LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 25

LAKE COUNTY.

January 30. —Harvesting has begun, and, as might be expected, ih« light cropß are coming in lirar. consequently complaints and ominous prerlictioais »re rife, which, however, will change to brighter views a* soon as the heavy crops are being cut. Jmt now we are having some more wet and boisterous weather, which does not help on harvesting. Yesterday was wet and stormy, with a low thermometer, but to-day there is a decided improvement. As soon as the weather takes up harvesting will become general, while in the earlier portions of the district about Gibbston it is already over. New Fencing. — Messrs Jones, Burton, and Co., of Liverpool, England, are briugin? out a new kind of fencing termed " expanded metal fencing," which may be recommended to colonial farmers and settlers, as it has many advantages over the ordinary wire netting. The new fencing material is made of steel, and being solid in the joints of the meshes, is perfectly rigid, and being also provided vrith a solid top bar, requires no nailh or wires to keep it up or keep it in place. It ia manufactured iv panels ready to be lecured to posts, and is far tnore easily erected than any wire netting, while In appearance it is quite ornamental, which is more than can be said for the netting. Sheep and cattle hurdle* are also made in tbe same manner. The price of the expanded metal fencing is from Is 81 per running yard and upwards in Liverpool, but ■when it is considered that the strandß of the meshes arc an eighth of an inch thick and that they will out last half a dozen wire netting:), and cauße no trouble in repairs, the metal fencing in the cbe&pest in the long run * Masonic —Tbe installation of offices of tbe United Lake Lodge of Ophir. Queenstown, and Lodge Arrow KUwinning took place at Queenstown on Tuesday lanfc in the lodge of the local body, which is one of the oldest in New Zealand, being erected and opened upwards of 30 yearn fIRO. There was a large gathering of the brethren of the two ledges, augmented by a goodly number of visitors from different parts of the colony. The members to be installed as W.M.s were Bro. J. A. Rei 1 (Lake Lodg«) aod Bro. W. Stepbenson (Arrow Kilwinning). The R.W.M. and superintendent of Southland, Bro. M R. Bice, acted as installing master, and P.M. Bro. S. W. Wilson (Lake Lodge) as director of ceremonies. »The following brethren also assisted : — P.M. Bro. K. Gerstenkom, Lodge Southern Cross, Invercargill ; W.M. Bro. P. A. Duncan, Lodge Harvey, Gore ; and P.M.'a Bros. G. Mullin, W. Mehaffey, and J. Salmond (Lake Lodge). After the ceremony of installation of the W.M. 'a of tbe respective lodges the following members were invested with the badges of their several offices :— Lake Lodge ot Ophir— S.W., Bro. J. M'Neil ; J.W., Bro. S Karrant ; treasurer, Bro. J. Salmond, P.M. ; secretary, T. Gilniour, P.M. ; S.TX, B-o. A. Frazer; J.D.,' Bro. R. Okapmau ; 1.G., Bro. J. Farrant ; and tyler, Bro G. Mullin, P.M. Lodge Arrow Kilwiuninß— S.W., Bro. G. Stoddard ; J.W., Bro. R. Lawton ; treasurer, Bro. W. T. Tait: secretary, Bro. G. H. Romans ; and tyler, Bro. C. Hay. The usual banquet followed the ceremony, interspersed by songs and music by tbe brethren, and brought a very pleasing and auspicious event tc a close