DUNTROON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1027, 5 August 1879, Page 2

DUNTROON.

(from our own correspondent. ) The weather has been pretty severe, with frosts by night, and cold, _ bleak winds by day. The surrounding hills are still covered with snow. 'I hear that» number of sheep have already perished, and that some of the managers up-country have been compelled to feed their flocks on hay. I trust now that spring is entered upon we shall soon be able to commence tilling. At present nothing can be done either in ploughing or gardening, as the frost in some places is twolva inches in the ground. Still, our farmers are not looking much put out. They are on the whole a jolly lot, and in a position to stand, at all events, one hard winter. The footbridge over the Maerewlienus River at this place should be seen to at once, or, should there be another Hood, I much fear that we shall be cut olt from, communication with the other we again adopt the old style keeping & - pair of thigh boots to c.vass iiv The la'o flood has scoured deep holes round the centre piles, and left the bridge very shqk§y, and now that the river is what it should be—a beautiful clear stream—th§ deep holes are plainly seen. The bridge just completed, having sto.ne piers at ail angle, with the river throws tho'heavy current to this side. This will no doubt necessitate a retaining wall. The river during the last flood was over its banks, and a la r S e stream was running in front of the store. _ Our township has increased wonderful'/ within the past two months, several buiM" ings having been erected, both bus;ti<s premises and private cottages. In fact wP can now boast of p.ll t1,.) trails represented here, and, although we hajjj not the professions, they will natural J follow as soon as wo are nuniei enough. , I hear that tho ploughing match mee ing held on Saturday was well attende / and that an influential committee was.f pointed, and that a most liberal p ro gramme will be advertised. Now that the railway bridge is completed, I trust that we shall soon havetn station and goods shed here, and nothavei as at present, to travel half a mile to reac them.