OTERAMIKA

Otago Witness, Issue 2317, 28 July 1898, Page 29

OTERAMIKA

Jui.v 25. — The long spell of wet weather that we have had has broken at last, and die cloai shining of ihe sun by day and heavy frosts at night have put quite a different aspect on the fare of the settlers and the country. The land is, however, completely saturated with water at tho present time, but J trust we have done with ram, hail, and snow for a while. Tho two latter we do not wish to see again till we get. over another harvest, which I sincerely hope will not be so long m duration as the last one, for there are still stooks out in some of the paddocks, and of course they are useless now for ttie purpose for -which they were grown. However, it was a good thing that we had a crop to lose, or partly to lose, for many of our northern friends had none at all, and while we may have a little grievance over the matter we have more reason to be thankful, and thi3 I believe we are when sitting round the big log fire at night after we have taken in a substantial meal.

AgricultuHiVL.— Some of the roads arc no bad as they cau be. Jn fact, they are nothing but mud; but for all that the traction engine with the threshing machine manages to crawl through it somehow, if it is only with a hopv skip,'* and a jump. The late harvest threw all other work late, and instead of getting threshing over by May. it is only now going on, and that at a very slow rate. A quantity is being threshed that would have gone into chaff had the straw not been damaged. That being so, the oats are not Al, but still they pass off for feed at a price. Damaged chaff and oats are in abundance, and this causes a disinclination on the part of buyers io operate, this in turn having the effect of somewhat reducing the value of the sound commodities. However, the prices lor both are very good, and farmers have little to complain about. Timber Trade and Rulwav Traffic— The lumber iudustiy along the Seaward Bush iailway is increasing;, and eveiy time the train conies up it is laden to such an extent that the engine is not up to its uork on some of ihe inclines. Sometimes it cannot stop at a s-ta-tion on account of the load behind, but i"* propelled past some distance. Then, through being ou a low-grade incline, it cannot push the train back to the station, and the business of the station has to be done where the train stands, and while the passengers are running after it (some with children) you can hear some vehemently declaring they would rather walk to market on these cold days than pay to be knocked about by the Government in this fashion. Besides, they could get in pretty welt as quick, for the, train is seldom up to time. Then, again, sometimes the engine cannot get up an incline with its load, and pait of the train is sent on to the next siding, and after shunting it there the engine returns for the part with the passengers in it. Over the River— The railway bridge over the Mataura has been completed now about 12 months, and the people living beyond it are wondering when the day will come for the train to cross it so that they can get to Invercaigill evon at a little quicker speed than by road. Mr T. Jefcoate, living near Kapuka railway Nation, Oterarnika, had occasion iccently to write to the Minister for Public Works, and he took advantage of the opportunity to urge the running of trams as far as the Mataura bridge. lie received the following favourable reply a few days ago: I icceived yours re running a train from Gorge road to Mataura bridge. If this would be a convenience to the settlers in the dislnct I jvpuld suggest tjiat they, petition the lion.

Minister for Railways on the matter. I will then arrange matters so that the line would be made safe.— W. Hall-Jones." No doubt the settlers living beyond the bridge will at once take the necessary steps to get this arrangement carried through, for if they only got the train within their reach once or twice a week it would be better than having to wait perhaps over another twelvemonth for the completion of the extension. Found Drowned.— On the Ist inst. a very successful concert, followed by a dance, was held in the Waituna school. All passed oil well, but next morning it was discovered that a young man, aged about 20, was missing from his work and home. The parents naturally became much alarmed. A search was instituted by the members of the family, and shortly afterwards one of his brothers found him lying drowned in 2ft of water in tho Waituna Creek, about 10 chains from the school. He had b?en seen to leave the schoolhouse about tho time the last song was being sung at the concert, take off his top coat, hang it up in the porch, and go out. He was to have attended the dance, but did not turn up, but that fact did not excite special attention. Tho sad calamity cast a gloom over the community. He left the hall to all appearance in Ins usual good health, with nothiug remarkable in his demeanour, and apparently intended to return. It was no wonder, therefore, that suspicious of foul play should suggest themselves to not a few. However, after a searching inquiry by the police, and a careful investigation at the inquest, held by Major Keddell, S.M., not the slightest evidence was produced to hint that the poor lad's untimely death occurred from other cause than pure Accident. The jury consisted o£ Messrs Jefcoate (foreman); Robinson, Johns, \jihy, Birch, and Stevenson, and their verdict was simply " Found drowned," that bemg strictly in accord with the evidence, medical and other. This result, uo doubt, relieved the minds oE all, more especiully those who hud attended the assembly. The bereaved parents will also be consoled to some extent, and they have the deep sympathy of their neighbours in their great affliction.