COAL CREEK FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1022, 8 March 1884, Page 3

COAL CREEK FLAT.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Our small commnuity was greatly shocked to hear of the sudden death of A. J. MTherson, who was well-known and respected, and was for many years a coalpit proprietor and butcher. Fortunately for his wife and young family of five children, his life was insured for £500, I hear. Here we have another instance of the benefits of life-assurance.

I have heard that a terrible accident befell Mr Butler (of Speargrass Flat) last Thursday. He was engaged cutting his corn with a reaper aud binder, and had occasion to sharpen the knife. When standing in front of the machine the horses started, and before Mr Butler could escape, the knife caught his legs and nearly cut off one, lacerated the other, and severely injured him in other parts of the body. Mr Butler is a hardworking, industrious man, with a large family, and every person feels sorry for him, and hopes 'he will soon recover his health again. Our district was visited on Tuesday night by a most destructive gale of wind,' which did a great deal of damage to our farmers and fruit-growers. Thousands of bushels of corn were shaken out of the ears, and in some of the paddocks which were uncut, the ground is white with the shaken corn. Fortunately, most of the uata were cut and stooked. Several trees were blown up by the roots, and nearly every fruit-tree was broken and the fruit shaken off. The past summer has been a most changeable one. I hope the autumn will be fine and enable the farmers to secure their crops. It is a very pleasing thing to see studious country school teachers like Mr W. A. Reilly obtain a B.A. degree. I hope he will yet obtain an M.A. degree. He shows a good example to other teachers. Our local School Committee intend to celebrate the opening of our school by a pic-nic, soiree, concert, aud dance, to be held on the 6th instant ; the proceeds to go towards fencing in the school ground. The Roxburgh Brass Band (the members of which are a lot of jolly good fellows) are going to give ' their services. I have no doubt all present will enjoy themselves, and I hope a lot of people will attend and place our Committee in a position to build a good fence.

3rd March, 1884. [The above arrived too late for publication in our last is3ue.]