THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3419, 5 February 1874, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Merton.— Our Merton correspondent writes: On Thursday morning last a fire broke out m a stack of straw belonging to Mr Peter Kane, Merton. The wind being unfortunately favorable, the flames in a very short time reduced the stack to ashes. Fourteen bags of wheat that stood alongside the stack in readiness for the mill were badly damaged, and a cart frame and several bags of chaff were totally destroyed, and a chaff-cutter slightly injured. How the fire originated is not known. Mrs Kane and the children were the only ones about the place for two hours previous to the fire. The previous evening Mr Kane and his men were cutting chaff from the same stack, and whether not a loose match was dropped and ignit cd with the rays of the next day’s sun can only be conjectured, Mr Kane estimates his loss at Lso.'” The blackbird and jark have taken up their abode amongst us. The bush and the hayfields occasionally ring with the sweet notes of these charming songsters.— ‘ Waikouaiti Herald.’ Upper Taieri,— A miraculous escape from almost instantaneous death occurred recently at a neighboring station. A bale of wool had just been pressed and the screw was being worked up, when, owing to the small screw bolt breaking, the heavy plate attached to the screw fell with violent force on to the pressed bale. Had the man, who had just drawn his head from under the screw plate after sewing the bale, been two seconds later, he would have been killed on the spot.—The wool season is now almost closed. The clip on the whole has not been so good as the previous year. There is a heavy deficiency in some of the stations, which is attributed to various causes. The best clip was shorn from the flock of Mr F, G. I’ogson, of Barewood Station, in the southern part of the district. That magnificent sheep station, situated in a sheltered valley, has long been noted for its wool-growing capabilities. For many years this station was held by Messrs ® ro ? , » w ko disposed of it to Mr Pogson. 10,000 merino sheep were shorn this season; and it must have been gratifying to the new Urm to witness such a heavy clip for their first season—over 250 bales having been pressed. VV nen we take into consideration the fact that each bale weighed upon an average 3601bs we can arrive at the conclusion that it is one of the heaviest clips ever witnessed in the district.— 1 very much regret to state that a fire broke out last night (January 29) in the dwelling-house of a settler on the Strath-Taieri Plain, which caused the entire destruction of the house and everything in it. How the fire originated will perhaps for ever remain a mystery, as the owner was absent at the time. Some valuable nooks and papers were consumed, Great sympathy has been expressed for the sufferer, who is much respected throughout the district. The building was uninsured. - ‘ Ibid.’