AIBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 29

AIBURY.

September 16. — The past week has been ono o£ great disappointment in this district. Foui 1 days have been wet, two of which were so cold that snow fell the greater part of the time, which retarded the progress of getting agricultural work completed well within the various seasons. This bad weather will not be appreciated by the flock-masters, whose charges have been giving them some trouble of late, especially as there are a considerable number of lambs getting about. The earlier lambs appear to be a fine, strong, healthy lot, and I think the flock-owners are already beginning to reap the benefit of the extra culling the adversity of last season enforced on the country generally, resulting in the survival of the fittest. Stray Dogs. — I am sorry to say our neighboarhood has not escaped this nuisance, though I understand the damage has not been great. In ono case at least the source of annoyance has been discovered. Messrs El&ton Brothers (lato of Lumsden), on looking through their nice little flock of halfbred ewes ono morning, had the mortification to find them considerably disturbed, and also that several young lamba had been worried. Notwithstanding considerable vigilance, the same misfortune occurred again, but ultimately the marauder was caught and despatched. This is the more satisfactory, since it waa only too evident that the cur was " nobody's dog," but some strange animal that hid during the day and went prowling about during nighttime. Unfortunately, the Messrs Elston lay the blame of their loss at the wrong door, consequently the neighbour suspected, to make assurance doubly sure, had his dog destroyed in order to pacify his friends. Stock. — There is little, if any, change worth noting of late in the value of our stock. One departure from the general staleness of things was the passing down of a fine large line of big bullocks from the pastures of the Mistake run, in the Mackenzie Country, a property Mr J. S. Rutherford has recently acquired. Ab this inn has always been noted for cattle-graz-ing, Mr Rutherford will soon be able to send away fine drafts of baldy cattle, as well as prime Canterbury muttoners, since tbe squire of Opawa possesses that fine herd of prime Herefords made famous by the late Mr A. M. Clark. Sport. — As the loth approached ova hopes became more jubilant over the anticipated visit of our local team to Temuka to play the return football match against the representatives of that club. As the Temuka players were known to be leaving no stone unturned to pave the way to make the visit pleasant, our lads no doubt were justified in looking forward to a time which was destined to prove a redlotter day to them all. There was, in the first plaice, the unique sensation of a pleasant drive of 30 miles behind Mr J. S. Rutherford' a sls-in-hand team, and the fact that tho worthy president of the club was manipulating the ribbons was sufficient warranty of a rare, good time. In the second place, after the drive there was the meeting of those right genial feUowa who represented the Temuka Club here a month ago, and the certainty that an assured good game would eventuate. The witnessing of such an important representative match aa South Canterbury v. Canterbury, independent o£ the hospitality extended to the visitors by, the local players, ought to have proved attractive enough to have induced our best n>,en to come forward; but I am sorry to say, that several of our chosen representatives deemed a few inches of snow and a little rain a. sufficient excuse for not putting in an appearance.- The result was that the drag had only- two-thirds of a load, but those 'who braved the elements enjoyed their outing exceedingly, and on their ret.irn home were loud in praise of the handsome treatment they had received from their Temuka friends, notwithstanding that they sustained a" thrashing at their hands.