THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3423, 10 February 1874, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Tuapeka.— Blight is very prevalent in a large number of gardens in the district, and the damage committed to vegetables—turnips and cabbages especially —is excessive.—Captain Hutton, accompanied by Mr Jamison and Mr Squires, visited Waipori on Friday. Thenreturn journey was unfortunately attended by an accident. On descending the steep hill towards Wetherstones, the horses got into one of the deep ruts so common on that part of the road, when one of the horses commenced plunging violently, which resulted in the breaking of the pole. Mr Jamison, who was driving, was .dragged from the buggy and sustained a fracture of his collar bone. Mr Squires and Captain Hutton were more fortunate, escaping with a few bruises. They had to walk to Law” rence, where Mr Jamison procured surgical attendance. He is doing well.—Good gold is being got by the party using the water from the VVaikaka race. Sluicing operations are carried °y six men, who are working two faces. They have come across the bed of an old creek from which splendid results are being obtained! —A nugget of gold, weighing 17dwts, was tound m the stamper boxes of the Gabriel’s Gully Quartz Company. There have been many nuggets found in these boxes, but this is the mrgest which has yet made its appearance.— 1 here was a large attendance of persons applying for land nnder the deferred payments system at the District Lands Office, on Thursday •jk x, Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, provides that when there is more than one application for the same land on the same day, the applicants to whom the land is to be leased are determined by ballot; for this purpose the competing applicants assembled at the Courthouse —the balloting being conducted before Mr Carew. the sections were all either in blocks dor 2, Glenkemch district. The highest number was the successful one; there being twice as many tickets put in the ballot-box as there were applicants, mid these tickets were numbered fiom 1 upwards. In many cases it occurred that applicants who were successful in drawing for one section were unsuccessful in balloting for an adjoining one, and in consequence withdrew, not caring for any portion if they could not get aIL