HEDGEHOPE.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 42, 22 January 1898, Page 9

HEDGEHOPE.

There is no news or trace of the missing man Jack Cooney, who so mysteriously cleared out of his tent the other morning earl 7. Fears are entertained that, in his frenzy, he jumped into the raver, which was in high flood. Search parties have scoured the bush, but without effect. It is hardly likely he would be there, as he had no socks or boots on, and nothing to cover him but his shirt.

A sawmill has started work here. Hopes are high that it may make things a bit lively ; but this will not. be the case until the railway is an accomplished fact, which will be yet awhile. We have, however, succeeded in getting the telephone, which is now in operation, and under the charge of Mr A. Macdonald.

' Crops are nothing like what they " ought to be at this time of year, and, according to present appearances!, the harvest, will be very late, if there is even any at all. The weather is aj little more settled, although nothing to boast about. If the sawmill does not improve oar school, the latter will collapse, as at present there aie hardly sufficient to keep a school open. It is a pity for the district, but where there is no salary a teacher cannot be expected to thrive very well. Certainly there is a ten acre paddock with a few patch*s of grass about it, and !Nebuchadoazzar did very well on that sort of food, so we are told.

We have our annual sports here on 2nd February, and as it is on a Wednesday, we expect to see a number of townspeople in these days of bikes, provided it is a fine day. [The body of the unfortunate man Cooney has since been found in a lagoon. At the inquest a verdict of ‘ accidentally drowned while in a fit of temporary insanity ’ was returned.]