GORE

Otago Witness, Issue 2007, 11 August 1892, Page 21

GORE

August 9. — Arbor day here passed by as though such a day had never been named, and business was carried on as usual. The only parties who really took any interest in the observance of the day were the members of the Domain Board, who had intended to plant a number of trees. Unfortunately they did not arrive from Invercargill in time to allow of their being planted that day, therefore they will be put in to-morrow afternoon. It appears a pity that the townspeople did not bestir themselves a lit. le more on this question. The mayor certainly did ( all a public meeting in the Town Hall, but it was attended by only some half-dozen people, therefore nothing was decided upon. Still, the Borough Council might have had some trees planted in some of the side streets, and also the dead ones replaced in the main street. The Railway Commissioners have had the reserve ground next the platform nicely planted with tree i of various descriptions. any private residents have also planted a number of trees, shrubs, &c, on their own grounds, and the town will consequently not look so bare in a few years to come. Church of England Social. — This social was held in the Town Hall last Wednesday evening, and was pronounced to be one of the most successful yet held here. There was a large attendance, and the various tableaux were much appreciated, more especially those representing the three graces, "Faith," "Hope," and " Charity," and the very amusing one on the p-obablc effects of the woman's franchise. In this the ladies were seen enjoying all the pleasures of club life, while the men were afterwards seen at home nursing babies, washing, cooking, Ac. Some capital song 3 were sung, one of the best being " Who shall be king?" rendered by Mr Bowler, while Mr J. Knight sang "Good evening," which of course being encored was replaced by "All that glittere is not gold. Altogether a most enjoyable evening was passed, and I hope these socials may be continned through the whole of the season. Opening up ok Land for Settlement.— Some 15,000 acre 3of land in the Forest Hill, Hokonui, and towards Dipton is shortly to be surveyed by Mr Ja3. Blaikie, of Gore, on behalf of the Government, who intend, so soon as the leases of some portion of this land run out, to cut it up into smaller runs, and offer them for public competition. L^xd Sale. — Mr Brewer on_ Saturday last-held a most successful sale of sections of land, each consisting of less- than a-quarter acre. It was the old show ground paddock, situated some little distauce out of the towu, yet for all this some single sections were sold at over L3O leach, and tho whole of this five-acre paddock realised an average of over Llls per acre. lam informed this same land could have been purchased less than 20 years ago at LI per acre, a fact which shows the rapid advance invalue of all land in this township. livery one of the sections found eager biddeis. Sale ok Fakm Stock, &c— The sale held on Friday last of Messrs Fraser and M' Lean's farm, when Mr J..Giindley submitted to auction the whole of the farm implements, live stock, &c., was one of the largest and best yet known in Southland. The attendance was very large, and the bidding most keen, good draught horses fetching over L3O each, hacks up to L 29, &c. There were some pens of fine stud Lincoln and Leicester sheep, these realising from 2gs to 3gs _each. Good crossbred wethers brought up to lfis. All kinds of farming implements also brought exceptionally good prices. The sale concluded amidst the thanks of Mr Grindley for the very large attendance and the spirited way jn which the bids had been carried through, while regret was expressed at the departure from our midst of Hugh M'Lean, who was one of the oldest pioneers of the Mataura district. Mr Ward was also wished every success in entering upon his new enterprise. Aghicultuhe. — Ploughing is now going ahead, and with the grand weather and drying wind at piesent prevailing it should be all the farmer could wish. Lambing, I hear, i.s now becoming general around the district, and this dry weather will suit the "little ones" admirably. Loit.v Gorge Murder. — Some interesting reports are on ;the tapis respecting this tragedy, and I hear the police are in possession of some important {information, which ;I trust 'will soon bring to light the culprits in this dark deed. It is possible that had there been a resident inspector for Southland stationed at Invercargill the perpetrators of this murder might have been in the hands of justice sooner. LECruiiE. — A most amusing and entertaining lecture was delivered in the Town Hall on Friday last by Mr John Rusaell, who described many of the hairbreadth escapes and adventures he experienced when travelling on the banks of the lie! River, in Canada, and paits of America. His many adventures with the wild tribes of Indians were most thiillingly told. The account of his experiences amongst the aborigines of Australia, in the early days and at the time of the first gold rushes to Bendigo, Ballarat, Ac , were most astonishing, and the various dangers ho claimed to have passed through far surpass any Captain Barry can recount. Knapdale Road Board.— At the Gore courthouse on Friday last the dispute existing re the proper constitution or election of this board came before Mr W. H. Reyell, It.M. It appeared that the returning-oliicer, through n clerical error, omitted to state a place for the receiving of nominations of candidates in the advertisement, and a "-atepaycr has instituted proceedings against him on account of this neglect. The information disclosed two offence.>. the second being declaring a certain gentleman elected when no proper election hadbeen held. The R.M. dismissed the information, with costs, as it was not properly laid, there being two offences alleged, not one only. It was asked that a sum bd fixed in the event of apueal, and his Worship fixed the sum at LlO 10s. Tim Fancy Druss Bvll.— This ball, given by a number of ladies, was held last night in the OildfeUows' Hall and proved one of the most successful affairs of the kind jet organised here. The hall was tastefully decorated, aud amidst the ' glow of many lamps the ladies looked met caarmiug in their varied and beautiful dresses atd costume*. The in my lovely dresses were fai too numi rous for me to paiticularise; suliice it sny th it such a colUotion of beauty is raiely to be te< n outside any of our large cities, and Soft ej es looked love to ryes, which spake again, At d all w. Nt merry as a marriage bell. But I must not forgot the gentlemen in my sulmirition of the ladies, for without them it ■uonl.l, to s-iy the least of it, have been a very tame affair. '1 he predoniinint costumes wj;c l aturally naval and military, although there wore many representations of characters of note, etc , and one or two amusing ones. Amongst the latter was a gentleman dressed in a costume of flour bags, with the name of a local linn of inilleis t tamped all over them, and as the v. en' cr was very short and stout, it certainly was t'vj most t.'jtio;ios cct-un he could have chosen. Tin: Iliicnsi-j. — The Bhchwood hounds were to lr.oet here thi.i afternoon, and we wescantcipatiiig a mobt enjoyable run. Many visitors arrived i.i iow.i with the object of joining in the hunt, but unfortunately heavy rain has now set in, and this I fo.n will spoil the whole pleasure of the <! i y. It is on the t"pis that at the termination o." thy season a grand hunt ball will be held in G'lo.