BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1133, 18 January 1884, Page 3

BLACKS.

(From our Correspondent). The weather has been extraordinarily changeable of late, a taste of every conceivable sort being dished np daily. Wind, rain, snow, and sunshine, with an admixture of thunder and lightning alternating nearly every hoar with beautiful rognlarity. It is taally becoming a serious question—the weather—as if fine warm weather does not Settle down 1 quickly the harvest will be’J completely rained. Though there has been plenty of rain there has been no growth on account of the unseasonable cold. When it is told that snow has fallen frequently of late on the flat ground, and that ice, the thickness of a shilling, was to be seen on the water this week, some idea may be formed of the severity of the weather. Loud thunder and blinding lightning also has been very frequent of late. The concert on the 26th nit., in aid of the Sunday School, was not so well attended as the cause demanded, the nett proceeds were only L 4 odd. The concert and ball, however, in aid of the Cricket Fund, was, in attendance, a greater success, though, in so far as the musical and vocal part it was nob much in advance of the other referred to. There is no end of talent in the district, but the bearers of it are very sparing of their power, ... Woodyear’s circus drew to the place as large a concourse of people that has been seen here for a.very longtime. The most of them, hqwover, were terribly disappointed' as the performance was a very meagre one, and not the best at that;. the electric light as a matter of course was not be seen, as the engine was said to be out of order. The whole thing was a trifle of a sell, and should .Mr Woodyear again pay us a visit he will meet but a poor reception. As there is not to be an agricultural show this vein* I would suggest that sports lie got up for St. Patrick’s Day. If a strong committee took the matter in hand, I feel confident they would be liberally supported. Sports during the day, to wind np with a concert and dance in aid of the 11. C. Church, would fill up the holiday. A meeting of the Library Committee called for thel4th inst., had to tie adjourned till next Monday, the 21st inst., in con.-c----quenco of the small atte idanoo. In fact there was only one person present, and that one person could not constitute a meeting by unused. It is a great pity suuh extreme indifference is manifested in the library. It is lobe hoped there will bea’arge attendance on the 21st inst. The request of the Chairman'of the Board to baud in all the library books I regret has receive i but scant attention. Messrs Murphy, Bros., I learn, have sold their farm, consisting of some 800 acres, to Mr Giassford, juo., and he again has resold to Messrs Laidlaw and Co., the proprietors' of the Matakanui station, at a slight advance. The figure paid was 1.5 per acre. The brothers are going to leave the district, but preparatory to doing so will hold an auction of all their stock. The day fixed for the sale is Tuesday, the 29 hj inst., and Mr Fache is to wield the haramei. The sale will be a big one, and should draw togethe- a large crowd of bidders, and moreover, the sale is Joint fide. Mr Drummy, the contractor for the new Court House, is pushing ahead with the work, So far as the building is concerned, that will be all right, but it is miserably small, and occupying so commanding a position as it dees, will have an insignificant appearance. The troth is it is far too small, the which will be soon found out by both the Bench and suitors. When it is completed it will then be too late to alter it, hut at the present stage of affairs any contemplated alteration should be made. A very good suggestion has been thrown out, and that is instead of partitioning off the Magistrate’s private room, to add another room on either side of the main building. The hall of justice then would be a fair size, though very narrow.