WESTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 13

WESTON.

(from our own correspondent.)

March 7th.

The harvest is nearly over here now. Many of the crops havo been very poor. It was tho scarcity of rain in winter and all through the summer that did the mischief. Many of the We crops are very fair, but the average o-'ur tho whoio disfcriuh will not l>r mow ih:m Ah bushels.

A ste.i'ly rain foil here *he greater par!, ,cf Sunday. It was- fail' all Donday, but mined for a .short time on Tiwpday morniii(r. There m a groat deal of building f:oin£ on 5n Oamaru just now ; consequently, the stone ti'ade in Weston is very brisk. A machine has buen invented for shearing tho stone. JJosides the saving of time and labour offected by this machine, a saving of stone is effected. When it was cut in the old way tho suams woro about five inches wide, while now they are only about half that width. Tho machino is worked by steam. I hear tint the invjntor, Mr Murray, is ha\ ing ono made for himself, with which ho will shear for ownors of private quarries. The machine at present working belongs to tho (Umaru S'one Compmy. Tho stone is now an established industry, and tho population is steadily increasing. 1 At the election of School Committee the following gentlemen were elected :— Messrs Jackson, George, lsdale, M'Gregor, Williams, Meek, and Bain. At a subsequent meeting Mr Isdalc was elected chairman ; Mr Jackson, secretary ; and Mr Bain, treasurer. ; At the late o'ection of the Liconsing Committee tho following gentlemen were elected :— Messrs Elder, Jackson, lsdale, Rainforth, and Common. They held their first meeting on Monday, when Mr R. Jackson was chosen chairman.

While spoaking of sohool matters I should have sai<) that the attendance at tho Weston School is increasing rapidly. There are now over 100 scholars on the roll.