MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 25

MILTON.

February 22 —After a spell of nearly six weeks of mixed weather, consisting of wind, rain, and hail, we have at lant been favouted with a few days, of summer, which we fondly hope will continue for a week or two at least. Mill-owner? have taken adv.intsge of the calm weather to get the grass seed threshed before the busy season of the grain crop comes on. Harvest Operations.— These have been begun in the district in one or two places, but they will not be general for a week or two yet. The props, though looking splendid on the plain, will not yield anything like what they would have done , had the season been more favourable, j Sales.— "uring the last two months several j valuable farms have changed hands, tbe most de- ' sirable oue being the well-known farm Langsdale, | the propei ty of Mr James Drinnan Although ! sold, it has not gone out of the family, Mr Drinnan's son William being the fortunate purchaser It was bold privately, the reported price being £18 10s per acre. At the sale of stock and implements everything went at a satisfactory pi ice, and the good quality of Mr Drinnan's stock being well known bidding was keen, prices

br draughts ranging from j£2S to £39 10s, jnilk C >ws fetching from £G to £8. Mr Drinnan has purchased Mrßeveridge's late residence at Helensbrook Woollen MiLi.s.--The Bruce Woollen Mills are fulfilling the highest expectations of all concerned Already a large quantity of worsteds have been manufactured, slso flanntls and blankets. Owing to the exe-'l'ent quality of thes-e good&_the company have ipeeived some very large orders, one being for 2COO pairs of blanks!?. At present the machines are being iun from daylight to daik. The company have already found it uecessaiy to Enlarge their premises, and tenders are now bticg called for that piupose. Potteries. — I believe the potteries are in a fair tvay to go ahead. Mr Itowle3 r , the new owner, is In Milton, and extensive alterations are being made at the woiks. "Fifty Years Syne." — The Rev. Mr Chisholm is back amongst us again after an absense of three mouths at his sea coast residence, where he has been busy writing the histoiy of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland. The attractive title of the boik— "Fifty Year 3 Syne"— makes one anxious to get a glimpse of the inside. A Ntw Parsonage. — Ihe Wesleyans are keeping pace with the time', and are building a handpome piKonage »t the north-east end of Milton. The building, besides being an ornament to the town, will supply a long-felt want.