MANDEVILLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 29

MANDEVILLE.

March 14.— The weather during the past fortnight his been most propitious for harvesting operations, and ihe crops on a preat number of farms in the district are already ptonked, and, in fact, a few of mv next-door neighbours have already commence.! to lea<-: in. The root crop 3 also have been much benefited by the pa.sr, genial warn.' weather, aud the turnips all round the district are looking very promising indeed. An Improvement.— l notice that Mr James Sheed has brought his family to lesida in the new and commodious liome^-tead which has lately been cotnpJe! et! on Li-j large fami near Mandeyilie. Thu li- usp contains 10 100 ms, and ia a very imposing edifice replete with every convenience fjr tlf- coiiiiort of ;\ Lirge family. The eastern faca.de as ss-eu front the W. P. railway looks txceediugly hvdsonie, and tbe large stable, itr.pltinvnt sfcet!, men's hut, and other outbuildings combine to make the steadiDg tbe foieincst and most convenient of any withia a radiu3 of a good many miles. The work reflects the gseateet credit on Mr Peter Henderson, the designer and builder. Mr and Mrs Sheed gave a most enjoyable house-warming to a large number of friends on tho evening of Friday, 11th inst. The gueßts were invited from far and near, the 'Koi, Gore, Chalton, Otama, and Riversdale being duly represented, fully 150 visitors putting in an appearance. It is almost superfluous for me to add that the guests were most hoapitably entertained by their kind hosts and that the evening's amusement passed off with the greatest eclat, dancing being maintained with vigour until early dawn. Coal.— Some 12 months ago our local coalpit was opened up on BaDnockburn Parm, the properry of Mr Edward M'AHstev, near Mandeville, The pit is leased by Mr Andrew Hunter, and is situated within two miles of Wandeyille township and one mile from tbe Pyramid siding. Mr Hunter has spared neither labour nor expense in developing his truly valuable mine. He has driven a long tunnel through a large hill in splendid coal the whols way. Mr Hunter, assisted by Mr M'Alister, had a roadway recently formed and gravelled right to the pit's mouth. The tramways and water, channels were also finished this summer. As the coal from this mine is highly spoken of, both for household and steam purposes, the mine should prove a great boon to the neighbouring settler?, who had previously to go a long distance for a load of coal.