KAHI'IKA

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 39

TTebmaiy 3 — We have had a great deal of dry weather here lately, and are very grateful •for the little ram which has broken the spell at last. The whole district looks brown and parched. Things are so dry that the settlera would g-et a very tad time indeed if fires were to come close in. Three of the settlers had a rather severe fright last week. Messrs Harris, Stewart, and Hunter having a- lot of grass and standing bu9h destroyed. Mr Harris lost Kis haystack, too, and only with great effort was his dairy saved, the fire having got into the building. The fire near the houses had to be watched bo that the alarm might be given, if it approached again during the night. As I vriia there is ft exeat

deal of smoke coming down the valley, telling of more files in the back parts of the bush.

Crops. — Most of the settlers hereabouts have got their hay in now; but the grain crops are still quite green — some of them are not even shot yet.

Scenery. — The bush looks rather dull just now. the mistletoe being almost the only flower out. The rata flowers are showing a little nearer the coast, but there -are none -fn this part yet.

Road-menders. — Gangs of men are busy on the roads, and are making headway now that the Christmas rejoicings are over. So-ne of the worst bits of road between here and Cathns Raver are to be metalled this year. so that the ro,ids will be a little more pascab c this winter The worst bit df all, we hope. imII not have to be travelled ver when that time oomes as there i^ a prospect, of the railway being: open as far as Houipapa. thus cutting out the atrocious piece of road between there and Catlins River.

School. — The bchcol has reopened, and the children (except those who aie cutting those pp=ts the Canadian thistles) have settled down to the routine of school woik.