THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3422, 9 February 1874, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

The Lakes.— Sixpences are very scarce in this district and have been so for a long time past. One who ought to know something about the matter informs us that the absence of this small but useful coin is attributable largely to the Chinese, who use it as a gambling stake.— Various forms for swearing the Chinese from time_ to time have been adopted in Courts of Justice, so as to force them to give truthful evidence. Mr Stratford, R.M., Arrowtown, the other day made a Chinese witness undo his tail, kneel on the ground and blow out the orthodox match.—One hundred thousand acres of land were sold on Friday last for pastoral purposes by the Government auctioneers, Messrs M‘Ardell and Co. The purchasers were Messrs J. W. Robertson and Co., at the upset price of a half-penny per acre. The country embraces a large portion of land stretching from the Hollyford River to the Canterbury Province. Those who know, or say they know, something about the country declare it to be an advantageous purchase. It should prove so, as the climate is pretty good, and the country probably will not turn out, when properly examined, as rough as imagined. Assessment has to be paid at the rate of L 135, and the premium paid is L 200. ‘ Wakatip Mail,’