LOVELL'S FLAT

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 13

LOVELL'S FLAT

(from our own correspondent.)

The examination of the Lovell's Flat School took place on Thursday last. The Inspeotor pounoed down very suddenly this year. He only gave two days' warning that he was coming. The schoolmaster and scholars were thus taken at rather a disadvantage, and the sohnol was inspected in its ordinary every-day oondition. Under the circumstances, it must have been very gratifying to Mr Youngson (the schoolmaster) to see his pupils acquit themselves bo well, and to hear the laudatory remarks ofJMr Taylor when the examination was concluded. Nearly all the scholars on the roll were present. Trout-fishing in Lovell's Creek has not been gone into very briskly this season as yet. The only visiting sportsmen that I have heard of were a party of four from Balclutha, who were out during part of an afternoon not long since. They, however, met with rather indifferent success. In fact, when they had rolled up their tackle and met to compare notes, they found that they were just three short of having one fish apiece, or abaut one and a-half pound of trout between them. As a contrast, and to show that fish are not scarce in this stream, I may mention (on undoubted authority) that a local sportsman who was out the same afternoon landed seven trout. One was returned to the creek ; the remaining six were beauties. Sportsmen, however, visiting Lovell's Creek have more than ordinary difficulties to contend against, as either bank of the stream where trout is to be got is covered with a thick growth of flax and mikamik scrub, so that ambitious disciples of the celebrated Isaak, in place of catching fish very often get their fly-lines and hooka caught. A quantity of grain is being sent by waggons from Begg's Hillend station to the railway station here, and forwarded thence by rail to Milton. This makes trade rather brisker at this railway station than is usual at this time of the year.

The weather continues favourable, and the coming harvest prospects are still very bright. A very sad accident oocurred here on Sunday morning last, resulting in the death of a. little girl two years of age, daughter of Mr Frank Dolan, of Elliot Vale, near Mount Misery. It appears that the little girl and her brother, sged four, were left in the house together while their parents were attending to some duties outside. During their absence the clothes of the girl caught fire. The parents, attracted by the children's screams, lost no time in extinguishing the flames ; but they arrived too late to save the child. Dr Stewart was at once sent for, and did all he could, but death relieved the poor little sufferer sometime during the evening.