ALFORD FOREST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1395, 1 November 1886, Page 2

ALFORD FOREST

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) On Wednesday evening last a chi'd of Mr H. Bates while playing with n thee; dng wai badly bitten in the face. In » country like this, where mesterers are numerous, a small army of dogs is iudii pensab’e, and it Is generally found that these animals will romp and play with children, sometimes the dogs meo i>, with rough treatment, but they ar seldom known to bite, in fact, a bond of perfect brotherhood seems established between the children and their dumb pi ay mat *s. Nearly a whole week of cob' rain has still further prolo g d f.n an usually long winter, and ssd havoc has 1 been made both among sheep and lambs, especially on the hills or where some kind of food and shelter was not p ovided. Up in the snow line heaps of sixes or more ore clustered to:ether, but on the plains It does seem strange, where straw is plentiful and hu dles are easily and cheaply put together, that no shelter whatever is provid d. This entails great mi (Faring on the animals and consequent heavy loss to the fanner. One small cockatoo has three lambs only left from 150 ewes, This is certainly an exooptiona 1 0880, though the average loss cann t be leas than 30 to 50 per cen*. A. p“ti lon has been forwarded from this di-trict extenavely signed, asking ’hat the railway route may, as laid out in ■ho direction of the pound, be changed to oue crossing Bowyer’a Stream above the present site, and pass bv wsy of the downs near Mr T. E Mcßae’s, Stavely To suit everybidy is impossible, and whichever onto is chosen will have its own peculiar advocates and certain advantages, the latter way being most suitable for conveyance of timber etc., from the hills because of Its shortening the j mrney for carters, while the former plan would at once open up theßuco’euch and Alford Stations for settlement, which is greatly for the benefit of the public, and aim directly at forming a junction at some future, and, wa trust, not vry distant period with Methven, thus opening through trsffio to the north and south main lines. It may be mentioned that Mr E. Cooper is now hinting large loads of 2't lengths of timber by T eans of a traction engine from hi bush to the new railway station at Mount Somers. Mr Scott the engine driver, at present occupies the Station Master’s house. Oa Friday evening the Bushman’s Pr’do L-'dge of I O.G.T. gave a tea and concert, the muslolal arrangements being in the hands of the Mopehawk Nigger Minstrels, this being their second appearance In public. About a hundred sat down to tea, provided in Mrs Knight’s usual style, and songs Mr J. Ross, “ Putting on Airs ” Mr H. Knight, Jun , “Kisses”; Mr V. Allan, “ Cheer up S»m ” ; Mr T. Fagan, “ Oranwhere my Love’’; Mr E. C mper. “I’m Waiting for a letter”; Mr T Johnston, Scotch oSng, Mr Aiick Smith, “Camptown races,” were well received. The latter also gave a character song, “The Breadway ’Swell,” and a stump speech, aho in character, “Women’s rights,” which were rapturously received. Three farpes were given in really excellent style, viz, “Barnum’s Ball” “The Doctor’s Shop.” and “Musical Maniacs,” the various characters being taken V.y Messrs Fagan. Cooper, Knight, Ellen, Symes, Q. Johnstone, Rnrs, Gilbam, T Johnstone. Toe acting of each was unusually good and free from the iav*ri able stiffness of a fiist pi rformanoe, while Mr T. Fagan in each of the thre; leading characters shone with particular lustre, all being heartily applauded. Scenery, stage and dresses ware admirable. About fifty attended a ball afterwards, and Mes rs Symes. Price and Vinton kept them delighted and active until sunrise. Altogether the affair was a decided success in every way.