OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 29

OAMARU NEWS NOTES.

(From Ocr Ows Courespoxdekt. ) OAMARU, March 3.

The Premier has replied to merchants here that Mr Allo is leaving the colony next Monday or Tuesday, and advising that other experts will be in the colony 6hortly ; coneequently it has been decided to await the visit of other experts. Messrs Baron (chairman of the Land Purchase Board), Barron (Chief Commissioner, Otago), and John Duncan (member of the Otago Land Board) to-day inspected the Waitaki Plains Estate, which is undei offer to the Government for purchase under the Land for Settlements Act. Mr J. D. Grant, many years accountant in the Colonial Bank here, and subsequently in the Bank of New Zealand, leaves this week on a trip Home with six months' leave. He has been presented with a travelling bag and pipe by the local staff of the bank, and is accompanied by many good wishes for a pleasant trip. It now appears as though the frost, which has extended with unusual frequency through this summer, has been laying pretty heavy toll on crops in this district. While the yield is good it is hardly up to the high expectations of a few weeks ago. All latePQVji props a,re still rery backward^ though.

the weather lately has been favourable for harvesting, which is now pretty general. March 9.

Money for the Fallen Troopers' Memorial is coming in freely in response to the committee's request, and steps for proceeding with the erection will be taken shortly.

Harvesting operations have been aiuch expedited by tho last few days' fine weather, and most of the grain is now in stook. A few late patches remain, including several on Waikakahi Estate, and more sfill south of Oamaru.