CLARKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 26

CLARKS.

Septfmber 18 — The weather is all that could be desired, and we now consider the winter over. It has been one of the mildest winters that we have had for many jears, and as a consequer.ee the stock are looking exceedingly well. Tbere is an exception, however, in one lot of hogget?. If they were dipped the dip must have been of little or no use, which is plainly seen by the miseiy the poor anim ils are in, and I fear there is ixk m for 'the sheep inspector to pay us a visit. "Accidc-t.— The only Son of Mr Antlrew Peat got hia leg broken above the knee while he and his little sister wore playiDg with the horse-power. He was taken to Middlemarch, where hw leg was set by Dr Fletcher. In this- connection I might .mention that many fanners are a little careless with their horse-powers where there aie children. It ia an easy mattes to fasten them with a chain and a lock and key. Prevention is certainly better than cure.

XUce Cutting. — The water race at Deep Stream is progressing very favourably, and by the time this appears in print Ihe manager infoinu me that ab^ut 40 men will have to look for a new field of labour. The company may congratulate themselves on securing the setvices of Mr Itohi* ton, who deserves credit for the way in which he has pushed this work aaea'J. I had a walk down the race, but ps you have a full report of it in last issue it is needless for me to wiite any further on tho matter.

A Change —I hear fiom good authority that 1 -Mr George Nichol, of Abbotsford, will very shortly be going to leside on his new f.irm in the Taieri. We are Borry to lose Mr Nichol. I fear the school here will have to be closed as thisj will J»e the second family that has taken flight to the Taieri. Mr Nichol has been chairman of the school committee most of the time, if not nil, since the school was built. Both Mr and M>s Nichol will be greatly missed in this district, as their homestead ha« been a place of refuge for ninny, which is no small consideration of a cold, bitter night. However, our los* wlirb - the Taieri people's Rain, and I am ftire I am expressing the voice of everyone, not only in this district, but in many others, iv wishing him and his family success in their new abode.

'J he Rabbits. — For years past nmch has been •written iv the co'umns of the Witness about bunny, and I am thoroughly sati-Jkd oftsr travelling OTev'this district that it is an easy matter to keep the rabbits down, if not to get rid of them altogether. What is wanted i 3 combination on tbe part of the settlos. That, of couise, is not an e?sy matter, for all the Governments in the ■world would not make some in this dis'rict do wkat they should to keep the labbits down. Messrs John and Allan Buyd, of llocklands, and Mr George Nichol, of Abbotsford, and others I could name have lost no fine and spared no txpanse iv keeping them down. If- they did not take the one poison they were invited to another. Only a few years back there were thousands of rabbits on these stations, while this winter there ■will not be a bale of rabbitekins come front Rocklands.

Roads.— Tbe roads are in fairly good order with the exception of the duck pond near Mr M'Doruld'p. Credit is due to Mr John Peat, our councillor for lhis riding, for maintaining the surfacemen's wages, which they &o much deserve.