DIPTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 25

DIPTON.

April 4. — In keeping with the ret of Southland, the farmers here are growlinc deep aud far down at the weather, and no doubt it is iuo-t tantalising. In the enrly part of the han'est it was hot and rnug^, with never a breath of wind, aud grain iv stook aud sUck got heated and clammy, and npw the late ones are caucht with the rain. We are getting abundance of wind now, but immediately the stuff is ready to lead in down comes the rain, and the work has to be all done over again. There will be a large quantity of damagsd grain this year. The turnip crop is good in moat parts of this district, and feed is fairly abuudant.

Stock Sale.— We had oil'- first stock sale on the 6th jnst. The entries were comparatively small, considering the time it is since we had a sale here. There would be inoie entries if the sales were moie regular, as the farmers drive their stock tp other centres for sale when they are not sure of*a Bale being held here. Prices were faiily good for nearly all classes of sheep, but cows and horse 3 Were a drug.

f Unsatisfactory —Trade is anything but brisk, and has beeil dull for some months pist. The lack of the wherewithal i«, I believe, the cause, and this is also to blame for the dearth' of amusementp, as there has been little or nothing on foot for some time past— not even the inevitable dance. •The English Church bazaar, on the 22nd, ought to liven things up a bit, as there will no doubt be plenty of fun at it, and it is to conclude with a dance.

Angling. — Some of our anglers took a day or two to finish up the season, and mad* good baskets, but they are now somewhat disgusted to find the season has been prolonged. As they made a wind-up of it, they think everybody else should do likewise, or perhaps they are jealous lest their tallies are brought down.

Accident.— On the Ist iust. rather a serious accident happened up at Mr R. Sinclair's. Some of his children— pretty well grown ones, top, .who ought to have known better — were pouring one flVk of gunpowder into another over a burniug candle, when the whole thing blew up and sent four of the youngsters flying. Two of them, a boy and .i girl, were rather badly scorched, and were for some dajs blind ; but I am happy to say they can all sea us<aiu now. It will no doubt be some time before they ugain play with gunpowder, especially over a lighted cand.e.

Scii' ol Matters —Our school committee are making an improvement in the appearance of the Bchool grouuds by putting up tome new feuces and repairing the old picket one. I understand they are spending about £10 on it and clearing up thiugs for the new committee, the householders' ineetins for the election if which is to take place on the 261h inst.