BALD HILL FLAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2056, 20 July 1893, Page 22

BALD HILL FLAT.

July 17.— The frost seems to have broken up during the last week, and the weather consequently is a little milder, but it will be some time before the races have thawed out enough to carry water, even allowing that we have no more frost. The Rabbits.— Things in general here are very quiet, most of the mining population being idle. Babbiting is, however, carried on with energy, gangs of men being 'employed all over the district poisoning. Grass was never so scarce in this place before, and even the rabbits have a bard time trying to eke out an existence, and. all the scrub is barked to a height of sft and 6ft by them, while most of the rabbits caught are in very low condition. How the poor sheep will put in the early spring months.islhard to foretell, as numbers are dying already. Electoral.— Although several candidates have declared their intention of standing for election to the House of Representatives, still we are not satisfied, and would like to hear more about them. Of course Mr Pyke's views are pretty well known, as are also those of Mr Valentine, if that gentleman intends to stand. Mr Rawlins is evidently no friend of the present Government, and as he is silent on the question of education it is a hard matter to say what bis chances are. I predict that if Mr Pyke runs in the Government interest in the Tuapeka electorate as now constituted he can give weight and a beating to all comers, his friends in at least the upper portion of the electorate being legion, and his opponents being entirely unknown. In spite of all that is said and written to the contrary, the present Government is fairly popular with the small farming and mining settlers that populate it. , Entertainments.— Donald Dinnie's Variety Company paid us a visit about a week ago and were appreciated by the audience, to whom a show of the kind was somewhat of a novelty. — 1 he Bald Hill Plat Quadrille Club hold their gatherings every fortnight, and are having a very successful season, it boing the only amusement to.be got outside of the hotels in this isolated place.