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Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 21

FORTROSE.

July 18. — The annual ploughing match came off on Friday afternoon, on the farm of Mr E. Logic. The day was a very fine one, although the weather previously had been anything but promising. Only nine ploughs competed, as against 11 last year, but there was keen competition in the champion class. Mr J. Beaton had a booth on the ground. The annual dinner was held after the match in Beaton's Hotel, and the after proceedings took a strong political turn. The meeting was decidedly of the opinion that the policy of the present Ministry was a progressi ye one. After the .speeches were done, the ploughman held a ball at which all present enjoyed themselves. The following is the result of the match : Champion Class. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. (Reid and Gray"| J.Milne • ... Self -< with Gardiner V 1 [. mounts. J W. D. Milne ... „ „ 2 R. Smith ... „ Reid and Gray 3 R. Paterson ... „ „ 0 H Smith ... „ „ 0 Class B.— Senior D.F. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. C. Christie A. Christie Reid and Gray 1 A. M'lntosh J. M'lntosh „ 2 Class C— Jun. D.F. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. J. Gregory Mrs Gregory Reid and Gray 1 Digger Ploughs. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. S. Clark ... Self Howard 1 The prizes were liberal, and there was also a good special prize liat. The winner of the champion — viz., J. Milne— in addition to other prizes won a handsone silver cup of the value of sgs, but this prize has to be won twice, not necessarily in succession. Mining. — The Six-mile Beach dredge has been getting good returns, but the Waipapa has not struck it rich since the time she was washed up the beach. Then she was on good gold, but since then she has not been doing very well. I hear the dredge is being worked on tribute by the men. If so, it is to bo hoped they will make a decent wage. COUNTRY ITEMS. Short news paragraph* for this column are invited from aorre ■pou'leuts and others Post Cards may be used. The Rev. W. Panton Brown, of Waikaia, is in poor health, aiid it is thought that a change of air will be necessary to enable him to prosecute the Work connected with his charge. Mr Wm. Todd, the well-known Invercargill auctioneer, says that never in the annals of Southland has there been such solid prosperity as at present, and this is only a foretaste of the glorious future. A pair of horses belonging to Mr Preston, of Forest Vale, Fortrose, bolted the other day while Mr Preston was opening a gate, and before they could be stopped the trap was considerably iniured. The Victorian farmers are up in arms against the proposal of the fellmongers that an export duty of Id per lb should be imposed on sheepskins. They declare that tha effect of such an impost would be to nullify the protection they have just secured in the shape of a stock tax,

A tale of wanton cruelty iv thus told by the Paluatua Star :— " A shocking result of the evils of overstocking is now to be seen on a section on the Tiraumea North road, where dead sheep in. hundreds are scattered about. Apparently the ; unfortunate animals have been slowly and surely starved to death, the land being eaten as bare as if it had been scorched by fire, and even the bark' of the young growth devoured. Captain Donald, of the Riversdalo Rifles, had sent iri his resignation, owing to tho state of his health and his eyesight being so much impaired that he doe s not feelequal to Bis duties. Miss Morley, sister-in-law of Mr T. R. Carroll, was thrown from her horse a few days ago. Retaining her hold of the reins, she was dragged some distance, and finally pulled the horse over her, the animal treading on her several times. She was unconscious for several hours, and even at latest accounts was in a precarious condition. The Wyndham correspondent of the Southland Times says that the Edendale factory still runs on, and has a large express running to convenient centres to pick up small lots of milk from the farmers winch would not otherwise pay to take to the factory. It is a case of the company meeting the settlers half way, and the price is a paying one when milk is practically taken from the door. The Taieri Advocate understands that a number of Dunedin gentlemen are interesting themselves in the mineral springs at North Taieri, which they think can be turned to some profitable use. Another method of cleaning fruit trees and destroying their numerous parasites is at the dis posal of fruit-growers. The method has (says the North Otago Times) been tried in Oamarn by several fruit-growers for some time past, and appears to have been very efficacious. Dissolve lib of caustic soda in four gallons of water, and spray on to the trees. Caustic soda is comparatively cheap, and if it is all that is said of it, it is worth trying. In answer to several inquiries as to the specimen of Moody's Quartz Crushing, Amalgamating, and Gold-savmg machine, being made to the order of Mr Charles'Coote by Messrs A. and T. Burt, we may mention that it will be finished in 10 days. Mr Coote informs us that he has a week|s supply of quartz to commence with, so that in the time mentioned_ those interested will be enabled to see the machine at work.