COUNTRY ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 17

COUNTRY ITEMS.

Crops in the Mount Ida district generally are in a satisfactory state. A hut on Mr Maitland'a property, at Clinton, was broken into recently, and £b 15s in notes and coin stolen. The mouth of the Owako river is"Bilting up, and 'the steampr cannot now always get to thejlanding when desired. 1 It is stated that keeping the Oamaru water race in order during the past nine months has cost the borough council about £1900. A shearer named Elliot narrowly escaped drowning in a lagoon on the Beaumont station. He had sunk several Mmes before his mate, Porter, succeeded inresouinghim, A party of six Indies and gentlemen from Kurow recently made the ascent of Mount Domett in about two hours. This is said to be the best time on record for ladies. The fern *nd scrub in the vicinity of the Blowhole (at Catlins) have been wantonly set fire to. A correspondent points out that this tends to loosen the ground, and might causo an accident. • The white orops on the Berwick flat are looking 'splendid, their growth having been prodigious during the past few weeks. Turnips and mangels are also looking healthy, though perhaps somewhat late. The first crop of the present seasons wheat, at Miller's Flat was cut • towards the end of last week. Harvesting operations will bR general throughout that district in the course of another week or 10 days, A seven-year-old son of Mr Henderson, of Milburn. Bwallowed a penny one day last week, and almost cboked. It could' not be removed, and the doc'or had to push it further down to prevent immediate danger. The rain came in the nick of time iv the Waimurau and Charlton districts for the young turnips, potatoes, oats, grass, and other vegetation. Iho oats were shooting rapidly and immaturely, owing to the drought; blight was at work on loose soils. The Lake County Press Bays that notwithstanding the unfavourable spring the loss of sheep this reason was not above the average. The clip has tur.-ied out satisfactorily-better th<»n whs expected,—bnt the percentage of lamb* is i ather low." Mr D. D.M. Burn, M.A., the new assistant master of the WaitakiHigh School, was presented with an exceedingly handsome ep^rgneand a farewell address prior to leaving Hillton (Canterbury), at which place he has been head master for some years past. An Owake correspondent writes :—" Thousands of acres of land have been taken up within the last two or three years, and I have no doubt thousands o f acres rrfore will be taken up within the next two or three years if the land is only classified and surveyed." in auditing the Vincent County Council's accounts the Auditor-general disallowed £*sfi -Is travelling expenses. The council decided to c^mmunic^to with the other county councils in Otago with the view of ascertaining if "they contemplate contesting the Auditor-general's} reading of section 105. " Counties Act 1886." An extraordinary local flood occurred at Quartz Reef Point, near Cromwell, on the *i2nd v.\t, fn the space of half an hour dry creeks wero transformed into large rivers, and immense boulders wero swept away by the current. It is supposed to have resulted from the breaking of a waterspout en the range above tho Point. The Otaria road district is petitioning to be merged into the Southland County Council. Those signing the petition are wiling to pay a special rate of £d until the board's present liabilities shall have been extinguished. The lialilities are rat her heavy. and upon that account only could the oounfy council object to take the road district under its wing. At Owake the settlers have been carefully gathering cocksfoot grass seed for sowing, and some have managed to garner a good crop of 5i ty without having ha-i ;t;t touched by rain. A l"f »f hvA has been burned off since Christmas; smol«'lns bconnseend-

tott la all directions nearly every day. The gran seed is now lorwn on the burnt ground, and the ralr will finish the work. This means feed for a large* number of cattle, and oonsetraently a greater necea Bifcy for a dairy factory . This is one of the fines* dairying districts in New Zealand, and a factory will soon be a necessity. ' The anntial picnic of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company's employes was held last. Saturday at Forbury racecourse, kindly granted by the D.J.U. for the purpose. The weather aud surrounding* were all that could be desired, and upwards ofoOQ people spent a most enjoyable day's outing. The Ocean Beach aud St, Clair Baths came In for a large share of patronage. The Mosgielßrass Band was in atteudance, and dancing and other amusements werQ heartily indfllged In. The Factory Handicap was won by G. Qunton, 1(a suit length of tweed) j F. Stoddart. 2(a coat piece) ; A. Davidson, 3(a trouner piece). The ladies' Handicap was won by Martha Harris, 1 (a dress length of ladies' tweed.; Lizzie Campbell, 2 (a cardigan vest). The banners displayed the well-known mottos, " Its a' ae* Oft'," " Wo dye to tive, and live to die," "Ye -were naked, and \re clothed ye," " Encourage local industry," &c., Shortly * before the special train left Forbury Mr Dryden ' (mill mauager) called for three cheers for the directors of the company, which was enthusiastically responded to. Mr A. J. Burns, in replying, pointea out the advantages of the good understanding exlsfc* ing between the directorate and employes, complimenting the latter for the success achieved in Melbourne, the company having obtained the firsfc prize for textile fabrics against tho whole world.