RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 2019, 18 November 1874, Page 3

RIVERTON.

(PBOM OUtt OWN COBttESPONnENT). Nov. 12. We have had the monotony of things at last varied in having been blest with one really fine day during the last week namely, Monday, 9th inst. To make the change the more astounding, it happened to be a general holiday, so that all had a chance of a day's enjoyment in the open, which the Eivertonians — never backward at that sort <f thing — were not slow to take advantage of. Pic-nick-ing, boat sailing, and cricketing were amongst the chief amusements for the day. The Volunteers betook themselves to your good town, as prearranged, to become — as after events proved — sadder, if not wiser men, receiving, as I understand, a jolly good thrashing, in as graceful a manner as possible. Between you and me, this just serves them right, and will set them

down a peg, as they have been getting awfully "cocky" of late. In fact, I really believe they were thinking of , pefixing an Ito the K.R. to stand for , Invincible. So, thank goodness, they got licked, and that properly. Each one, however, of the team is able to account for hie bad shooting in his own pecnliar manner. One speaks of there being a , mirage. Another couldn't get a good sight. Am -fcber sajs that some one else , bad shot out of his rifle, and it had gone wrong ever since. But my own opinion was that the whole lot of them were what is termed in the classics " gimleteyed." Ifc is stated somewhere in some news- , paper that the lambing this season won't yield more than 25 per cent. Those who get that per centage may, I think, consider themselves well off, and must have had their paddocks well sheltered. In this district a sheep farmer has had 1000 ewes lamb, and out of that number he has only 30 lambs remaining. He has offered to give these away to any one having milk to rear them, on the ground that the ewes are in too low a condition and weak to do so themselves. One of our largest squatters remarked the other day that £4000 will not cover his loss in tbis respect. The shearing will also be very late, as some do not intend shearing till well on in December, the sheep being, as they consider, too weak to lose their fleeces Cattle also have been dying off very rapidly. Captain Stevens reports his loss alone at over 300 head owing to their poverty and the spring grass coming so late ; the green feed has caused them to scour to death. Portions of the main roadworks in this district have been tendered for and accepted, but the inclemency of the weather down here will not admit of outdoor work being proceeded with. If VeDUs (who certainly is not ashamed of herself, as she may be seen with the naked eye at noon any clear day), has anything to do with it, as many here seem to believe, the sooner she parts company with her only sun, the better for us it will be. A sad accident befel our townsman, Mr Locke, of the " Star and Garter," on Friday, sth November. It is thought the injuries Mr Locke received may prove fatal. It happened thus : — A man staying in the house had put his horse in the stable. Mr Locke went in soon after to feed the animal, when the latter bolted out with a short piece of rope attached to its neck. After the horse had got into one of the back streets, Locke sue needed in catching the end of the line. Tbe horse then dragged him along until he fell down, still maintaining hia hold, when the brute kicked and struck him on the side of the head, aboye the ear, smashing the skull, and rendering him insensible. In this state he remained for two or three days, when he became slightly conscious, although incoherent. He has since been taken to your Hospital.