DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 31

DUNTROON.

May 7. — We had fairly good weather during the past week, although the early part was somewhat showery, and the wind has been very boisterous. Farm work of all seasonable sorts is being pushed ahead, some of the farmers having started to sow the wheat, and the ploughing is well on. Thieshing is not yet finished, and the chaffcutters will soon be out, so the " chuff " of the engine is not yet silenced. There will bi rt large area in crop again during the comin£ Reason, and prices ought to be fairly good. Moijt of the crops have threshed out pretty well ; although the high winds here shook some of it. The snow on the hills is gradivplly melting, supplying the miners with water ,, so mining is fairly brisk. There was a very fine display of the Aurora Australis in the southern sky on Saturday night (sth inst.), lasting from about sunset to well on into the night. There was a very brilliant arch, with occasional bars of light shooting upward, and several meteors flashed across the sky, the whole forming one of the finest displays of the southern lights I have seen for some yeais.

Railway Trucks. — As bearing out my remarks last week re shortage of trucks and railway management generally, I may say that a special goods train was run up to TokaraK on Tuesday last, Ist inst., and went away without a waggon attached, although there were several tracks loaded up at the time, but as no intimation had been received by telephone, the trucks were not couglKuea, the farmers waiting for the usual

train on "WednMrclay. Tlxwe is also a graat rualif for what waggons are sent, a>s the authorities usually only send about half the truoks asked for, and sometilnes " words " more forcible thau polite are used over them. Even wl-are theie i( s stationmaster, the shortage is considerable*? and it speaks volumes for tho suavity cf \\ii officials in charge that no " rumpus " takerf place when seven or eight farmers try to get one or two trucks eacli out of a total of, say, three or four.

The Hall. — I am glad at any time to report improvements, and am pleased to see that some extensive alterations are in progress at Mt Orr'a hall. The hall has apparently had its auditorium enlarged by the cleaning away of the old stage a-nd wings and the raising oj the roof and heightening of the walls. A new stage and wings is being added, and from what I can see (from the outside — a cursory, view) the sitting accommodation and ventilaV tion, etc., will be much improved. I shall taka an early opportunity of looking over it when finished, and am sure shall have a good woid to say of the work itself as well as the way, it is being carried out.

Obituary. — I am sorry to have to report l-li'e death of an old identity of this district in the person of Mr Robert R. Orr. Deceased was for a long term of years manager of the Station Peak property, but latterly retired from active work and lived quietly at Duntroon. He was well known and highly respected for Ida manjj sterling qualities, and his death will ba a distinct loss to the district. R.I.P.