BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1180, 10 October 1884, Page 3

BLACKS.

'(from our Ourreaoondent).

The'weather has at last apparently taken «pt the past day, or two being pure spi'ttg, 'Cold nights and mocningß, but fine, warm, and mellow during the days. The fame's ■are taking advantage of the change, and on all sides is seeding and rolling being pushed ahead. The late spring wiil doubtless cause a late harvest, hut anv inconvenience ■on that head will be overbalanced by extra ■crops, the ground for y -ars past never having been m snob good fettle as it now is. Tue pasture ia >eginning to JoJk tp’eurli I, and owners of Stick arc'quite .{jubilant. The (if late, however, accompanied fiSyy were, by cold biting winds, accord general accounts, b.is interfered with the lambing, and the increase it is expected, wilt fall far short of the average, on manv properties a very large percentage, of the early lambs having sue■combed to the inclemency of the weather. Whilst on matters pastoral, I may mention the very general impression ia abroad that all kinds of stock Will be very scarce, and ■consequently - prices have an upward tendency. It is a well-known fact that large ■cattle are now very scarce, the runholders apparently do not favor the breeding of large cattle, and as in hut Very few instances the farmers have areas large enough to breed 'largely, there.is no probability of the local ■supply being-equal to tlie amount. The coming County elections are beginning to bo talked about, and a certain amount of anxie- yis being felt as to who WII come forward. All sorts of ramou-s arenfliat, but as yet they have taken no •delimie shape. Mr Dennisum; of Ida! Valley Station, ia mentioned as a probable' candidate for Manuberik'a in opposition to our old member Mr J. Pitches, and an •effort is to be male to draw Mr Laid- : law, of Wat ikanm sta ion, into the -contest against Mr Sheppard. I give; yon the in r-mouis for what they are wo th, out from tue significant fret Mr Fraser, of Eatnsuicugh, tire present County i ‘Chairman,- is looked upen has certain to again represent Dunstan; and MrSironach, -of Morven Hills Station, is almost certain •of Hawea; and bo:h Mr Howell, if Mount Pisa, and M Cowan, of Kawarau Stations, are probable candidates for the t latha ami Lin''is ridings respectively,'l think the; 'question is one in every sense worth considering, The po-sibility • f six pastoral tenants having seats in a council of eight is . too good a thing to bo true, but so says I Tumour. I shall leave the matter and ■await the remit.

There are two entertainments on the trip lx, one in aMof the.Dunsiaa District Hospt.al, •which is to take prcc; dence, the ot her is to he muter the auspices of tlio Co >,l Tompla’s ■in the district, and the net results are to he •expended in protecting the shrubs and trees in our local cemetery and otherwise beautifying the grounds. The cemetery commits tee hare Imcn to a good deal of expense -already, indeed they have expended all ! their'available funds in planting a l umber •of trees which, by (he bye, were a gift from the I akc County JS ursery, and the Good Templars think in celebrating their anni ’vers.iry (hoy ceuld not do belter than give (lie proceeds to thu purpose named. For •both entertainments all the local talent have proinisail their support g accordiug'v 'they will be worth attending, at any rate f rakall hope to see a large attendance. As the County Council at their last •meeting refused to devote any of their (funds towards abating what was trnly a ■wretched nuisance, and that was by filling mp a large. hpl« immediately to the rear of the street that hart been used as a general -receptacle of tilth for years and years back, ‘tlio hat was sent round the town and snffi-*ci-uit rai.-ed for tho purpose. Wo have 'therefore to thank the County C unoil for Soothing;; it is really very little Backs has asked for in return for -ill its revenue. I ithmk, .therefore, this small requ .-at might ’have ht-en granted.

'1 he contractor foi furnishing +l»o now ‘Court House is busy at wo. k. I shall be : bnt liitlo surprised if the next sitting cf ‘the Court is held thero.

_ 1 ticket is in fall swing just now, practice every night, in ancicipa ion of the provable match with. Mauiototo County.