ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 34

ROXBURGH.

April IG.— We have had exceptionally lively times at Roxburgh during the past week, anci our town accommodation was taxed to the utmost for a couple of nights. Special coaches and drags had to be chartered for the purpose of bringing the visitors that honoured us from Dunedi,n and Invercargiil. The reason of the visit, and the leports of the two meetings have already appeared, or are appearing, in your columns, so I need not dwell on that aspect of the question. Both sides did themselves credit m tue endeavour to impress their audiences with their views on railway extension to Roxburgh, and I need not say anything more, as everyone concerned: ca l read for himself and judge for himself, but wil content myself by saying that a. railway we want, and a railway we intend to haye — even if it has to be done by private enterprise.

Agricultural. — Threshing has been general throughout the district for the past two weeks. The yield, I learn, is fairly good, and the late rains have stimulated the growth of turnips and young grass.

Bunny. — Rabbit-trapping is in full swing. It is marvellous that so many rabbits exist when so many means are tried to keep them under throughout the whole of the season. The rabbiting account must certainly be a bigtax on graziers.

Improvements. — Buildings in our town are progressing. Mr Chase's new stone dwelling is being vigorously pushed on, and the contractor for the wood work has begun. This addition to our town and main street will be a great improvement. Mr Courtier is building a substantial dwelling-house on the extreme north part of the town. The Presbyterian manse has also had substantial improvements made to it of late, and I learn, that Mr Barton is about to make more building improvements on his property. Wte- hay» thus had quite a number of new and improved buildings erected in the borough within the past few months. Mr Elder, of Moa> Flat, has had an excellent dwelling-Tio\ise erected. The walls are built with hydraulics lime and gravel. This makes a substantial and good-looking wall. Mr Donaldson is also building a residence of the same sort of material. I lately inspected a vinery builfe by Mr Pennell, the walls being of hydraulics lime. No doubt this class of building will shortly take the lead for building purposes, as the walls are as hard as cement, and can. be carried up to almost any height, and lffc or less through. They are built in the oldfashioned manner the cob houses of old were built — in boxes. If inquired for, I can supply through " Notes and Queries" the quantities of material wanted and the method of building.

Accident. — A very serious and painful occurrence took place in our midst on Friday night last. A ycung woman named Jane Barber, aged 19 years, a daughter of the lnine manager of the company's coal mine at Coal Creek Flat, was brought up in the Endeavourdredge's buckets, two miles below Roxburgh, about 3 o'clock on Saturday morning. The body was quite nude, with the exception cf one slocking. Xo suspicion was entertained that the young gixl was anticipating such a, thirg as self-destruction. She was in tha house after 7 o'clock on Friday evening, so the body must have travelled on without sinking. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Barb?r and his family. The unfortunate girl was much respected, and the event has cast quite a gloom over us during the past few days. I may add. " men know the deed, God alone knoweth the circumstances."