DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 35

DUNTROON.

May 27. — The weather still continues very dry and frosty. "We had one shower las* week, which gave U3 a little more water for domestic purposes. A few farmers have their winter wheat sown, but t&e majority are late this season. Threshing is .finished here.- The frost is very sever© for this time of year, and has retarded farming operations in the mornings. Before 9 a.m. under the gorse fences it is too hard to do anything with the land. The days are usually bright and warm.

Accident. — A fatal accident occurred here on Friday afternoon, a threshing mill hand named Geddis being run over by a mill, one of the wheels of the fore carriage passing over his head, with fatal results. Deceased was sitting on the draw-bar which connects- the mill and engine, when, somehow, he lost his balance, and fell off, with the result stated. The road is quite level where the accident occurred. Geddis was some 30 years of age, and had only been married about a year. An inquest was held this afternoon in Pringle's Hotel by Mr E. C. Smith, J.P., acting coroner, when the jury returned a verdict that deceased met his death by accident, no blame being attachable to anyone. It is a wonder that more accidents do not happen to mill hands who ride on the draw-bar of a mill. These triangles, or connecting rods, are only about Sft in length, and sometimes three or more men will be sitting on this at once, skylarking with each other. Great sympathy ist felt here for deceased's friends. He lived at Georgetown, and was well known and respected in and around this district.

Political.— The Right Hon. ±t. J. Seddon was to have addressed the residents of Duntroon in the Drill Hall to-night, but was conspicuous by his absence. As a consequence a large number of settlers and others were disappointed. We hope- to hear the Premier on some future occasion, and there is no doubt that he will have an attentive audience when he does put in an appearance. Improvements. — The footpaths in the main, street have, at last been asphalted, the owners of property having to pay half cost, the Waitaki County paying the other half. A new concrete tank has been erected at the school, and more asphalting is being done around the school. The old iron tanks are completely done, the children, as a consequence, often having had to go without a drink all day.