ST. BATHANS,

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 17

ST. BATHANS,

(from our own oobbespondent.)

December Bfch.

One of the oldest residents of St. Bathans— , Mr Samuel Hanger — departed this life on the evening of Wednesday, 3rd inst., at the age of 49. He leaves a widow, two sons, and tw© daughters to mourn their 1033. He had been ill for some months, but during the last week or two his sufferings were great. , Mr Hanger carried on business as a blacksmith, and for many years also was proprietor of the Vulcan Hotel, in which, through his genial, kindly, warm, and obliging disposition, he was liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was also remarkable for an inexhaustible fund of dry humour, wh'ch he was never loth to draw upon; and few there are who may at any time have been located on the Dunstan Creek diggings (St. Bathans) but will hear with sorrow of the death of " Sam Hanger,?' ' The funeral took place on Friday, the sth, and was' attended by nearly every adult male in the district, besides women and children. Service was conducted by the Rev. J. Hobbs, Church of England, of which Church deceased was a member. November closed with refreshing showers of rain and a heavy fall of snow on the ranges, benefiting both miners and farmers. The agricultural prospects of this district were never better than at present, and it is to be hoped harvest will fulfil the promise of spring, and in some measure make up for "the miserable crops of last season. We had very heavy* rain here on Saturday night for about 10 hours, and as there was still some fresh enow lying on the) ' mountains, creeks and riyew rose very rapidly, but not high enough to do any damage., *■*':■

In mining matters, more payable ground has been discovered . <in' tha ' .neighbourhood of Vinegar Hill, some parties being still at work prospecting. I notice our County Council hard discontinued the subsidy granted to prospeotors for some months past.