COUNTRY NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1031, 2 September 1871, Page 16

COUNTRY NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWX COKRE.SrONHENTS.) LAWRENCE.

We have had a succession of violent gales diiring the past week, and parties living in exposed situations have been rendered very uncomfortable by the oscillation of their houses while the wind lasted. A great qiiantity of snow has fallen on the hills in the neighbourhood, and this still retards the supply of waterto the Blue Spur mines.

On Friday last, an accident happened to a miner, who was at work in Morrison and Company's claim. A large piece of cement tumbled down and struck him on the head, causing a wound about the temples. He was insensible for some time, but Dr Haiiey was shortly on the spot and gave good assurance that he Would soon recover from the effects of the occurrence. Mr Hay, auctioneer, had a mishap on the Waitahuna road, by which his leg was somewhat crushed.

Several now buildings are now in course of erection here, and others are in contemplation. Parties arc planting out trees, which will be a great ornament to the township, and farmers are hard at work in the different districts.

GKEEN ISLAND.

Somo months ago I mentioned the success that attended the crushing of the quartz discovered on Mr Christie's property, Saddle Hill, yielding within a few pennyweights of an ounce to the ton. Such a promising return warranted the working of the reef in a systematic manner, and consequently a company was formed, who lost no time in sending for the necessary machinery. The stampers have already been erected, and appear Well adapted for their work. The engine is expected on the groun 1 soon, and no time will be lost in commencing operations. About thirty tons of quartz are ready to be crushed, and although one fails to perceive many specks of gold permeating the stone, still it is of such a colour and texture as to justify the hope that the yield will prove remunerative to the enterprising company.

Up to date, the Meat Preserving Company's establishment has been in full working order, preserving at the rate of two thousand sheep per week, and from thirty to forty head of cattle, employing abo\it seventy people. As a full description has already been given of the buildings and their arrangements, I need only say that the visitor cannot fail to be struck with the cleanliness that prevails, the excellence of the management which pervades all the departments, and the celerity with which the work is performed, Mr Mason, the engineer, obligingly showed me over all tho departments, explaining the processes. Entering the cooling room, there appears thousands of tins containing meat, piled one above the other, ready for packing and exportation, each lot bearing a label to point out the different varieties — beef, mutton, ox tail, tongues, and bouilli. Six per cent., it appears, are spoilt in the preserving, and piles of damaged meat in tins were outside the establishment waiting to be opened and restored to the tallow boilers, as everything is being utilized. The quality of the meat preserved is undoubted, many preferring it to that cooked by the ordinary processes. The tin tested on the occasion of nay visit was most palatable, and considerable quantities of it are being used in the province. There is now a difficul y in obtaining sheep until after shearing time, in consequence of the fortunate advance in the price of wool. Next week the preserving will be discontinued for a aWrt time in order that further additions to, and improvements in, the building an ay 3»e effected.

Evangelising proceedings are being largely carried on in the district. Last week a building has been completed, istyled the Walton Park Mission House, got up by subscription. The opening was inaugurated by a soiree, at which the Rev. Messrs Sutherland, Will, and Watt, and Mr Martin, J.P., delivered .appropriate addresses on religion and morality. As far as I can learn, Presbyterians ;ire to have the use of the building during «©ne part of the day, and Wesleyans and Baptists during the other parts. An elder of Green Island Church gives elementary Instruction during the week to the cliildren in the locality. Messrs Biss and Cole« preach alternately with great acceptation on the other side of Saddle Hill to a considerable congregation, far distant from any place of worship. There is, however, a laiye district extending from Saddle Hill "to the Taieri River where no services are held. The settlers complain that they have not been visited by a preacher for nearly a twelvemonth. The harvest is plentiful and tho -labourers are few, consequently it would be a benevolent act on the part of any denomination to send a layman occasionally to that jeplated and neglected district,

To the no small satisfaction of the farmers, who pay for the deposits from the preserving establishment, the Laridae family have taken their departure, leaving not e\en a solitary kittiwake to represent them. One morning lately, the driver of the cart containing the refuse, was not a little surprised to find such a silence prevailing. After depositing his load, there were no rushes, no clamour or fightings for the tit-bits. He looked in all quarters in vain for his accustomed attendants, and was forced to exclaim, '' I wonder where the gulls are gone to this morning .''' The gulls, however, had business of their own to attend to ; the nestling season has commenced, and they have betaken themselves to their \isual haunts to hatch their young, after which they "will again appear in larger numbei's to contend for cattle and sheep remains, and the no less palatable slugs and worms turned up by the plough.

So far as the season has advanced, the braird looks healthy. There is, however, an absence of heat, which is prejudicial to the quick springing-up of the grass. A few warm days would be most welcome at present. '.'IA'DE. One of your contemporaries published some startling news from this part of the world a few days sinee — a monster nugget found at the Nevis, weighing 170ozs I The welci >me stranger was of respectable dimensions, but in point of fact only weighs about one-tenth of the amount stated. Seventeen and a quarter ounces is about the exact weight, and £63 the net value. The lucky finders were James M'Donald and party. Avho struck it in making their tail race on a claim they hold about '3 or 4 miles from the Nevis township. On the news spreading, several claims were instantly pegged out on the adjoining ground, and the excitement has hardly yet subsided. The nugget lias not yet found a rinal owner. Much eagerness is expressed by many to beome the possesser of the golden prize ; and the Nevis men have suggested that its disposal might be made to yield a handsome contribution to the funds of the Dunstan Hospital. By a pardonable stretch of imagination, it is to be considered a work of art, and bo disposed of by lottery. An unlimited number of tickets will be issued, and all the money accruing over and above the actual value of the prize, will be handed to the Hospital Treasurer. The end fully justifies the means. No hona Me efforts to secure a donation to the Hospital funds can be rejected, now that a diminished revenue is overbalanced by constantly accumulating liabilities.

Conroy's Gully was the centre of attraction to many i>n Wednesday last, the 23rd inst. Jversen and party having completed the erection of their quartz crushing machinery, intimated their intention to start it on the day mentioned. A good many invited and uninvited visitors were there, it being rumoured that

the christening of the machine would be celebrated by the customary libations of No. 2 and " Jock Stewart. The rumour proved a mild sell. Those who came eager and a thirst for free drinks contented themselves, perforce, by draughts from the cooling creek, and returned, as one disappointed swiper expressed himself, "disgustingly sober.'' The machine is a battery of five stamps, driven by a large iron water wheel, and is favourably spoken of as a good specimen of careful workmanship. The stuff at present ready for crushing is soft and mullocky, but the company are putting in a tunnel above the machine, and anticipate striking the solid reef at no great distance from the surface.

Some enterprising Frenchmen are about to make the experiment of lifting water by niachineiy, from the Molyneux, up to the level of the township. The idea has been talked of for years past, but there has never been sufficient public enterprise evinced to attempt the realisation of the many theories and projects set forth. At Jast Messrs Toussaint, La Fontaine, and p.ti't}^ strangers in the district, are about to set a plucky example. They have taken up an extended claim of four acres of ground below the Camp Reserve, next to the sluicing claim of Young and party'; and they have procured from Duuedin the necessary timber and appliances for constructing a water-lifting machine, I believe, on Thomson's principle, which they .anticipate will give them an unfailing supply for sluicing. They seem confident of success ; and if their hopes are realised, mining affak-s, &n long languishing in this district, will receive an immense impetus. From Clyde to Alexandra the whole flat is auriferous^ and the river affords unlimited sluicing power. The weather continues fine here, and vegetation is rapidly developing. The spring race meeting is to take place on the Bth prox. , three days after the Cromwell hack meeting. A good many likely and unlikely nags are in training, and a successful meet ie anticipated,

[HIVERTO>\ The Mary Van Every, from Greymouth, arrived on Tuesday, the 22nd, with a cargo of coal, which she is now discharging.

The weather has been very unsettled lately — a considerable amount of rain and hail, accompanied with heavy gales. The roads are very bad, and trade is dull.

Our new Council have put on their harness. Their first meeting takes place on Monday next, the 28th inst.