PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1585, 8 April 1882, Page 13

PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRKSPONDKST.)

April 3rd. Now that the harvest is completely Hided here tho farmers are buginutn? to thinkof ploughing. A heavy fall of rain is eauerly looked for. I havo noticed sevoral toams in the Held already, and in a fortnight or throe weeks ploughing will doub lws be in lull swing. It is generally believed that the early-sown cr ;ps are the best, for they receive the bonutit of tho winter rain to start with, while thoeo sown about the

end of winter are kept back by the dryness which often characterises our spring months. A very fair programme has been drawn up for our race meeting, which is to be held on sth May, the pi i/.0-money amounting to close upon &'• me race* are for horses within the Waikouaiti County only, r.o horse being allowed to run unless the bonaflde property of a resident within the county fur two montns prior to the race day. L .., The Waikouaiti County have decided to strike a ninepenny rate instead of a shilling one, as was at first intended. „ „ Proceedings are still being taken for effecting a separation from the Waikonaiti County. A meeting of th« committee appointed for the purpose of carrying out all tho necessary details is held every now and then, but tho enUm-iasm with which the scheme was at first hailed seems to have died away. At tho last; meeting, which was held on Friday a letter was rca 1 from Mr Bell stating that ho wished his name to bo withdrawn from the list of those forming the cominitt»e, as he was not altogether in favour f the proposed separation The want of Mr Bell's support will bo deploied by those interested, as he was looked upon a* one of the most influential members of the otnmittee. One of Mr D. M'Leod's fields near Shag Point is at present the scene of boring operations. A company from Dunedin, I understand, is at present engaged in prospecting for coal, and the indications, so far as they have already gone, are considered satisfactory. It is to be hoped that their labours will be rewarded with succeps. At the last meeting of ourßiroueh Council discord arose on nome point or other, and after the close of the meeting nome of the members relieved their minds of their opinions concerning each other ; in consequence of which two of them put in au appearance at the Renident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday to answer a charge of using insulting language. In both ca-es the charges were proved, but the penalties inflicted were not very heavy ones. It is very seldom indeed that our citizens indulge in a little healthy reenmination^ so that the cases in question excited some interest. The weather of late has been neither wet nor dr% but dull and cloudy. It is to be hoped that rain will gladden the hearts of the farmers ere long, for the ground at present is as bard as brick, and nothing les* than a steady downpour for three or four days would have the slightest affect.