COUNTRY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4055, 24 February 1876, Page 2

COUNTRY NOTES.

[From our Exchanges.) A ballasting engine is now running on the" -f Kaitangata line. The ilev. Mr Withey preached' his faite* weU sermon on Sunday last. He takes ' charge of the Clinton and Tapahui districts. Dyaentryis rather prevalent in Tnveascar- ' gill, and several severe cases are under treat* ? en K, *** one Stance a fatal termination has followed the attack on a strong, hearty >' man, who has been .employed at the gas* ' works for a considerable time. . Nearly all the farmers in the Tokomairiro district are busily engaged harvesting at the present time. The yield of oats mi? wheat * promises to be a very good one, and onkeveral farms there have been someremarkable haivy crops. Farmers have, as a rule, been able to obtain sufficient labor at a reasonable ; * rate of wages ; but in the Tuakitotp. district some difficulty has been ekperienced in getting hands. Yesterday was a red-letter day in the history of Cromwell, thefirst section of the long-looked-for Water supply being publicly opened. On Saturday, Mr Drummy, the contractor, let the water flow through the :f pipes for the first time. ■ Only a slight impediment was found to be in the way, which . was speedily remedied, and next day the water was allowed to run at low pressure,: ? r discharging itself into the race along limia- 1 * ; 1 cort street. ‘

Bishop Mown has caused the Waxkouaitd, Palmerston, and Hampden, formerly connected with the mission of Oamaru, to be annexed to the Mount Ida district, so that the native, population in the ■ other districts mentioned‘way be placed' ■’ under t the pastoral care of tide Rev. Father Royer, that gentleman being the 6nly dewyman in the-Diocesewho is familiar withthe Maori language.. The Cromwell Co.’s mine is now looking ■ ; brighter than for a long time paet. The. new -v stone is of a rich quality. The ‘Argus ’ har " been shown a prospect taken from half a tindish of quartz, which weighed over Sdwts, and there is every indication that this yield will run through a large body of stone.— The Eureka mine, at Bendigo, is. likewise . looking well, and the enterprising share- .. holders, who have gone into * this venture with praiseworthy energy and at Very considerable outlay, are sanguine of being amply repaid, a. result which no one nan • begrudge them.—The Hit or Miss Company ' (Rooney’s) are now down 76ft, and preparing for winter work. The mine still keens up its reputation of being one of the richest on Bendigo.—At the Garrick mining operations are quiet, but some of the mines are befog worked to advantage. In that. locality the * want of water is very much felt. At the Tokomairiro sitting of the District Court the case Regina v. Samuel Carswell fell through, the Court not having jurisdiction in a case of larceny as a servant.. Hie accused surrendered to his bail, waste- : arrested, and brought before Mr J. E. r - Brown, J.P., who remanded him to appear at the Resident Magistrate’s Court,Ba3. elutha, on Wednesday next. He was ad- ' • mitted to bail in his own surety of LSD, and two others of 125 each. The ‘Brace" Herald ’ says it is probable that proceedings " will have to be commenced again rfenore., * The accused seems to have a large number of friends and sympathisers in the Clinton district, for we are informed that a consider? ' able siim was subscribed there for the purpose of securing the services of Mr R. Stout defencef appeared for the

In the District Court on Saturday the Clerk read a letter from Mr Blackie, *u>Vt»iW . that he might be excused from attending, 1 as he had to go to Dunedin that day as a i > Colonial representative. Judge Ward ele- : : vatedhis judicial eyebrows, and wanted to V : - know what on earth a Colonial rente* <> sentative'was. Mr Donald Reid ekplalned Jv that .Mr Blackie would be one ofOtago’s representatives at the Colonial prise filing. - Mr Blackie said that he had received ' ■ to attend head-quarters that day. Bia 1 Honor, whose wig would, Appear to r all the wearer’s knowledgeof matters Wot 'j immediately connected with the Court, fcr c ,■* the time-being, wantfid to knowwhatlietaU r 3 quarters were referred to. ♦bat he meant the Vdlunteer Office, add Lthe ■ ♦ > Judge then told him that, as he waagoingto - v «i support the honor ; of Ctiftp, excused ttm attendance s i-it 1 . "-t'