a Forester of many years' standing. Mr Porter had been in indifferent health for some months pa-st, and a short time ago took a trip to the North Island. This did not, however, effectthe desired improvement, and he gradually became weaker, passing away on Monday morning, as stated above. Mr Porter was of a kind and obliging nature and was much esteemed by those with whom he came into contact. ' He leaves a, widow and grown-up family of seven sons and two daughters to mourn their

Foresters.—The thirty-fifth anniversary of Court Bruce, A.0.F., was celebrated on Friday night by a highly successful social held in the Skating Rink. The attendance was very large—in fact, judging from the way in which the large hall was filled, there must have been close on 150 couples present. "Representatives from the local lodges of Oddfellow's and Hibernians were present, as well as the majority, of the members of Court Dickson (women's lodge). The scene at times was very animated, the beautiful ribbons worn by the Foresters blending nicely with the handsome dresses of the ladies. Excellent music was provided by Messrs Wilson (piano) and Bates (violin) while the dxities of M.C. were carried out by members of the Court, prominent among whom were Bros. Jones, Burn/5, M'Clymont, and Boyle. A word of praise is due to the committe^ for the very tasteful way in which the hall was decorated. In keeping witl>. the prevailing sentiment, .the national nags and portraits of war celebrities occupied a prominent place. The whole affair was by general consent voted to have been one of the'most successful oil'its kind hold in Milton for some tiw?.

AHURIRI. August 4.—The first month of spring has been ushered in by the most perfectly seasonable weather. . It has been just delightful. The roads, however, are not quite on a par with the weather. These will doubtless improve as summer approaches. Agricultural.—As a result of the last season's .threshing, a similar yield to that of previous years'repaid the farmer's industry. , The turnips in this district ore a very good sample. Mr Smith took the first prize for a ten-acre field. i

Clearing Laud.—Bush-whacking will very likely soon be the order of the day. The amount of bush removed in one season is quite a marvel to the uninitiated. The fires are doubtless excellent auxiliaries.

CAMBKJANS. August 13.—The frost having broken up, the miners have now made another start in their ciaims. It is not often that the claims around this district commence so easily after so hard and severe a winter as the last proved to be, for most of the old settlers here agree that this winter was tlie coldest they have experienced. That being so, the demand for coal was great. The Old Welshman's Gully pit has changed hands, having become the property of Messrs M'Guckin Bros., who have bought it from Mr O. Hughes. The figure, I. hear, was good, and the M/G-uckms arc sanguine that they will make it pay. My own opinion is that ifc is a valuable property if worked systematically. The owners acquired previously the water right belonging to Mr J. Davis, and they have now two-thirds of that valuable property known as Davis's water race, and intend as soon ass they can get the old water race north of Stedard's cleaned out and put in order to work the pit by suioing the surface stuff and putting it through the elevator. To do that profitably, however, I think they will have to acquire the third interest, 'which is owned by Mr S Morgan. However, I admire their pluck because they will do their level best to load every dray that comes to the pit. Accident-Mr Samuel Morgan, an old miner, had a serious accident while working in his claim on Tuesday, August 2 He had just returned from mending a break m tfie race, and had started work after dinner, when a fall of or.rth occurred, pinning him m the tailracc. Morean who was alone in the claim, extricated himself from wider the face, and in doing so must have put his leg out at the knee. Me lay for come time at the side of the race, when his son, who was working a couple of hundred yards below him, happened to come on the bank, and as luck had it, turned his head and caught sight of his father waving his hat He carried his father up to tho hut, and went for assistance to carry him home, a distance of about two miles and a-hMf. T »»' pleased to sn.y that under the treatment oC J7r & tollhouse the patient is doing ns well ad can bo expected.

DUNTBOON. August o.—The weather during the past week lias been beautiful, almost like summer. l<ar-. mera are therefore getting on fast with their V,-ork. A change, however; came on bativrclay,

and it has been raining since—a good job too, for the farmer, for the subsoil has not been ; thoioughly wet since the summer oi 1896. j New Church —The erection of the new church | is petUut; on very slowly. The foundation I Bloue is to be laid by the Bishop of Dunediu j on or about August 15. Creamery.—The farmers met here on Tuesday last to see about the erection of a creamery in connection with the Pukeuri dairy factory. Alter a few short addresses by three delegates from Ilu> rukeuri dairy factory and one or two local farmer- they decided to form a committee to canvass the district for shares and cows. I think the farmers will gladly take up the number of shares, and that there will be qa ample number of cows.

DUNBACK. August O.—A public meeting was held in the < schoolhouse on the evening of July 28 for the purpose of taking steps to prospect for coal I Jaid to exist in the district. Apparently owing to want of publicity the atendance was small, our/ about a dozen being present. After a discussion a committee was elected, of which Mr j.' Mills was appointed secretary, to gather all necessary information from the Minister for Mines as to the mode of procedure, and also to apply for the nee of the Government boring reds. It appears that about 14 years ago some _ miners from Shag Point sank at least two shafts, and got indications of good coal, one shaft being not more than a few hundred yams fiom the township. Since then nothingJias j been done in the matter up till now. Mr ,T. j Drummond, Waynestown, is the mover in the ' matter at present. Cricket.—The annual meeting oi the J-iun-back Cricket Club was he'd in Gilmour's Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr J. Mills occupied the chair. The balance sheet showed a credit , balance of SX 13s Od. The following worn j elected to fill the various offices for the ensuing j voar •—President, Mr M. Isbister ; vice-presi- < dents—Messrs Tonkin, G. Stovy, F. J. Sulli■van. J. Mills, W. J. Venn, J. E. Glover, A. Battersby, and D. Philip; captain, Mr "W. (). M'Kellar-(re-elected); deputy captain, Mr D. B. Murray (re-elected); and Mr J. O. Gihnoury • secretary." The first .match of the season, | Married v. Single, is to be played on Saturday, j 11th inst. . . • I

•OAMABTJ. August 6.—With the exception of several nights' severe frosts, the winter here has been very open and mild, and consequently farming operations are well 'forward. Stock of all kinds seems to he in demand. Good draught horse 3 find buyers readily at up to £50. Cows to calve shortly are also scarce. i Mining.—Before the present year closes, tha success, or otherwise, of Maerewhenua as a dredging field will bo settled. At the present time one dredge is Hearing completion, and the Premier No. 1 may be expected to put up a record before new year. The latter claim has the reputation of an equal prospect all over, and as the ground has been careiully prospected, success is pretty certain.' A School Flag.—Mr John Maclean (JRedcastle) haspresentel the North School with a handsome liag and pole. The pole has been erected in the school ground, and on Thursday, August 2, a very pleasing ceremony took place, when the flag was formally handed over to the school. '.Railway Station.—The new railway station is nearing completion, and within two months we expect a"gala day at the opening csiemony. '

LAKE COUNTY. Land Sale. —Another land sale, showing the opinion practical men have of the stability of the district, and the value of its agricultural land, was held the other day, when Messrs O'Meara and Co., of Queenstown, offered at public auction the Rotoiti property at Frankton, owned by Mr G. R. Baird, of Bendemere, Lake Hayes. There was a large attendance oE buyers, and the bidding was exceedingly spirited. Draught horses fetched as much as £36 to £37 each; a quantity of oats, 200 sacks, brought 6s 3d per bag. Cows, too, realised high prices; iv fact everything went off at good figures. The farm, comprising 300 acres of first class land, with comfortable dwelling house, and outhouses, was disposed of privately at a very satisfactory price, the buyer being Mr C. Hansen, who has been farming in the neighbourhood for many years with satisfactory results, and being a practical farmer, he will, no doubt, make his new acquisition also a success. Obituary.—Tho surviving earliest pioneer of the district, in the person of Mr Nicholas B. Yon Tunzleman, has been called away at the age of 76 years. Deceased was a native of Poland, and enjoyed a superior education, being master of several living and dead languages. Landing at Dunedin in 1860, he joined the expedition the late G. W. Rees waa then organising to explore the interior of Otago, in comnauy with whom he proceeded in the arduous* task undertaken when the rest of the expedition lost heart and all hope of finding suitable country upon reaching Lake Wanaka. Following up the Cardrona Valley, the two plucky men ascended what is now known as the Crown Range, from the top of which they overlooked the "Wakatipu basin,' mapping out from their elevated standpoint the country, like patriarchs of old, making Lake Wakatipu the boundary between the domains, Mr Raes taking the land on the eastern shore andj.tr Yon Tui'zleman that lying to the west of vne lake. Mr Yon Tunzleman was the first white man who went from Invorcargill to Lake "Wnkatipu, spending five weeks in finding a route practicable for bullock drays. He also laid claim to having been the first white man to see the waters of Lakes Manapouri and le Anau, from an eminence on his route. Battling with uncommon fortitude against almost overwhelming difficulties, for a time he prospered, but the fate that overtook so many of the early settlers came also to Mr Yon Tunzleman. Wha at one time promised to become a, career full of encouraging prospects turned, without any fault of his own, to dead sea fruit, and before t'no end came deceased was destined to Bee several years of bitter trial, fighting for an existence where at the beginning of his career he was monarch of all he surveyed. Mr Yon Tunzleman is survived, by a sister, widow, and family of five, all launched into active life. The -cause of death was an obscure internal disease which affected him for some years. The funeral took place last Thursday at the Queenstown Cemetery. Rev. H. Brooke (Anglican) conducted the service for the dead at St. Peter s Church, Queenstown,. and also at the grave m a feeling manner suitable to the occasion of the demise of one of the two first white men who penetrated the wilds of interior Otago forty years ago.

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

July 30.—During the last fortnight the weather has varied betweeii summor and winter. We had a small snow storm, which, however, did not last long. A farmer was saying to me one day that he did not know what hsxl come over, the weather, as we were getting vo wind nowadays. Scarcely hod he mad<s these remarks than groanings were heard in the west and the wind was jumping like a restive horse in his trates when at last it burst forth, and 'we had a real good old-fashioned wind stcrni. At the moment of writing it is a beautiful spring day, and the grass has commenced to grow. Lnst night, however,. I saw some sheet lightning, which bodes -io grod, and I should not be surprised tn sc-e another stcrm. Meantime, ploughing has i.ecn going on vigorously, and should a storm como we shall be all tlia better prepared for it. Rebellion.—The ultimatum from the Com-mander-in-chief of the Land Board oxtutss tomorrow, and'unless some arrangement lias .been come to, Brigadier-general Hvgnan will cross the frontier on August 1. He has letii seen lately scouting in the neighbourhood. Our local commander and his staff have hit upon a very cunning manoeuvre to outflank the ineiny. They have despatched a delegate to interview the Powers in "Wellington, and I nope J>o will be successful. Should he fail, however, in his peace negotiations, and General riughan get orders to attack, some other course will have to be followed. I would suggest that Geriernl Hughan be banquetted, with pleuty of good o:d Glenlivet.