COAL CREEK FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1101, 10 December 1884, Page 3

COAL CREEK FLAT.

The recent bountiful rains we have had did a great deal of good. The various crops everywhere are looking splendid. Strawberries and cherries, which have been protected from the birds, are ripening, but there is not such a large crop of fruit this year as last, the frost and birds having proved very destructive.

The measles are prevalent in Roxburgh, but there are no cases here, with one or two doubtful exceptions. Our school ohildren are to receive prizes at the olose of the school for the Christmas holidays. We are bleHsed with regular visits from the Rev. Mr Griffin (Wesleyan) from Lawrence, who preaches here and at Roxburgh every four week to large congregations. The rev. gentleman's sermons are just what we want. The Rev. Mr Telford (Presbyterian) from Roxburgh preaches in our schoolhouse every fourth Sunday evening to good congregations. It wa3 announced last evening by Mr Telford that Mr Duncan Wright will visit our district in a week's time, and will hold special services, I hope Mr Wright's efforts will be crowned with sucobbs.

Shearing is in full swing at the Teviot station. The yield of wool is much better this year than it has been for several years past. Our small sheepfarmers are also shearing their flocks with good results.

I saw a really fine basket of fish (trout) on Saturday last, caught in the Teviot. The largest fish weighed over 51bs, and two were 31bs and 21bs respectively ; while the others ranged from 21bs to a £lb eaoh, and were real beauties. Nobody here, with one or two exceptions, has any time to devote to trout catching. There is a large quantity of fish in our rivers, which would amply repay any one, with a license, to catch. I think Mr Warden Wood's decision in the eleotion petition case, Brown versus Smith, on Thursday last, surprised everybody. If the case had been tried on its merits, Mr Brown might have been returned. I was informed of a similar case where a late member of the House of Representatives signed a nominationpaper in the same way and was returned. Possibly very few candidates comply with the strict letter of the law.

I was pleased to see Mr James Bennet elected County Chairman. He is a firstclass practical man, and is thoroughly impartial. I hope our Riding member will support him. Mr Oudaille proved himself to be a first-class Chairman, and showed his wisdom and disinterestedness in retiring from the County chair. We were amused, edified, and instructed by seeing all the lower Riding members when addressing their constituents, proving through facts and figures that all the lower Ridings received from the Council more than their fair share of County revenue. I hope wtien the lower Riding members oppose the expenditure of rightful moneys in the upper Ridings in future, they will leave our indebtedness to the lower Ridings alone.

The river is low enough to enable all the claims to be worked. There is plenty of water for sluicing purposes.