COUNTRY ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 21

COUNTRY ITEMS.

Short newi paragraphs for this column are Invited from oorreipondeuts ana othert Foit Cardi may be used.

Mr James Willocks secured three fine stags on the Blue Mountains during the last week of the season.

The Leader's correspondent says that the Kelso rabbit factory continues to make good way, the owner having had to refuse numerous offers of rabbits, as he has more than enough already. The factory averages 25,000 a week, and by the time it closes a sensible diminution in the business should be made.

The Roxburgh correspondent of the Tuapeka Times says that Mr Langmuir, the Government surveyor, is engaged cutting up Run 199 into five Small grazing runs. Some of the residents here would like to see the land offered in smaller blocks, in the interests of close settlement. A petitition is to be sent to the Hon. the Minister of Lands requesting that effect be given to the wishes of the settlers in this direction.

The hot fly is stated to be still working havoc among Canterbury horses. The manager of the late Mr Ruddenklau's station at Rangitata was driving a horse from Temuka when it displayed Bigns of uneasiness, and after being removed from the buggy fell, and shortly afterwards died. It was examined the following day, when the neck of the stomach was found literally choked with the bot fly larvae. The horse previous to Friday appeared in excellent health.

The Hawera Star hears that an application has been received by a Hawera firm to forward to Samoa a trial shipment of potatoes, butter, cheese, hams, and bacon. • The firm in question is not prepared to enter upon the speculation, but, probably there may be others who would be glad to test the Island's market. What is wanted is butter in lib tins which will keep after being opened, and cheese and bacon which can successfully compete with Californian shippers Friday's Lake County Press says:— About a week ago the local Acclimatisation Society prooured four fallow deer from Tapanui (two does, a stag, and stag calf). On Monday last they were shipped on board tho s.s. Ben Lomond, their destination being the Islands, Head of Lake, where they were to have been kept until some more were procured. They wero-landed all right, but unfortunately the stag preferred water to land, and jumped into the lake. Some think the ■stag was drowned, while others believe that he would swim ashore, landing somewhere about the Twenty-five-Mile ; but up to yesterday K nothing more had been heard of him.

The annual report of the North Otago A. and P. Association shows a credit balance at the end of the financial year of L9B 5s Bd. The revenue received during the year was LBOO 18s Id, which, with the balance .of last year, and arrears of subscriptions of 1890, make the total sum to be accounted for LlOls 12s Bd. The ordinary expenditure for the year was L 799 12s 3d, the accounts for 1890 being L 32 4s, which, with the balance in hand of L 39 5s Bd, LSO on deposit, and L 35 paid in law costs, make up the L101512s Bd. The statement of assets and liabilities shows an available balance of Ll7l lls 8d ; but against this, must be reckoned before next show the payment of half year's interest L 56, the rates about L 34, and sundries leaving LBO 9s Bd, including of course the fixed deposit of LSO.

We (Clutha Leader) regret to have to record the death of Mr John Rooney, which took place, after a brief illness, on Wednesday night, Mr Rooney first came to this colony from Victoria with the late Mr Biannigan, and was connected with the fold escort on the Dunstan road for some years, [c afterwards did police duty in Dunedin, then was in charge of the Macraes station, and also at Hindon at the time of the Hindon rush. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of sergeant, and took charge of the, Palmerston district. He was transferred to Balclutha some 10 years ago, eventually leaving the service on compensation. As a member of the police force Mr Rooney had a very good record, and long service. At the time of his death he was 67 years of age. He leaves 10 of a family, several of whom are grown up.

After a hearing extending over three days, Michael Alexander (pawnbroker) and Harold Bey (labourer) have been committed for trial at Napier on charges of working swindles by means of alleged pawned goods. Bey would offer for sale for a small sum a pawn ticket for a ring alleged to be of considerable value, and pawned with Alexander. He succeeded in selling a number, but the purchasers when they redeemed the goods found they had paid four or five times their value. The police seized Alexander's books, but could find no entries corresponding to the pawn tickets. Heavy bail was fixed by the resident magistrate in. each case,