Winton.

Southland Times, Issue 9383, 24 November 1886, Page 3

Winton.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 11 It'i a bonnie, bonnie waiT that we're livin' in the noo," — bo 6ays the poet, and I think the words are applicable to the present season. The fields are at present dressed in that colour on which the eye never tirei of feasting ; one imagines that he can almost tee the gram glowing, while the crops arc looking healthy and strong. The gardens— well, they will look mnch belter in a week or two, when the strawberries and other fruit are ripe, Some of the cottiers may look out for my paying them a visit on a Sunday then. 11 Have you seen the wild man ?" — "Is he caught yet ?" — " Do you think there is one ?" — Questions like these are being asked every " hour of the day, by strangers of residents in the township ; and the answers are us various as the questions, "No ;" •' Don't believe there is one ;" •« Strange he has only been seen by childrcu and timid womeD." I think the strangest thing of all is that he has been able to keep body and soul together for such a length of time on broadleaf. I heard a woman the other day say that be must have be^n in her garden during the night, and eating her cahbagta, as the missed a few. One thing is certain, that no young lady will take her afternoon walk up the tramway now, unless accompanied by her '• cousin," I notice that your contemporary's correspondent has raised a newspaper controversy on the organ question. Now, I quite agree with biax tbnt it would fc>e an Requisition to tbe cbuicb. it tf>eie y?&* od« There are a few old Free Kirk folk in all congregations who persist in standing at prayers and sitting while singing, who, I believe, think it is contrary to Pcripture to do the opposite. •' Watcbtower," or j " Watchman on the Tower, 1 ' or whoever he is, makes a quotation from, one Smith, Who's be ? Nobody ever heard of him ; and because thia man Smith sajs it's wrong it must be. Now, I say, if the Mcßacs, in the Mcßae country over in the Hokonuis, wanted the bagpipeo to aid them in ta singing ta Maker's praise, why, by all means, let them have them. There is no more harm in havitig organs in church than there is in ladies wearing unauthorised " improvers," or gentlemen eye glasses. The trains are again changed,- and I think for the better. The next alteration will be a fall bark on the old time-table, which was the one that p'eaaed mos — an evening and morning train both ways. For the benefit of those who are readers of the Times, and of coarse wonli not see the cew time-table in the News, I will give one— one that will be simpler, and of course better understood. The published time-table reads like a musical scale from A up to G (they are very musical, these time-tables, ain't they ?) There is a treiu to town every morning from here at 9, and one leaves Invcicargill every afternoon at 4 30. There are trains to town every evening at 6 or a few minutes after, with the exception of Wednesday and Friday, and a train from town every morning at 6.45, with the exception of tbete two days, Wednesday and Friday. If settlers in and around Winton would cut this paragraph out and nail it up near their toilet tables it might save many an unnecessary journey. I have known settlers, after riding a good distance, compelled to remain in the township or return home owing to the fact of there being no train. The house of Mr Jame3 McTavifh, on the Oreti Piaine, was burned to the ground the other day. The fire started near the chimney, but it htd got Buch a firm hold before I Mr McTavish (who tvas out in the paddocks) came home, that it was utterly impossible to mbdue it. The insuraLces were— £loo on the building in the North British and Mercantile, and £25 on the furniture in the South British. — Yet another 1 The house, stable and shed belonging to Mr Chas. Sparrow, also on Oreti Plains, were burned to the ground last Thursday. The fire broke out about 1.30 p.m, in the hay loff, and very soon, owing to ths strong wind blowing, all the buildings went. Two poor dogs that were tied up perished miserably. Mr Sparrow wa<, I hear, fully iosured— £ 100 on the dwelliDg. < bouse; &W0 on the stable; £30 on selfbinder ; £20 on the shed ; and £50 on the furniture, all in the New Zealand office. The examination cf the nchool takes place on Sa' urday. I hope the children will forget that Saturday is always a holiday with them and give their whole head and hearc to the examination. 22nd November, 1886.