ST. BATHANS

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 35

ST. BATHANS

Au<ni«t 28.— The inhabitants of the interior were° delighted over the mild winter exvrienced, and were congratulating each otnei ever the matter, but to Iheir dismay there came along a very cold snap on Wednesday, 23rd inst. ' Th* following day vas bright .mrt warm; then on Friday the weather become muggy, and during the night we experienced the heaviest fall of snow of th-o season, with a very keen frost in the early hours- of the morning. During the day, however, Ihe sun rroke out bright and warm, quickly clearin^ away the snow from the low-lying country. Mining.— The prospects for the mining industry are not very promising just at the prosent time, +he industry having suffered' for months through the continuous drought, and with litfe «r no snow xipon the ranges tho future of the industry looks rather gloomy at present; but hope being the miner's anchor, ho shouts " jST'il de&peranditm," and looks forward for better times.

Football.— Naseby and St. Bataams are wrangling to some extent over the flag match. The honour of winning the county flag lies between the two elub-s mentioned, with St. Bathans two points in their favour. The ivritation arises througn the appointment of a referee. The former wishes to appoint an exNaseby boy t.s referee, the latter desiring ai appointment by the union at Dunedin. From -what is to ba learned an appeal has been made to the union. An appointment from such a quarter should meet with the approval of both clubs, and the general approval of the public. When the point is settled, the contending teams will meet in Naseby, when no doubt a grand 1 display of football will be witnessed by the spectators. Political.— Politics in tins quarter have been as flat as dishwater until lately. The land measure introduced by the Premier and the amendment to the Mines Act by the Minister of Mines hnve caused a bit of a ripple on the political surface. The parsimony displayed to the industry is noticeable, and bears out remarks that have been niade through, the columns of the press that the present Government, if it remains much longer in power, will throttle tho mining industry. The Government nominee has paid a visit to St. Bathans, but he has not made a. very favourable impression. Our present member, in his speech en tho. Financial Statement, bi ings pretty well to the front the parsimony cf the Government towards the industiy. Ecclesiastical. — Since the* resignation of fbe Rev. J. Gellie, M.A., the'-Lauder parish has fcne through, a trying time, by having no fixed minister in chaige of the parish But ' .ill things cometh to them that wait" — a snyiug which has been verified in this instance. It pleases me. to st<Ue that the se-rvices of a ycung student' liave been secured for a period of. two years.. He has Leen ministering to the

spiritual wants of the parisfc ferine r^st fear months, and cluiing the period mentioned a wonderful chanpe for the better has taken place. From what is tc be learned, the preaching stations, six in number, are all highly pleased and delighted over the appointment made by the Dunstan Presbytery. To show the good feelings of the parishioners towards the rev. gentleman, I may mention that for his comfort and convenience an outlay hps ben made en the manse to the extent of about £30. A suitable young horse, vehicle, and harness, costing over £50, have to be added to +his amount, and a stipend satisfactory to the rev gentleman has been guaranteed by the parishioners. It may also be added that tho church door collections and srustenHtion subscriptions have beon considerably a\>gmented dining the past four months.