CROMWELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 25

CROMWELL.

April 11.— Mr Duncan Ritchie had a narrow escape last Saturday. He was crossing the Lowburn punt in the butcher's cart belonging to his brother, Mr M. Ritchie, for whom he works, and drove his cart on the punt behind another springcart. The puntrnan forgot to close the gates at the back, and while crossing the river Ritchie's horse backed suddenly, and before anything could be done, cart, horse, and driver were iv the river. Luckily the current carried Ritchie near the bank on the Lowburn side, and he was rescued by Mrs M'Pherson, vt ho ran along the bank holding out a pole to him. The cart and horse have not yet been recovered. The river, owing to the recent rain?, is pretty high, and it is doubtful if the cart will ever be seen again. Mr M'Pherson, who has been in charge of the Lowburn punt for years and who is very careful, is away enjoying a wellearned holiday, and the accident happened while the punt was in charge of a temporary puntman.

Football.— As the cold weather approaches it is time for the bounding ball onpe more to bound, and for the barracker to train his lungs and to refurbish his store of slang and profane expressions. The Bannockburn Club has held its annual meetiDg. The Upper Clutha Club is a little slower, but another month will see football in full swing. The Vincent County clubs should take a warning from what happened last year, and have a meeting of secretaries in the season and nrrange the fixture*.