NEVIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 39

NEVIS.

August 21. — The powers and influences that govern the weather have dealt veiy kindly with us poor dwellers among the mountains during the past two months, a period which is usually more or less of an inclement nature so far as my experience of past winters goes. We have never known so mild a winter, and spile of the rampages of ''Ward" and "Millar" and '*Taj'lor" and "Buddo" in some parts of our Dominion and aironnd our coast, we have been left | almost unvisited by storms, oi floods, oi j protracted frosts. Of course our croakers ' are saying, "there will be no water for th 9 miners later on." But I think there is wisdom in the statement of the Old Book, ' "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," so let us '"take the good of every day and hope for more to-morrow." Spring. — The spring birds are beginning i to put in their cheery presence, and the ! skylarks are warbling their happy trills Quite soon the clarion call of the dredge . born will again wake our hardy sons to their daily and nisrttly- shifts, -and tho ' Spade and the- plough, will begir to be in ! evidence, and the pick, shovel^ and nozzle will begin to do their several purposes in hands -well Fested by winter's vacation. Fire,— 'We have not been without incident, even in this quiet corner. The mysterious burning down of the uninhabited dwellrnsr-house of Mr F. Jones, situate near the hotel, hasr afforded subject for conversation. The fire was first seen just after | midnight, and the house, which was inj sured for some £70, was in a very ehort time reduced to ashes without anything being saved. Mr Jones and the family were [ out of the district at the time, and much i sympathy is felt for them in their loss. t Chancre. — Once again our local hotel, store, butchery, and bakery has changed ; its proprietary, Mr J. M'Lachlan giving j place to the present owners, Messrs W [ Robertson and A. Harding There ia a I rumour of a change in our mail service between Upper Nevis and Garston. The change is said to be in the direction of discontinuing this service and runninsr tho | mail delivery via Cromwell to Upper Nevis | once weekly. This is rather disappointI ing to those who travel via Garston to Invercargill or Dunedin. The difficulty would be overcome if an arrangement could be made with the storekeeper at Garston. who sends a trap with stores to Upper Nevis once weekly, running down to Lower Nevis also. He could thus pick up any passen?ers to these places. Subdivision of Runs. — 1 have noticed with much satisfaction the recommendation of the delegates who met at Cromwell to deliberate on the surveyed and proposed subdivisions of the Morven Hills and Kawarau Runs, urging upon " the Land Board the setting aside of a piece of land with a view of subdividing into sections for dairy "farms of 50 acres. This to us is a most essential necessity in our situation of isolation among the mrintains. where everything we consume has to he carted over ! high mountains, and in the very midst of I runs vhieh. will be sure to sell al rents I which will make it impessible for us land- ! less ones to own a cow or horse without ; being at the mercy of the lessees. Wo are earnestly hoping the board will give favourable consideration to this and make this reservation. Mining. — Our winter holiday-makers are j onop more rolling back to begin the busy I work of raking in the nuggets. The Lower Nevis Dredoring Coinnany is about to amalgamate with the Ngapara No. 2, whose dredge was burnt last year. Notices to this effect are being posted on the respective ! claims. I hear that, Mr Deegran has been ! appointed manager of the hydraulic claim I on tbo east side of th»» Nevis, in place of I Mr Hijrhley, who has been appoinWl nianI ager of the Lusrgate Hydraulic Sluicing j Company, the late manager having purchased our local store and hotel. WAJJIKA. 1 August 28. — We aTe now info -princr. and real spring too. Though slight show?rs of snow fell last week there have been no further sign of any repetition. _of winter ; weather. Wheat-£owin<z is going ah-ad fast, and in some pa.cos some of the , farmeis are sowing oais. Thera is a very perceptible growth in the young- srass. and altogether we will oniov an carlv season. 1 Valedictory.— On Thui-wdav. 19th ult.. a i farewell social was t»nd^r<'d to Mr John j Hall and faJnily at their i-p-idonco. Wai- ' mea. on the occasion of their leaving the ' district to take up farming npar Balclutha. | Thoucrh the night ww rath'i rough, a | goodly number of friends were present. jMr E Butler occupied the chair, and during an interval he called upon Mr T. L Heenan to say a few words. That srentleman thereupon presented Mr and Mrs Hall with a pair of easy chairs and I a purse of sovereigns, at tht same time | wishing them every pro-pcrity in their ' future home. Mr F. Hall rpspondsd on 1 behalf of his parents. The following con- | tributed to the musical part of the pro- ! syvajnme : — Miss Strachan. Messrs J. C. i M'Kenzie, J. M'Phereon, Woods. Sh-ddon, | E. Butler, R. Butcher, and J R. RobertI son The gathering brokt up with the I eineing of " Auld lang syne." I Literary an-d Debating Society. — ihia I society held its fortnightly meeting on i Monday evening, when there was a fanattendance at tha Oddfellows' Hall to hear the debate, the subject being '" Th-* Inj fluence of the Sword versus that of the i Pen " Mr L. Heenan opened in favour ' of the sword. and was backed by Miss-s ' Clearwater and Stephens an.l Mr J. A. ! Robertson. Dr Watt defended the pen. ' backed by Mr J. Stephens. Altogether ' come very in tcr eating speeches were made. A vote was taken, the result beintr a- slightmajority for the sword. The next evening thpro will be a mock mayoral election, for i which there are six candic!a*es— Mi-S'-s j Templeton, Cigar-water, and Stephens, and j Messrs A Simpson, D. M'Alister, and C. Heenan. ! Sickness.— The varlou-, schools in thi« dis- ' trii-t have been closed down for a fortI merit or so o\un; to the pi-^alenc™ of coU's amongst rho"childr«n. Some of ilr> : •' grown-ups " are ai-o fciiflVring from this common thouch anno\ins wsiror. Obituary. -On Wednesday laht Mr A. Balloch. of Riveisdale, passed away at the age of 79 veai«. Dec->a*ed has b?en ailing for some time past, and hie death was not altogether unexpected. He has been a resi- ! dent of Riveradale for some jean}, and

was very well known amongst the farmers, as he owned several traction engines, chaffcutters, and mills. Owing to failing health he has not taker an active part in the business, which has been carried on by his sons. He was formerly a resident in the Catlins district. He leaves a wido\ and a' grown-up family of four sons and four daughters, three of whom are married.