SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21033, 23 May 1930, Page 12

SOUTH OTAGO.

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS ■ (From Oub Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, May ■ 22. THE LATE MRS PATERSON. The funeral of Mrs Robert Paterson, whose remains were interred in the Bal clutha Cemetery to-day, was attended by a number of the old residents of town and district. Mrs Paterson was a wellremembered figure in the early life of the Clutha as the young and charming wife of the Squire” of Barnego Flat. She was the daughter of a Methodist preacher, and made a host of friends. Mr Paterson predeceased his wife by about 30 years 11,l l , . iJv™ 3 very shortly after his demise that the purchase of the Barnego estate by the Government was finalised. Negotiations had been in progress for some time before, and the price finally agreed upon was £3 15s an acre, which in those days of high land values would be regarded as very small indeed. After the sale Mrs Paterson and family left to take up residence in Dunedin, where she had resided ever since. A family of seven grown-up children are left to mourn her passing. It is 'curious to recall that of the numerous smallholders who took up Barnego under Government lease,- the only original settler left 'on his holding is Mr Adam King, the well-known breeder of Romney sheep. All the others are either dead or have long since sold out to newcomers. WOOD PIGEONS. Native wood pigeons have made an unusual appearance in patches of bush at Warepa and at various points in the Gatlins district, where they have not been observed for years. In the scenic reserve at Ponnawea some 20 or 30 have taken up a temporary abode. Students of bird life may see in this an omen that to the layman is obscure. OVERFLOW HOUSE. The party of Maori entertainers now the south in the interests of the Methodist mission filled the Oddfellows’ Hall (the largest in Balclutha) to overflowing on Tuesday night, and about 100 people had to be turned away, including quite a number who bad bought tickets. It is said this has not happened here before since the days of Jessie M’Lachlan, the famous Scottish singer.