RIVERSDALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 16

RIVERSDALE.

' Mat 14.— Farmers continue to be busily employed carting grain to the railway station, and, every day a .largo number of truoks are coupled on to the ordinary, train .e^-roirfe to D.unedin. &c, besides a "special," which occasionally has a heavy 'cask to perform. ' The'scaroity of truoks and the inadequate storage accommodation 1 has occasioned 'comment of latfl amongst the farming community, many beting inclined tp think ithat it would be, a judicious. step ,f<jr ttie Government to increase the holding capacity df the present' goods 'shed. At all.eyents Id would be a booh Ho mitoy who hiye'been obliged lately to"content tjhemselves with the outside available space, and as a consequence run extra J ri»k.,, The /duties of the threshing mill for., the present season will shortly terminate, ' I learn that the New Zealand Agriwil'tural: Company, have decided to offer any 6? their land which may remain for cropping by ' public aucti6n some time next month.' < ■ '■ ■

Improvements. — A commencement has been made with the .erection of Mr pease's new store,, &'o. The work is being done by a' local contractor, and according to the specifications it must be completed by the endof June. * ' ' VoxxmraßßDrG.— The -interest taken in volunteer matters appears to be reviving. The annual Govern? , ment inspection of the local corps (under Major, Gordon), held, a few nights ago, was. atfcerded by- 49 members, inclusive ''of officers. ,The men were jtat , through'various movements bylSerge'ant-major BlackmoreandLieutenant Pease, and acquitted themselves satisfactorily.. , Bight new members have been proposed and ejected, bringing the total strength of the Kiveradale Volunteers up to over 60. Several valuable prizes have been offered for competition on the ,24th inst. •'."«'■• '

KuNAWAYa.— Some little excitement was occasioned here a few days ago by a couple of runaways. Fortunately, with the exception of a little damage being done to some of, the harness and the, breakage , of the pole of one of the waggons, no serious mie.oh.ief was done. Of late, runaways have been somewhat frequent here, and ib is perhaps advisable to suggest ■ft little more precaution on the part of those in charge of timid horses. ;,• , ,> Athkn-sum.— l am glad to, learn that the AtheBBum Committee have been'successful in collecting Bufficjerit funds to'warrant the purchase, at an early date, of new books,' Ac. > '