ONE-TREE POINT.

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

ONE-TREE POINT.

February 2. — An ex-One-Tree Point resident tylti a pionesr of the sinewy ol&es passed away on

j Saturday, the 23rd ult., in tbe person of Mrs Edwin Townshend, of Mataura Deceased 1 arrived from Scotland in 1862, and bore the brunt of colonisation in this district for many years, ultimately settling at West Plains. Some years ago Mr Townshend purchased a large area of the Waimurau block, on which the remaining members of the family yet res We. Deceased made habitual visits to this district, keeping warm her feelings of unvarying friendship with her former acquaintances, and on a recent visit was apparently as halo and hearty as ever. Palpitation of the heart was the immediate cauße of the demise of one who had just turned the corner of half a century's summers, and one always genial and amiable in her disposition, and thoroughly gennine in her neighbourly esteem. I hope tha be caved ones— a husband with five sons and a daughter — will graciously accept this small tribute of sincere sympathy. Land. — 'I he Government and the local authorities have been moved in the direction of eradicating the Californian thistle and ragweed — very common pests here— and steps are being taken accordingly. Section 74 of the Loanend village allotments, three miles south of Woodlands, will Ijs open, for selection on lease in perpetuity on February 11. The area is 18 acres and the rent 2s per acre per ur.nuin. Road Board .Amalgamation. — A committee interested in tbe matter circulated about 13 petitions on general election day for the merging of the OberAtbika Road Board in the Southland i-ounty, and the thoughtful project is reported "to be a decided success, eight petitions being sufficient to secure 'the majority of ratepayers and amount of rateable property required by the Counties Act for amalgamation purposes. It is the opinion of many that the council will not accept petitions if boards be in debt; but this is not the case. Where there are no special loans for specific works, and where the ordinary rates could in themselves wipe off the debt, the council is within its rights in merging, and in the present instance, where the people are so unanimous And the debt, onlr about £180, tbe way is clear. Tho idea that the board could r-lunge the district into dfibt and baffle the merging carries no weight. The board would be as much responsible hs if the Government were to sink the colony in debt on the eve of a general election or before leaving office. A return is to be asked f-r showing the board's expenditure between December 4 and the day of presenting the petitions. K.A.S. — A meeting of the Kennington Athletic Society was held on January 23. when the balance sheet, showing a surplus of £5, was adopted. Two fureotons were struck off the roll and votes of thanks pissed to tbe different , individuals who assisted to make the tports a ! success. After routine business had been dis- ! posed of a smoke concert was held, Air Grant, Invercargill, supplying the puffing material. A supply of eatables and drinkables assisted to make things merry, and toasts, speeches, and j Bongs followed in humourous etyle. The singing iof Auld lang syne" ended the enjoyment at 1 midnight. , Works.— The Woodlands Boiling-down Works opened on Friday, and the supply of rabbits kas ! excelled expectations. The resuming; of operaI tions will benefit the district generally, and the farming community in particular. The Benjamin Edwards Blackamithiag Company has gone into liquidation, and the plant is advertised for sale.