COUNTRY ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 23

COUNTRY ITEMS.

Short new» p«»gr»phi fci thli oolnmn tie lirrltel from ooitt •pondenU ana othsrii Port OsiiH mar be nsod.

The Western Star is informed that a white starling is to be seen among a flight of starlings, whose habitat is the vicinity of the bridge. The Christchurch Press says that it has been repeatedly stated that stoats and weasels have been seen in the Oxford bush, and on Saturday a cat belonging to Mrs Rasinussen killed a stoati According to the Clutha Leader the crop of swedes on the farm of Mr Joseph Smith, of Wangaloa, averaged from 30 to 40 tons per acre. He weighed three turnips the other day, which proved upwards of 901b. Two farms on Mataura island were Bold by auction by Messrs Carswell and Co. on the 15th inst. at good prices— section 6, containing 114 acres, brought £7 per acre, and sections 7 and 8, containing 201 acres, £7 10s. In each case the bidding started at £5 per acre. FatsneepfromtheSouthCanterburyandOamaru districts are flocking in steadily to the Addington market (says Straggler, in the Press). I saw some consignments last week from south of the Waitaki which owners were not, I think, justified in supposing would pay them forthe long journey. The fencing stakes seized by Ranger Campbell in Woodlaw forest on the ground of having been illegally cut, were sold by him at Eastern Bush on the 18th inst., for (£2l. The individual who attempted to evade payment must regret his action as the royalty would only have amounted The Geraldine Farmers' Club have passed a resolution t« the effect that the member for the district be' informed that in the opinion of the Geraldine Farmers' Club the Noxious Weeds Bill will be unworkable and ruinous to the farmers and they hope that he will do his best to prevent it becoming law. The Oamaru Mail states that a young man named Recce met with a nasty accident at Benmore station on Friday, the 14th inst. He was working a circular saw by candle light and got two of his fingers cut off and a piece of bone wedged into a third one. He was at once brought down to Kurow, where he has remained since under the care of Dr Stevenß. A correspondent of the Witness describes Central Otago as " a tract of country of more than 100 miles square, which, after giving the first great impetus to the prosperity of New Zealand 30 years ago, and thus making possible the building of most of the railways, harbours, and other public works at present existing in New Zealand, is still left to languish in partial ruinand decay for the want of its fair share of these same railways and public works." . The Department of Agriculture have issued a circular giving notification of a very considerable modification in the Noxious Weeds Bill. The whole of the noxious weeds enumerated in schedule B have been deleted, leaving the bill to deal only with the following :— Bathurst burr, Noogaora burr, blackberry, broom, gorse, sweetbrier, Canadian thistle, giant buadoch, and Star thistles. "Agricola's" comments on the bill .were printed before the receipt of the circular, so that we were enable to mention in " Rural Topics " the change decided on. The Tapanui Courier says:— Mr Dugald Ferguson'B many friends will regret to learn that .he is at present incapacitated through an affection of the eyes. Some few months ago, Mr Ferguson set out with a consignment of 2000 copies of his publication, "Bush Life in Australia," in the sale of which, at the reduced price of 4s 6d, he was meeting with great success ; and, within the last month, he has also added a small volume, containing a collection of local rhymes, to his larger work. With such an amount of literature on nandto dispose of, it is exceptionally unfortunate that Mr Ferguson's eyesight should have failed him, and from latest advices, we learn that he is at present in Dunedin under treatment, but without much hope of a speedy recovery." A very successful concert was given in the Volunteer Hall, Anderson's Bay, last evening, in aid of the building fund of St. Michael's Church, ' the hall being very well filled. The programme opened with a string quintet by a quintet party under Mr Robertshaw. The same performers subsequently played Boccherini's minuet, which they were compelled to repeat. Solob were contributed by MLisses Morris, North, and Treseder, and by Messrs W % J. Strong, F. Oakden, H. Martin (with banjo accompaniment), and Pasco— all being warmly encored, Mr Oakden's character song and Mr Strong's "Father O'Flynn" bringing down the house. Miss Bell fairly took the audience by storm with her Scotch story, "Tibbie Leerie," for which she • was"; encored. Madame Winter contributed a pianoforte solo, for which she was encored. The came lady also played two pianoforte duets with the Misses E. and Teresa James. Miss E. James contributed a piano selection from "Maritana." Macaulay'B Lay of the bridge" was recited by Mr A. R. Barclay with much vigour and effect. The programme ended with the National Anthem. The hall was beautifully decorated with flags and evergreens, the stage especially being very neatly arranged as a drawing room. AH the arrangements were perfect, thanks to the untiring exertions of the Ladies' Committee. In the unavoidable absence of the Rev. J. P. Fallowes, Mr John' White' occupied the chair, and at the close proposed votes of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen (many of whom had come from town) who had sung and played, and to the Concert Committee.

Mr Cornelius O'Driscoll, a former resident of Dunedin, died in Napier on the Bth inst. Born in County Cork in 1826, the deceased landed in Victoria in 1853, and seven years later came to Otago. He afterwards went to Hokitika, but returned to Dunedin, and some years ago removed to the north. He leaves three sons and two daughters. In the!J Cambridge Mathematical Tripos, honours list, now to hand, which appears large and to include the names of 10 ladies from Newnham and Gitton Colleges, occurs the name of Mr George Arnold Ward, of Emmanuel College, eon of Dr John Ward, of Ophir, Otago.