OAMARU NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, February 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 33

OAMARU NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, February 3.

There has beeii a steady improvement in business in Oamaru for some time now, and properties have changed hands at figures showing, in some cases, substantial advances on the values of two or three years ago. There is hardly a shop unlet in the town, and at tho north end, near the railway station, several new places have recently been erected, while othea-s are just being started. A number of comfortable residences have also been put up lately, and the indications generally are more promising than at any time in the last 10 years. The intimation about the possible retirement of the Hon. T. Y. Duncan and his elevation to the Legislative Council does not come as a surprise altogether to residents of Oamaru. Should things eventuate as the Western Star expects, the election that, will follow will bo an interesting one. Mr Mitchell would be. a supporter of the Government, with reservations on one or two subjects. February 5. A very heavy fa.ll of ha.il took place on Friday evening on tho Kakanui Mountains, •which showed up ciuite- white on Saturday morning. Rain also fell at Ngapara and at Kurow, where, indeed, it lasted all night. The storm was accompanied by heavy thunder and vivid lightning. The shower will do no harm, for pastures aud root crops have suffered much by the drought. On the Otepopo Hills the storm was severely felt by musterer3 and others who had to b3 abroad. The Kakanui River is running much higher than for some> weeks past. February 7. Tho members of the Otepopo Presbyterian Church welcomed their pastor, the Rev. D. M'Tvor, and his newly wedded bride to their midst on Thursday evening,' when there was a very large gathering of the congregation. Several ministers of the Oamaru Presbytery (including the Rev. J. R. Shore, of Maheno, who was in the chair) were present to speak words of congratulation, while the members of the church testified their welcome in the practical form of a cheque. The weather has been most favourable for harvest operations during this week, and good progress has been made. A welcome shower of rain fell at Ngapara on Thursday evening. The root crops have suffered most by tho heat, and there are one or two of these that are said to be now past recovery. At the Magistrate's Court to-day a young man named John Trembath pleaded guilty to the theft of a quantity of grass seed from the barn of Mr John Buckley, at the Waitaki Plains Station. The circumstances of the discovery were somewhat exceptional. On several occasions quantities of the seed had disappeared from the barn, but could not be traced. On the morning of the 28th January there had been a slight fall of rain and when the station hands began to move about they observed frash dray tracks leading to and from the barn. These tracks were followed for over 12 miles, and led to an old straw stack, in which were hidden 21 seeks, which were easily identified by Mr Buckley's brand. After hearing the evidence, the young man pleaded "Guilty" to this charge and to a further one of stealing 23 bags of seed. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, but will have to answer another similar charge first. The accused will probably have time to decide whether or not that shower cf rain was from his point of view altogether desirable. Without it he could not have been traced.