PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY,

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 12

PALMERSTON AND SHAG VALLEY,

(FROM ODR OWN. OORRBSPOaDBNT.) January. 19, Jottings.— Opening my notebook, in which fnl^ceilaueous collection of entries are to be founVpny eye lights on tbe ward " Paroquets, 1 ' and wore Ito glance out ot tha window Into the garden, I have little doubt but that several of these feathered depredators would meet my vision. We are no axceptioa to the general visitation, although we euger from % milder dose of th.) epidemic than some disti lets appear to do. Some gardens 'have Buffered very much, in spite of a lavish expenditure of powder and shot, and if these birdß cM'ld speak as fluently aa some of their ca^ed brethren, they would soon possess a voc-bulary of very choice epithets, for tbe gatdenei's greeting is not always scriptural. The gardener grows mad whan he 6609 them come, - And he saudeth bi-foie them far from dumb. Ho talks " double Dutch" at the rate of knott),

But they heed him not, nor his furloux ehoti. They comu quite early, and stay viuhb late, And they le»v\> his garden desolate.

Schuol •■> ffuks. Our District High School— we ara food of tho Utle ju-fc now ia undergoing repsirs. 16 has beau added to and patched generally nbnut onco a year for the last ten years until it has attained it 3 p.egent appearance, and truth to tell ibis fearfully and wonderfully made. fcoDDBN i. bath. Mr W. A. Young, f<»inerly of the Shag Vallej Mills, cne c the oldest and best known inhabitants of the district, wast- und dead on -aturday evening by the side uf the tth»g River, near the mill dam. Bis face oul> wj.s lying in the water, aa if he bad merely Ptonped down to drink. His hit waa nt hi- side Her re di ease o a fit was suspected. An inquest was held to day, aud a verdict of " Accident)llf drmvned" wrb returned.

Thb Weather— As regards tho weather I will diamisj"li. with, th.o remark that I ha,7e cociplfcteiy worn out aa OTOKtoatf %s ttuauaw.