COUNTRY ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 20

COUNTRY ITEMS

abort new* paragraph tot thli oolamn are lariUsi from Dorr*, ipondent* and others. Post Cards may be used. The building of a Wesleyan Church at Kaitangata is on the tapii. A site has already been secured. Gbarles ttvans had his ankle broken at Kurow one day last week through jumping from a dray he was driving, the hones having become restive. Tbe Lake County Press says that 1000 cats are being oolleoted in lnveroarglll to be turned loose in the Wakatipu distriot for tbe purpose of keeping the rabbits down. Five years ago 17 weasels were turned out on the banks of the Waiau, opposite Clifton station. The Western Star says that one was killed at Eiverfcon one day last week, 42 miles from the spot they were turned out. We (Oamaru Mail) have been asked by several ! farmers if the sale of 6000 sacks of wheat at 5s 2d recently reported by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company wai bags in. The price was bags 6d extra. The North Otago Times says that Mr Diehl has 17 aores of different varieties of garden peas growing at Tof ara this season. This is tbe largest area under a crop of this kind that we (Times) have heard of in this or neighbouring districts. Bobert Atkinson Beddel, who was killed at Uatlins last week through portion of a tree falling on him, was 28 yeariQf »ge, a native of London, and had only bsen in the colony about a year. He was well connected, and was a very steady, industrious youug man. His sudden death is much regretted. He has a younger brother engaged with the survey party at Upper Owake, and muoh sympathy's felt for him under his bereavement. The Wetherstones School, which is under the charge of Miss Smyth, was examined by Mr Inspector Petrle on Thursday last. The roll number of pupils is 37, and all were present. Twenty-five were presented in Standards I to V, and only two failed. Besult, 92 percent. ; in clan subjects, 72 per cent ; and 85 additional marks. The general report was very good, Mr Petrie being highly pleased at the efficient management throughout. Considerable diversity of opinion (says the Mataura Ensign) exists as to whether or not payable gold is to be found at the Walkaka. Several shafts have been sunk in the vicinity of the township at one time or another. Tbe latest of these is now 70ft deep, and so satisfied are the two practical miners In charge that they are In Dunedin arranging for machinery to cope with the water, which is the principal (or we might say the only) drawback. The proipects so far are satisfactory. The Pukerau correspondent of the Southland Standard, writing of the lambing, says that taking the season throughout tbe percentage is good. From his fiook of Southdowns, David Murray has above 100 per oent. His Leicester also show well. From a flock of 280 orosabreds, Clement Broa. have 100 per cent. T. H. Meeking has 93 per cent, from an equal number. John Crawford, 85 per oent. from 2»0. A few, however, who invested in old cull merinos, because they were cheap, nave not 40 ocr cent. Mr Moorhead, of High street, Chmtchurch, has in his shed a new butter cooler, whioh has been constructed by Mr William Jacques, of Montreal street, Sydenham. The cooling tank oonsists of kauri timber, made water-tight, into whioh a continuous stream of cold water is allowed to run. The water is allowed to stand about 4in deep, and ever it are plaoed trays capable of holding about 3001b of butter. The trays being perforated and the sides being free, the cold air is allowed to circulate over the butter. Mr Moorhead has tested the tank during the last few weeks, and is well satisfied with it. During last week some butter arrived in a very soft state ; be placed it Intljo cooler for about an hour, when he was enabled to remove it in firm oondhion. The Makikiui correspondent of the Waimate Times writess-" The crops in this distriot are looking splendid, the late raim having made a wonderful difference In them. Even tho winter wheat, that many ©f the farmers were pulling woful faces about on account of the grubs making such havoo with it, ie fast recovering in vigour, and as a consequence the farmers faces are beginning to oarry a broad smile. The large blocks on the Otaio estate are looking grand. Mr B. Schlaepfer, Clayton, has some 400 aores of wheat and about 200 of oats, all looking well indeed. In fact all the grain right down to Maklkihi is looking better than it has done toraomo years There is a very large acreage, principally wheat, on the Sherwoed estate. Mr Wm. Qainn has 300 aores of wheat on the east of the Makikihi railway station that has all the appearance of being a remarkably heavy crop. On the west side Mr Thomas' wheat is looking well, although the birds have been very severe on his late spring wheat. In faoMook where you will, you cannot see a bad field of grain, and the knowing ones predict more grain here this season than there has been for the last nine or ten years.