GORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1912, 13 July 1888, Page 17

GORE.

July 10 —The surest test of the real state of things was given here on Saturday last. A number of sections , some vacant, some with cottages on them, and in various positions in the town and " suburbs "—" — there is not much of an "urbs " yet. by the waywere offered for sale by auction. " Noti a single section was sold, at least not publicly, md so sellers will have to whistle for purchasers unless the former are ready to admit that they have over-estimated the value of their property s. The common habit of owners " sticking out " for their own particular idea of value retards the progress of a small town very considerably. Possible purchasers button up their pockets and go off somewhere else, or *nake other use of their money. One solitary individual came here recently, merely tak'ng the place of another who had Mb. Hp gave out his willingness to buy a suitable sectiou at a fair price. The result ha-3 been quite ludicrous ; about half the sections in tbe town and within a few miles of it have been seriously offered to him at as many hundreds as they are worth tens. Re3ult— no business done, and not likely to be.

Dkpahture.— Mr Godfrey Dacomb, who ha* been a great favourite here for several years, came to the conclusion not a week ago, after careful consideration, that New Zealand as a whole and Gore in particular was " a good place to live out of " (as our Yankee friends would say). With characteristic promptitude he packed up his traps on Thursday, quickly departed ou Friday, leaving his furniture to be sold on Saturday, and by this time has probably reached half way to Melbourne. Nothing surprises us in this part of the world ; the only thing that could possibly surprise us would be if the regular supply of surprises ever came to an end. Mr Dacomb's departure reminds one of a bit of the " curate's model sermon"' on Mother Hubbard, which created such a laugh some years ago. "No, my dear brethren, she neither ran, nor hopped, nor skipped, nor jumped, nor flew — she merely went ! " Risking Carnival.— The Gore Crirket Club, shrewdly taking advantage of the rinking mauia, got up this affair for last Friday. A number of ladies very generously found a good supper free gratis for nothing, and the fun began at S. The fancy dresses were very pretty and amusing, and the place was crowded ; the band occupied the middle of the hall, and the rinkists rinked round them till 10 o clock, when skates were taken off and shoes put on for dancing, which was kept up the usual length of time. The cricket club will probably pocket fulty