BLACKSTONE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 32

BLACKS T ONE.

July 28.— The weather here is just the same as in other places— wind, rain, sleet, snow, fog, frost, and then a few days so beautifully warm that we fondly delude ourselves with the •thought that spring has come; but, like all other delusions, it is soon dispelled, and the old order begins again. Just now wa aTe at -the enow and frost stage, about 9m of snow having fallen between Friday night and Saturday morning. Social.— On Friday a social was given in honour of Mr and Mrs George Maeon, who «ue leaving the district. M" Johnstone, the chairman, in a few well ciioson remarks explained why they were met together, at the conclusion of which he, on behalf of the people, presented Mr Mason with a purse of sover"oifens. Mr M. Wade also spoke, eulogising Mr and Mrs Mason. Then followed songs, recitations, and step-dancing until the singing of "Auld lang syne" brought the programme ,to a close. The room was then cleared ior dancing, which was kept up until daylight did appear, or nearly so. Railway Miscirrnages.— There is a little matter I would like to mention in connection •with, thi^affair. The committee who took the eocial in hand spared neither time- nor trouble to ensure it being a thorough success. An order was sent to a Dnnedin film Tor refreshments. They ought to have arrived on Thursday, but did not come to hand. On Friday a telegram was despatched to the firm in question, and the reply was that they were sent on Wednesday. A special messenger was ser.t to Rough Ridge, our nearest railway station, but no traca of the missing articles could be found. It was then supposed that they had been sent to the Blackstone Hill railway •station instead of Blackstone Hill Township. ■Why the former w?as ever named co I cannot imagine. It is now called Ida Valley, but it was called Blackstone Hill long enough to cause a great deal of annoyance, our letters, l-apers, etc., going th.'re instead of to our own post office But to return to my subject, if ittiy regrot was felt or expressed for the nonurrival of the refreshments I am sure it was only because of the annoyance and disappointment which the committee felt, and everyone spnreciated the effort made to supply the missing things. For the future I think a little mere care should be exercised by the railway (minorities and officials, especially in the carriage of perishable goods. Freight Charges.— Another little matter I would respectfully draw the attention of the Minister of Railways to is the high rato of freight on the Otago Central ia-ilway. Only the other day I had to pay at the rate of 4s T>er cwt. Sir J. G. Ward has done co much for the travelling public that it is to be hoped he will see hjs way clean to make a few concessions in the freight en this li.ie of railway, and thereby help on the struggling settler in the back blocks. Earthquake or Meteor. — One night last month we wer© startled by a loud, long rumble, with windows, etj ," rattling. Earthquake, said everybody. Now, it seems we were wrong, for your Lake correspondent says it was a meteor, and as it gives one a much more comfortable feeling we will not dispute the matter. I, with others, saw what appeared to be a brilliant flash of blue, forked lightning, but, as the rumble and vibrationn did not follow until some time afterward? I did not connect ,the flash with them. y -£here being a dense log at the time, we w.efe deprived of witnessing •what must have been a magnificent sight. Condolence.— Before closing these notes I ■wish to lefpr lo the sad fatal accident by which Mr John Leslie, of Becks, lost li ; s life, and add tny ♦e.-jHincny to those already given of the high respert ano esteem in which tho deceased was held by those who knew him. Honest, obliging, and cheery, he will long be missed on the road he used to travel. If sympathy can bring solace to an aching heart, thnn, indeed, his wife should be comforted, for s=he and her little ones have the heertfelt sympathy of everyonp far and ne-ar, md verj many can tell of some kind deed done by poor Jack Leslie.