CLIFDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 25

CLIFDEN.

May 24. — After an unusually 'fine spell for so l! I late a season of the year the weather seems to ' have broken, and winter is now fairly upon us, the last few days being almost continual rain, and the roads are now beginning to feel , the effects of this. AGBiciTLTtrBAL. — The crops in this district were mostly stacked some time ago in very fair order, though I do not hear of any very heavy retixrns. There is not a great deal of crop grown here as yet, settlers for the most part content-^ ing themselves with growing enough grain for , use on their farms, turnip amd grass cultivaj tion being more extensively carried on. No doubt when the Eiverton-Orepuki railway is •extended to the Waiau this state of things will be remedied. Pastobal. — Stock are mostly looking in good condition, there being still a good bite in the pastures, and turnips for the greater part being a fairly good crop the oiftlook for the winter is not too bad. Assessment Matters. — Great dissatisfaction was caused -among the settlers here by the high valuation placed on their holdings by the Government -valuator, and although many ot them appeared before the Assessmnt Court at Biverton as objectors, they all .returned without receiving any redress. J3ltnny. — A cart has been coming to the ferry .regularly several times a week for the last two months to carry away the slaughtered carcases of poor bunny, and he has been receiving a , severe handling at the hands of several rabI biters, but there is still room for more trappers on this side of the iiver. IBhe BeidciE. — The contract for a bridge across the W.aiau has -been let at last, Mr W. i Beard, of Invercargill, being the -contractor. It will be a great convenience to the in ' this locality when it is finish-eel, the present ' i punt being in a "very -unsatisfactory condition — ; j in the ca.se of a flood in the river traffic being j , sometimea entirely siispended. j I Social.— A very enjoyable dance was held on j Friday, May 20, in a large building kindly lent ! by Mr Horrel for the occasipn. There was a large attendance, numbers coming from Merrivale, -Orawia, and Eastern Bush. Excellent j music -was supplied by Messrs West, Hansen, ' and Wakeneld. Duriaig the evening songs were '■ given by Messrs dtallia, Bain, and Drnmmond. A JiUle mild excitement was caused about ' j 12 o'clock p.ni. by the apvmarance of the .effigy of -an apparently rather unpopxilar settler, I which was carried around the ballroom ancl , then tied to a stake a short distance off ana I TDuara-ed. At 6.30 a.m. the party broke up, well , i satisfied with their night's enjoyment. — Occa.BIONAL COEBESPOSDENT.