EASTERN BUSH

Western Star, Issue 1577, 8 July 1891, Page 2

EASTERN BUSH

(FIIOM OOU OWN COKRESL’ONUKNT.) The weather up here during the past few weeks has been, to say the least, pretty cold, especially during the last week. I will not say the ice was strong enough to bear a load of coal, but I have certainly been over the thick ice on a lagoon on horseback.

Settlement is increasing up here at a great rate and new houses arc being erected on every hand. Marriages hitherto unknown up here are now quite common, while the übiquitous baby linen flings its violet odors on every passing breeze. Talking of the matches and hatches brings me to their inevitable accompaniment, the School. As I mentioned in my last tho site previously chosen by the Inspector was almost inaccessible to the juvenile shanksprmies. On a recent visit, however, a few of the householdets prevailed on Mr Hendry to walkover and judgo for himself, with the result that the site has been shifted to a more accessible one nearer Eastern Bush.

I hear the surveyors are shortly to be started on the Woodlands station to the west of the Waiau. This at at present the habitat of wild pigs innumerable, who are busily preparing the soil for tho coming crops, acres upon acres of good ploughable land being turned up to the frost. by their wiry snouts.

Ploughing is now becoming general, but the recent severe frosts have prevented uny great speed being come-at-able. The owners of Merrivale estate have men at present busily engaged putting in 250 miles drain ploughing. Those who trouble tbeir brains over the unemployed difficulty should take a look over this station when they will, I have no doubt, see something to open their eyes, for what with ploughmen, drainers, threshers, shepherds, rabbiters and others, ovex' 60 men ax*e at present profitably engaged within tho Merrivale boundaries.

It was my fortune on the night of the 16th June to observe the most beautiful aurora it has ever been my lot to witness. The appearance was as of a number of bulls’ eye flashes radiating from a point apparently 45deg. below the horizon, due south. These without changing their position went through all the colours of the spectrum from white to red, yellow, green and blue with all the intermediate colors. The phenomenon however only lasted two minutes. Time, about 1 a.m. Monday.

Poisoning has now started on most of the stations and better weather could not be desired. Some of the stations are not picking up this season. It seems a shame to waste what in England is such a marketable commodity in such a way. Surely Mr Watson, theOtautau agent for tiie Preserving Company, could make some sort of a bi-weekly arrangement with us when bunny has got over the effects of the poison, and help to draw more “ tin” to the country.

Our latest sensation up here is the telephone from Otautau to Merrivale. This is, I believe, already pegged out, and will be a great convenience to the district.