ORARI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1477, 9 March 1886, Page 2

ORARI.

(From our Correspondent.)

Since laßt writing to you, we have, in common with the surrounding districts, been busily engaged in harvest operations, which are now nearly completed, and in most cases favorably, so far as the weather has been concerned. .Notwithstanding the unfavorable anticipations of a few weeks back, the yield per acre will not fall far below tho average of previous years, and in some favored localities very heavy crops hav« been harvested, so that the ill effects of the prolonged drought will be more severely felt by Btock«ownen, as grass in consequenca must be scarce, and the turnip crops to a large extent a total failure, even when a secoad, and in some cases a third, sowing has been resorted to, The river which gives the name to our little township is, and has been for some weeks, as dry as a brick kiln, and, as a matter of course, the deduction of fish is something enormous. In some of the small tributaries I have counted twenty and thirty trout dead in the stagnant pools of lipid water ; and all along tho almost dried-up courses the gulls and hawks may be seen with fish ranging up to two or three pounds weight. Messrs McOasky and Bnnis entertained a very large audießce here on Friday last with a grand selection of the best dissolving views ever produced in Orari, on London, the Zoological Gardens, Continent of Europe, Egypt, a Voyage up the Nile, and a complete history of the notorious bushranging Kelly Gang, the exploits of whom a few years ago were ringing in the ears of the whole world ; blbo some excellent life-sized photos, of persons of rank and noteworthy men, such as Queen Victoria, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Bob Scott, the well-known Geraldinejehu. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up with great spirit till an early hour in the morning. Music was supplied by Mr C. Haar, of Winchester, assisted by Mr Win. McDonald, of Orwi, and the duties of M.C. were ably discharged by Mr J. C. Binskin.