WYLLIE'S CROSSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2342, 19 January 1899, Page 34

WYLLIE'S CROSSING.

January 17. — The heavy rain that fell on Monday did a great deal of damage in this district. The rain was not bo heavy as it appears to have been in Dunedin, but the bank at the Silverstream burst, about 2J chains being carried away on to Mr Smith's property at Woodlands, spoiling a good bit of crop, although not so much as one might imagine. The new bank th»t has been put up by Mr Charters of late with a view to damming tho .water has not been successful, having been. Carried away in several places like bundles of straw. The bank built by Mr R. M'Kegg has stood the test very well, and of course Long Lee has been protected from the flood. It is now occupied by Mr W. Watson, formerly of the firm of Martin and Watson, coal merchants, Dunedin. lam sorry residents of this district do not' combine to deal with this question. 'Much of the land is so valuable that I question if £30 an acre would buy a great deal of it, and surely this is worth protecting. If the .pwners would only jcombine forces it is a question that could be easily settled for all time. If not dea.lt with speedily the day will come in which they will be sorry for trifling with it. The waterthat fell yesterday has. only increased the question over which Chore was bo much trouble between the Church Board and Taieri County Council and the late Mrs Smith, of .Woodlands. I am convinced the County Council did wrong in the course they have taken. For instance, here was £700 of the ratepayers' money thrown away in law. The day is not far distant when they will have to take up tha question in a systematic form. The water was bo high on this occasion that it was running over the road where tha bridge crosses the Mosgiel road. Had the bank not given way I fear a great deal of damage would have been done to Mosgiel, as it was near enough over into Mr George Ruthven's farm. To sho-rr how rapidly it came down men were working in the Stream taking out gravel at 11 o'clock, and at 1 o'clock the bank hurst. Let us assume that the Jrain was general, what would have been the consequence? Writing aa one Who is in no way interested, I am thoroughly satisfied it would be well if the residents would come to a satisfactory arrangement, as it is only waste Of time and money for residents to think they Are going to dam the water on to the road. Narrow, Escape. — Mr Collie, of Riverside, had' a very narrow escape of being drowned through tiding along the road before crossing the bridge at Silverstream, near Wylie's. There waa about 2ffc of water on the road and the horse ehied sad plunged into the side where the water •wao deep; the girth of the saddle broke, and Mr Collie was thrown into the water. However, he managed to get out under difficulties, but his saddle and hat were carried away. Agricultural. — I am pleased to say that the damage done to crops is not as serious as many people would have us believe. Mi David Sutherland's 75-acre paddock of -wheat looks, remarkably well. It runs down by the side of the Silverstream. I notice in some paddocks where the crop ig very heavy it is lying. Mr 'Aitken' a paddock of wheat Is lying almost as If it had been rolled. I hear of one paddock of wheat on Mr Walter Blackio's farm which is very bad also. A Purchase. — Mr R. M'Kegg has purchased privately a 75-acre paddock from Murray, Roberts, and Co. at a very satisfactory figure, and B taking possession 0,4 once. I am sure all

the residents of this district will wish him success in his new undertaking.