THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3426, 13 February 1874, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

TturEKA.— The weather in Tuapeka during the latter end of last week was scorching by day and sultry by night. The thermometer oh Saturday rose to 126 degrees in the sun and 88 in the shade. The effect of this intense heat has been very enervating. Everything animate, excepting grasshoppers, appears to suffer from lassitude. The grasshoppers have developed wings, and fill the atmosphere in every direction, to the no small discomfort of many people. This week has brought a change of weather. On Monday morning a severe thunder storm came over by Mount Stewart and Round Hill, skirting Lawrence and travelling towards Waipori. We met two gentlemen who were caught m the storm—the oue on the Round Hill and the other on the Waipori ranges—and they described the scene as something terrific making their horses play up at a frightful rate In Lawrence the rainfall was slight, but we have never before heard such peals of thunder or witnessed such vivid flashes of lightning We have not heard of any damage resulting trom the storm m Lawrence or its neighborhood, but we hear that three of the iron telograph posts in Murray’s Flat were struck bv the lightning and split in two. On Tuesday the atmosphere which bad been so sultry was considerably ratified, and a good deal of rain fell in the early part of the day. Early on Wednesday (morning: the cold was Siberian.-Good lemplansm still makes rapid strides here. Lodge St Lawrence added nine to its list of membership on Monday evening last, and a similar number is spokeu of for tho next lodge Fleeting. total number of members now m compliance with this lodge is about 70Un 1 uday night last about 9 o’clock a beautiful meteor was observed in Lawrence to pass over the heavens m the direction of north to south Captain Hutton, during his visit to Tuapeka and Waipori, made himself acquainted with the Gabriels and O.P.Q. reefs. He expressed himself highly pleased with the 0.P.0 reef and remarked that were such a fine body of stone discovered at the Thames, 50 head of 1

s tampers would be at work in a remarkably ■short space_of time. With regard to the Gabriels reef, he expressed himself satisfied with the payable nature of the lode.—Harvesting operations are continuing t6 go ahead, Several tanners have finished reaping, and inform us that the oat and wheat crops generally will be inferior, both in quantity and quality, in companson with previous years. This fact is attributable to the dryness of the season, and the damage committed by grasshoppers and caterpillars the last mentioned insect being the most destructive. In many instances farmers have lost a large quantity of grain from ravages committed by this pest. Myriads of them may be observed wherever the crop is thickest, and they manage to crawl, in the absence of wind, to the top of the straw, where they laboriously unite in nipping the grain off the head. —The railway contract of Messrs Hunter and Co., between Lawrence and VVaitahuna, is being pushed forward vigorously, and we observe that a considerable amount of. work has been completed since we last referred to the progress made. A large number of culverts running through the intervening gullies has been finished. The contract generally is in a forward state, and it is presumed there will bo little difficulty experienced in completing the work within contract time. There are two or three rock cuttings throughout the contract to contend with—the principal being before approaching Clarks Flat from Lawrence, and which is composed of a very hard stone. This cutting appears to be the only one of a tedious kind, rendering the removal of the stone difficult. Blasting powder, as may be imagined, is constantly brought into requisition.— ‘ Times.’ . Cromwell. —There is more sickness prevailing in the township of Cromwell at the present time than has ever been known to exist sines Cromwell was a township.—At the meeting of the Miners’ Association on Saturday evening last, a great many extraordinary statements were made in reference to the way in which a certain Mining Registrar is mixed up in mining business, to the detriment of many miners. In consequence thereof it was resolved that a letter should be sent to the Secretary for Goldfields, asking if Mining Registrars are permitted to hold mining and water rights, and if so, to state that it is desirable such should not be permitted. The Cromwell Company cleaned U P * parcel of 54 tons on the 9th, with a result of 256 ounces, being at the rate of four ounces to the ton. As reported likely last week, the water in the creek has failed, and the mill will consequently be at a standstill for a time; it is to be hoped only a short time.