LUGGATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 29

LUG GATE.

March 31 —The weather here is splendid ; in fact, too good. We have had an exceptionally long spell of dry, sunshiny weather, pnd the consequence is that the hills are bare of grass and snow. The flats are dry and parchedlooking, though a short time ago they looked so beautiful and green. The fields of turnips, which promised to be so good, are turning yellow m the leaf for want of moisture. Yet the weather is lovely. What a pity th?t even the sunshine cannot always be welcome. Bunny. — Rabbits are numerous, but hard to catch. The ground is so hard and dry that rabbiters have some difficulty in setting traps. If this weather continues, and we happen to have a severe winter, I pity the sheep on the runs. Dog Trial.-— The Upper Clutha Valley dog trial on the 29th and 30th proved a great success, both days being very -fine, but I do not think the attendance was so large as that of last year. No doubt this was partly on account of the late harvest. Farmers are anxious to get their land ploughed while the sunshine lasts. Still, I think the farmers should give their men a half-holiday sometimes. lam sure they would work with a better heart, and I do not see why they should not get it as well as other employees. Some say the shopman needs it more because he is confined, but look at the hour at which the shopman goes to work. Why, some of the farm servants have nearly half a day's work done before the shopman goes into the shop. Then again, look at the poor ploughman trudging along »11 daj on tho

diy, dirty °oil — no ore to speak to, no company hut h>s horses. I <=«iy, g've the faim Fe:vant his half-holiday, sometimes, -at least. Mr Frewen had the refreshment booth again tins year. The spread w?s very good, even hot vegetables being on the tabie, and in the bai everything was qu'et ancl orderly. Accident — A nasty accident happened to Mrs William Kmgan, of the Forks, on Saturday, 16th March. Mr «uid Jlr-- Kmgan and two children were returning home fiom the Luggate, when they were overtaken by a mr.n driving at a furious rate. He rpn right into Kmgan's trap, and the occupants were thiown out of the buggy, but, lucki'v, no or.p received much injurj, with the exception of Mrs King'n, who was quite unconscious for .some time. Mr Kmgan was m a rather helpless condition — his wife unco isc. ous, a baby niie months old, and his horses running away with the trap Luckily, the horses did not p,o far. After making Mrs Kmgan ss comfortable as possible, and giving the baby to his other little boy, he went after the horses pnd trap, lifted Mrs Kingan in, and dro^'e to Albertown. Next morning he took Mrs Kmgan to the doctor, when it was found she had sustained no injuries beyond a broken collarbone and the shock. A Change. — Mr W. J. Anderson, for eight years shepherd nt Mount Pisa station, has bought the farm lately owne^ by Mr H. Tobin. Mr Tobin has secure^ a property about eight miles from Wellington, where he intends to settle. I hear he and his family take their departure to-morrow. In Mr Tobm we lose another of Cromwell's oldest identities.