A TRIP TO MIDDLEMARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 13

A TRIP TO MIDDLEMARCH.

As Mr John Grindley, of the Farmers' Agency Company, intended holding a large sale of stock at Cottesbrook station on Friday, he made arrangements with the Railway department to ran a special train to Middlemarcb, guaranteeing that a certain number of passengers would travel by it. About 120 persons accordingly availed themselves of the opportunity afforded them pf taking a trip up the Otago Central railway line as far as the Strath Taieri. Among the number were Messrs A. Grant (traffic manager) and Mr Vincent Fyke. Several ladies were also on board the train, which left the Dunedin station at 10 minutes to 9 am. On reaching North Taieri a number of passengers got on board. The trip to Middlemarch was made in three hours and a-balf, a few passengers being picked up at different stations on the way. Although the weather looked a little doubtful in the earlier part of the morning, it subsequently became very sultry, and soon after Middlemarch was reached the wind, which had been blowing all the morning, slightly increased in violence. The dusb was also simply intolerable during the latter part of the afternoon, and the excursionists did not stay out of doors any longer than was absolutely necessary. Middlemarch is a small scattered village containing a hotel, about a dozen small houses, and the railway station buildings. There is, however, very little land under cultivation in its immediate vicinity. At the present time the country, both at Middlemarch and all the way along the route of the Otago Central, looks sadly in need of rain, having a burnt-up, parched appearance. The visitors were not at all favourably impressed with the country, and many of them stated that they had no desire to see it again. A good many of those who went to Middlemarch attended the sale at Cottesbrook, but the remainder were rather at a loss how to while away the time. What was to be seen conld be seen at a glance almost; then the visitors had to possess their souls in patience until it was time to return homeward. At length the long-looked-for train arrived, all jumped aboard the train and were soon speeding on their way to Dunedin,: which was reached by about a quarter to 9 p.m., the journey occupying three hours.

The Chatham Islands difficulty has been settled by a notice in the Gazette proclaiming the islands exempt from the operation of the Dog Act. This is done under the section giving power to exclude any portion of the colony from the provisions of the act,