WEST TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1461, 15 November 1879, Page 11

WEST TAIERI.

(fkom our own correspondent.)

Wood side, November 10th.

Nearly the first of any letter contains a description of the weather, and to be in the fashion 1 expect I must begin mine by starting that we are having a continuance of very fine growing weather. For a couple of days we had seme pretty strong wind, driving the dust along the road, and reminding one of the hackneyed description of the road to the Epsom meeting at Home. Mr Peter Grant, of Gowrie, having finished the fiiting-up of his now traction engine, got up steam on Friday afternoon, and in the ' presence of moßt of tha business men and several of tho farmers, steamed from the railway station through the township of! Outram, turning at the National Bank, and thence home. Mr Grant must be complimented on the success of his venture. The engine is one manufactured by Fowler, of Leeds, is six-horse power, and weighs seven tons. Although only put together, and everything of course working stiffly, she did her work splendidly, the steering gear not giving the slightest trouble. Mr Grant fitted her up himself, with the assistance of a fitter, who, I understand, has only lately arrived in the Colony.

At a full meeting of the Waipori Eoad Board, held on ehe Ist inst., the olerk was instructed to write to the factor of church reserves — "That the Board do not acknowledge the right of church trustees to the main district road, and that, as it is distinctly marked in district and record maps, they consider it still under their coatrol," A letter was ordered to be sent to the Commissioner of Waste Lands, requesting him to allow the Board to cniar Crown land at Waipori Riv<;r for tha purpose of diversion ; but I see from the minutes o£ the Wa3to Land Board meat ing that this application has met with some objection, and that the

matter has been referred by them to the Engineer. Accounts amounting to £32 were passed for piytnent, and a contraot amount, ing to £24 was leS in the Clarendon Bubdivision.

Tho erection of r new house and farmsteading ia being proceeded with for Mr Patrick, who has leased Mr Donild Borris's farm. The voiw from the house will embrace the greater part of tho Taieri Plain, and being situated on elevated ground will bo beyond the reaoh of any flood, although we trust the Taieri will now ba saved from a recurrence* of any serious one, seeing that the embankment is finished, and was found during last flood to be efficacious. I notice a correspondent in tho Daily Times, signed '•Fisherman," who discredits "Your Correspondent's" statement about the trout caught in the Lee Stream. I must say that he is very far wrong in his estimate of the fiah taken from thit stream this season. Two friendß of mine a few days ago succeeded in bringing home 28 fine trout for their day's fishing, and they assured me that the flab, rise splendidly both to the natural and artificial fly. Although he may be one ef the disappointed ones, tho writer of tho letter should give credit for what has been done by others more fortunate than himself.

To-day i«s a holiday, and I gee a fow rods and guns havo found thair \ray here by rail. Psrhapa some of the former ro&y be also abla to disprove " .Fisher man's " remaxka.