CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 25

CLYDE.

FrBRUARY 15.~The weather continues dry and sultry, the thermometer recording 89deg in the shade on Saturday last. The crop 3 already harvested are exceptionally light, and many farmers predict a great scarcity of feed during the approaching winter. It is to be hoped the winter will be a mild one for farmers in Central Ot&eo. Arrival. — Acting-sergeant Dwyer has arrived here to replace Sergeant 11'Leod, who leaves for Chriatchurch on Monday next. Sarare&nt ll'Leod

has been stationed upon the Otago goldfields for fully 21 ye.«s, during which tine he has had occasion to "loughit" in his ofl'clnl rw»ci;y more tha-i once, lift took a veiy keen interest in the affairs of the Acclimatisa'lou !scci<* T y throughout the goldfields, and co ild wi.M tl c supple rod with an ease and g'ace ttiat w.j. truly enviable. Only Humour —The report vl.ich tot •bt">e.<l somehow to tin* rfftct that Sir Wards M***»nhy, S.M., was to lie leiiiovfcd to the ' ri v. >ik* jroldlitlds district turns out to have no tiuth in it, and tharein is tho pLasa- tue<s of the rumour. We don't wish to part with Mr M'Carthy just yet, as the district administered by him at present wan truly in need of just such a painstaking and capable warden. Fact. —The children attending a public school not a thousand mileb distant from Clyde were under examination by the inspector. The reading lesson in a certain clus* related to the Btory of the seaman who, through disobeying the order-? of his superior officer, was in imminent dauger of meetins :<■ sudden and pairffnl death by being torn to pieces by ono of two formidable foes— an alligator ami a tiger. The man had gone to bathe off the ship's side, orders to the contrary having !ieen given the men owing to the water being infested with sharks and alligators. On swimming towards thf shore the man suddenly became conscious of approaching danger, for a huge alligator wjs lashing the water into foam in its efforts to overtake him The swimmer had all but rci'-hed the shore when to hi.s dismay he saw a splendid tiuer approaching with rapid strides and with evideut desire for a quiet meal. The •allkator is just behind the man, the tiger confionts him on shore, and is alreidy crouching preparatory to making that leap which im^t be fatal to the swimmer. Whish ! The tiger did leap, nnsaerl the man, and only succeeded ingoing head iirs'. into the alligator's open mouth. The Utter creature was satisfied, and went back to hi.s Fiibniarine dining room, where no doubt he devouied the tiger with much avidity. The man ro-iohe i the short! in t.afef.y, and, kneeling, returned thanks to Providence for his miraculous i-fcapc from the ptinfut death which had threatened him. Inspector : " Now, children, will any of you name the Providence who saved the man ?" There was a brief silence in the class, and many little fuces were expressive of deep thought. At last an intelligent-looking boy laissd his hand, implying thereby his readiness to answer. lispector: "Well, my little man, who is the Providence who saved the man?" Intelligent boy : "The tiger, sir." A Reply — " Fellow Workman" takes umbrage at my statement re the late James Patterson's life being hastened to its ciose by nln.iholic poisoning, aod goes on to say thnt my comments were likely to cast " undeserved blame oa the police and others for neglect in the matter." 1 nevor blamed any person one way or the other in the matter, but merely stated as a mutter of opinion that a word of caution should have been given Patterson in time to save him indulging to excejs in alcoholic stimulants which hastened his demise Failing Patterson having friends who might interest themselves in his behalf, it wa> the unmistakable duty of the constable in charge to s<-e that Patterson did not abuse himself. An to my casting as>peision3 upon Patterson's character, I had no idea of doing so, nor have 1 dune s<>, although it is possible that my comments awakunad a keeu remorse in the bosom of " Fellow Workman." If so, my statements have not been lost, as such btateunMits never are, since they are written as a warning of the shoals and shallows upon which the living uuy perish at any time. As to my information being culled from the Alexandra Herald, nothing could be farther from the truth, fur invariably I credit, that paper with any information I may glean from its columns. In this instance my informant is one upon whoso word I rely with confidence. Bazaar —The congregation of St. Michael's Anglican. I'ihu.ch intend holdiug a bazaar some tii'ie in June next. Absent.— Dr and Mrs Hyde have left for Dunedin, where they intend spending a holiday. The doctor obtained one month's leave of absence from the hospital r.iustee*. Dr Hodges acts as locum tenent, at the institution.