DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2505, 26 March 1902, Page 31

DUNTROON.

March 24. — I see that the local scl.ool has had a few alterations made to it lately. Two additional ventilators have been put in — one m each room, — making a total of five, while other necessary minor alterations have also been effected.

A Joke. — Last Thursday afternoon a rumour was widely circulated to the effect that De "Wet had been captured and that the Boers had surrendered. "When the train arrived at night a large crowd assembled to learn if the news were correct, only to find they had been hoaxed. It is a pity the perpetrators of the hons had not t little more to do than send round messages like thai. Weather. — Wo are having very unfavourable weather this month. It started to rain at C «m. on Monday, the 17th, and kept on steadily till noon next day. It then faired up ti.l Wednesday night, when it rained 5n torrents again, and has been taining ever since. • Everything is in flood, and the stubble paddocks are just mud, in which one goes over the boottops. Threshing has been at a standstill for a week, and is likely to continue for another week, as the traction engines will not be able tc move about on the land. About half -the crops are in the stook yet, and I asi afra:d they will be of very little use after so much wet, for if it does not dry up soon a lot of the grain will spnng. All the spring and early summer was very dTy, little or 10 rain falling till late in November. Up to then the crops locked good for nothing; then the rains came, and we expected a fair harvest ; now there is so much rain that a lot of the crops about here will be spoiled, or, at most, be only fit for chick feed. All th»> rivers between O.maru and Kutow are in flood.