THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1777, 12 December 1885, Page 12

THE COUNTRY.

The "Vincent County Council have decided to inform the Government that if the vote of £3500 made by Parliament is placed unconditionally at the disposal of the council they will agree to build the Cromwell bridge.

The Tapanui Show held on Friday last was largely attended, and the stock shown were, as a rule, of excellent quality. There was a slight decrease in point of numbers, but taken all round the show was one of the most successful yet held in the district.

The Clutha Leader reports the death of Mr Alexander Mitchell, Wangaloa, which took place on Thursday. Mr Mitchell has resided in Wangaloa for about 23 years, and has occupied the position of clerk to the road board for many years.

Inspector lV.lrie's report on the recently erected Pa.ln.rr-i ton District High School is very favourable. He concludes by stating that for a first year the results of teaching of the higher subjects are very satisfactory. Latin, French, and geometry, though not very adadvanced, have been taught with great care and thoroughness, and he has every confidence that the results in English and Algebra will soon reach an equally satisfactory level. The committee have passed a resolution congratulating the teachers on the result of the examinations.

A meeting of settlers interested in securing the construction of a railway through the Waikaka Valley was held in the schoolroom near the township on the 3rd inst. There was a very large attendance, and the meeting, which which was thoroughly representative, was unanimous in its desire to have the 'work carried out as speedily as possible. Messrs G. F. Richardson and C. Cowan, M.H.R.'s, were present and explained the position of affairs. A motion was passed inviting the Minister of Lands to visit the district, and Messrs Richardson and Cowan were requested to use their influence in having the line surveyed before the meeting of Parliament. At the last meeting of the Southland Presbytery Mr Wood reported in reference to the proposed Fortrose mission — "That in view of the difficulty of securing a suitable missionary it was agreed to postpone the establishment of the mission for another year ; but in the meantime he laid on the table an application for a grant-in-aic\ for a church at Fortrose, to be erected npon the church site there, and of which he laid uprn the table plans and specifications, which were approved of. The Presbytery also recommended that £10, promised by the Church Extension Committee for the mission, be allowed Mr Wood, to enable him to provide for the supply of ordinances at Wymlham, when he is absent in providing for distant places. It was agreed not to any alteration in regard to the date of ppening the Synod and the nature of the opening .services.

From particulars given by the Mataura Ensign of the drowning at Waikaia of Charles M'Kinnon, a lad nine years of age, it appears that four boys named Burrows, Stirling, Attewell, and deceased went to bathe in a hole in the Dozne. Only Burrows could swim, and when M'Kinnon got over his depth there was no means of securing him in time to preserve his life. Mr J. H. Davidson, as soon as the alarm was given, was proraply on the spot with a drag he keeps in order to provide against such accidents, and quickly recovered the body. — As showing the danger of boys who cannot swim bathing in pools in rivers, the Palmerston Times reports that a son of Mr Goodwin had a narrow escape from drowning in the Shag River. At a place where lads were bathing there is a deep water-hole, and Goodwin had got beyond his depth, and but for the pluck of W. Dreaver, son of Mr W. Dreaver, farmer, who caught hold of him and pulled him out, the indiscretion of approaching too near the middle of the hole would have had a fatal termination.

The Clutha Presbytery met on the 3rd inst. in bhe Puerua Church for the purpose of inducting the Rev. A. M. Dalrymple, M.A., to the pastoral charge of the Clutha district. There were present Revs. Bannerman, Chisholm, Spence, Inglis, Hall, Currie, and M'Laren, and Messrs Sandilands and Somerville, elders. Divine service over, Mr Chisholm put to Mr Dalrymple the usual questions, and these having been satisfactorily answered, the rev. gentleman was solemnly inducted to the charge of the congregation. A soiree was held in the evening, at which a number of addresses were delivered. Mr John Somerville presented the Rev. Mr Inglis with a marble clock on behalf of the congregation as a recognition of the services he had rendered while moderator of the session. The Rev. W. Banuerman presented a marble clock to Mr James Somerville for his services as leader of the psalmody, and an enjoyable evening was brought to a close by votes of thanks to those who had provided towards the evenings enjoyment.

A general meeting of committee of the Taieri Horticultural Society was held at Mosgiel, on the 3rd inst., Mr James Miller occupying the chair. The secretary explained that the meeting was called for the purpose of electing a sub-committee and making arrangements for the forthcoming show. The election of judges was then proceeded with — one to act in each class, a fifth judge to be appointed in case any of the classes should prove too heavy for one to overtake. The following gentlemen were appointed, subject to their acceptance, the committee to elect in which class they should be asked to judge : — Messrs Martin, Sonntag, Reid (curator Botanic Gardens), and Gordon ; emergency — Mr Edwards. The following 13 gentlemen were elected as a sub-committee to carry out the arrangements on show-day: — Messrs W.L. Christie, A. Tait, Purvis, J. Melrosp, Wm. Sinclair, John Brown, John Dryden, Wm. Fairley, J. Fraser, Wm. Smith, John Turnbull, Alex. Sinclair, and D. Mackie. It was resolved that the judges have full power to cut all vegetables and fruit when thought necessary. It was decided to request the services of the Factory Operatives Brass Band to play outside the hall during the show, and to hold the judges' dinner in Vannini's Hotel.