LUMSDEN

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 28

LUMSDEN

Maticii 14 — We arc c: jo> iuc fairly Good harvest weather. Smo days we have &tiong winds, causing con i ierable Oanir<(re to the s-r uulin? and half-ripe c o^s ; on other! it is vciv l.ut and oppressive ; while heavy dews and io^sy morn-

ißgs are about the only moisture we have had for some time. The water tanks are consequently all empty, and pasture feed and turnips <ue badly off for want of lain.

Harvesting. —Harvesting operations are in full swing, and, talcing the erratic season and other unfavourable circumstances into consideration, I believe the crop-, aie turning out as well as the most sanguine could expect ; and with a prospect of good prices ruling, the harvest of IS9B may not prove quite so disastrous aj at first anticipated. Past on At. — Pastoial pursuits aro suffering greatly through the effects of the drought. Hill and paddock feed is getting very scarce, an.i stock arc beginning to look sciaggy ; yet lam informed i hat a sheep sale which CAtne off ac ftlossburn laat Monday was the best held in this district for many a day— that is, for the seller. So you see (.here are some of ns still in hopes of better times in the near future. So mote it be.

Bunny —Rabbit-trapping for the freezing works i- at booming pitch, and t am pleased to note that several of the young fellows, and old ones 100, are making first-class wages at the game, notwithstanding that pollard -poisoning has been going on all the year round To avoid any susP'cion on the pait of consumers. I think poisoning should be stoppe.l at once

Commercial —I think we are progressing Fiom a busiue-. 1 ! point of view One thing I notice, there is le->s friction and petty spite shown between the c'ifieroDt business people here than has been the caso on former occasions, a symptom that would indicate that most of ns are satisfied with ou 1 lot

Politics. —Politically we are juat dozing— not altogether atleep— -just now and again making a few remarks and slightly animated arguments on outside events, such as the court procertiinga in connection with the Southland Farmers' Association, C> lonial Hank in liquidation, etc. EniXATio^AL — Mstteis are going on quietly here. Ihe teaching <-taff seem to be all doing their individual best for the benefit of the little ones' entrusted to their keeping. Ecclesiastical — The Anglican charge is st'll vacant. Since Mi Davidson's departure for D.medin to continue his stu-iies Bishop Nevill and Archbishop Stocker have paid us a visit; holding services at Lumsden and other can ties of tha parish — Presbyterian Church matters are still under the guidance of Mr Cairney, who has been ass'sted by Messrs 17ish«r, Cameron, and White. Mr Cairn ey seems to be a hard and willing worker, an.) ax a preacher is greatly above many of thf.se young men who have laid themselves out foi church work By hi a kind and affable manner Mr Cairney ha-; endeared himself io the congreg*tion so mucb th.it I understand it to be the unanimous centre to give him a call to settle amongst us as our pastor, and 1 sincerely hope th» 3'oung gentleman may see his way to f<i)l in with our uaauimnus wishes, as withou'. a doubt h<3 would be the ri^ht man in the right place.

"VVcnniNG — Marr.age bells were rinsing on Wednrsiavlast;, when a most respected neighbour, Mr A. M Kenssie, ot M-avroa, ami Miss Bairon, cf Waimatsiku. jmacd the happy bonds of matrimony. There is an old saying "Happy is the i bride th» sun shines on," and if there is any fouu- ] da'ion for the assertion this young pair will have j a great am/Hint of happiness, for the day was simply glo'-ious. amusements — Our bill of fire in thi- 1 direction

for the coming wppk is overflowing. Tap blind i musicians are to visit us on the 16th, and judging ; N frnn newspaper reports they are apparently a most talented company. J ttust they m->y have a bumper huiise and 4 hearty reception. The next, ! fixture i.s a free lecture — with a collection of course — on Thursday, 17th, by a Mr Taylor, in I connection with Good Templari m ; while again i on the list i» a performance by the Madame Heller I Company on Saturday. 19. h All the entercainI meuts will be held in the Public Hall.