TOKOMAIRIRO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 22

TOKOMAIRIRO.

July 24.— The weather at present is fine, but the roads and land for ploughing and turnips, which were drying up nicely last week, have been rendered unpleasantly sloppy again by the rains of early Sunday morning. I Sad Fatal Accident.— The unexpected death on Sunday week of Mr Thomas Dryden as the result of the blasting accident at the Milburn Lime and Cement Company's works on the 10th insfc. has given quite a shock to the community. Mr Dryden was more or less well known among tho farmers in connection with the lime business, and although practically a working man, was much I respected and liked by all classes for his straight* forward, off-hand, and genial disposition. He was only 41 years of age, and leaves a wife and 12 children (the youngest only eight weeks old) to mourn their loss. With these, it is needless to say, the greatest sympathy is felt. He was a man possessed of considerable energy of character, and was noted for the extraordinary amount of manual labour he was capable of performing. Among the men under him as contractor for quarrying and burning the limestone it was a common remark that he was a good workman who could get through as much work • as Tom Dryden. As a labourer under the Government co-operative system at what a disadvantage such a man as Dryden>would be placed 1 He was certainly as good as three of the average unemployed at pick and shovel work. Poor Tom t Fortunately his life was insured in an accident company for £300. The funeral was largely attended. > > Measles.— This epidemic is nojy very rife in the country, and many of the' schools are closed in consequence. The disease is generally of a mild type. Changes.— That nice farm near Milton known as Springfield, a selection of Mr James Smith, of Greenfield, in the early days, and which has' passed through several speculative hands of late years, has now been leased for botiajlde farming by Mr Wm. Watt, who is an old resident of the plain. Mr Watt's new neighbours turned out in force and welcomed him with a big day's ploughing. Springfield is well adapted for wheatgrowing. Mr John M'lntosh has also leased his farm, which is situated down the Tokomairiro river. This was also among the earlier selections. The new occupiers are Messrs Thomas and David Falconer, whose father's farm is in' tho same neighbourhood. Doctors' Charges.— There is a strong feeling of sympathy here with the move in Parliament to deal with doctors' charges. Ministers need not excuse themselves for inaction on the ground that there is no demand for a change.' It wiU take very little agitation to show,, though latent, how intense that demand could become. Whoever succeeds in allaying the discontent need not' doubt reaping a reward rich in gratitude from at all events the great bulk of country people.