COUNTRY NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1672, 6 December 1872, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

(FROM OUB OWN COKBESPOITDXNTS.) BIYEETON. The recent rains have been gladly welcomed by every class of the community, as the drought was beginning to have a depressing effect on industrial enterprise. Our spirited townsman, Mr James Reid, is erecting a flour mill here, to be driven by steam power. Some of the plant is already on the ground, and I am informed that the boiler is on its way out from the old country. A. good deal of sickness tag been prevalent iiere lately, more especially among young children. At Orepuki also, I believe, colds, influenza, and dysentery have been Tery general, but the recent change in the weather will no doubt have a beneficial effect on the health of the community at large. On Monday evening an entertainment was given in the Oddfellows' Hall for the benefit of the Maori school. The Eev. C. Stuart Ross occupied the chair, and there was a very good attendance. Mra | Nugent "Wood, of Switzers, kindly gave her assistance on the occasion by reading two pieces very effectively, viz., " Waiting for the Mail," and " Nothing to Wear." Mr Ireland, the teacher of the Maori children, gave an address on " Civilisation," and several young ladies belonging to Riverton contributed to the evening's entertainment by singing some Bongs very nicely. " The Bay of Biscay" was very well rendered by Mr Tuson, schoolmaster at Gummy'a Bush, and a few of Mr Wardrop's pupils, assisted by that gentleman, acquitted themselves very creditably in giving " King the Bell, Watchman," and " Wake, Nicodemus." The National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close. LONG BUSH. A firt, which might have been attended with disastrous consequences, took place on Friday afternoon in the bush adjoining to, and in fact almost surrounding, the residence of Mr James M'Kay here. Mr M'Kay had lately been taking advantage of the dry and calm weather to clear out part of the bush, and a spark from a slumbering fire, blown by the high wind, ignited a decayed tree at the foot of the garden, from which embers, falling into the neighboring scrub and dry branches lying on the ground, soon set

the whole edge of the bush into a blaze. No danger was apprehended till the afternoon, when aome trees in the immediate neighborhood of the house caught fire. An alarm was immediately giren, and soon every one was hastening along, supplied with buckets, to do their beat to arrest the progress of the devouring element and save the property of a respected neighbor A large number of actiye and useful hands were soon on the spot, and by judicious measures and a plentiful supply of water, the house, which was at one time in great danger, was ultimately saved from destruction. One of our settlers here, Mr Daniel M'G-owan, met with a very serious accident the other evening. While driving a heavily-laden dray from Woodlands, one of the horses shied, and he waa struck on the head by one of the shafts of the dray, by which he was stunned and laid ! prostrate. While in this position it is supposed that the dray had passed over him. He was found by one of his neighbors lying senseless on the side of the road, and conveyed to his house. It is fortunate that no bones Vvere broken, and though sadly bruised and unable to more, it is hoped that in a short time he will be all right, and able to attend to his active duties. Tour Tuesday's issue has just come to hand, in which I notice the copy of s document, signed by several of the settlers here in regard to the postal arrangement! of the district, and sent to you by some person under the assumed name of " Simon Sharp." Thia document is an official one, being addressed to the Post* master of Woodlands, and is consequently the property not of any private indiyidual, but of the Post-office department of the public service. It surely must be inconsistent with the duties of any officer of that department — chief or subordinate — to publish any of its documents under the guise of an assumed name, not for the purpose of promoting the interests of the public service, but, as is shown by the sentiments of the accompanying letter in this instance, for the low gratification of mere personal pique. If this has been done on this occasion, and if a similar malpractice has been indulged in before, the sooner an enquiry is made into it the better. Had I acted at the time referred to on the advice of one of my friends whose name I see is appended to the document, a representation would ere now hare been made to the Postcnasfcer-CJeneral on the subject. Of the document itself — which betrays its authorship — I shall say nothing at present. For further criticism I shall " bide my time." It is moat unfortunate that those who have signed it should have been unable to secure the services of a more fitting peraonase to usher their document into publicity than fcbe juvenile scribbler who rejoices in the misnomer of " Simon Sharp." He has accomplished his task in true Merry Andrew style, which detracts very much from the merit and dignity of the subsequent performance. Every one to his own taste, but for my part I would nob choose to ha.ye my name appended to a document in the public papers, heralded by such a contemptible production. One word in your ear, Master " Simon Sharp:" Are you aware that the Times's " Own Correspondent and the author of " The She Hundred" are two different individuals ? Does it not look as if you had overshot the mark this time ? Allow me to repeat the advice which you have presumed to give to me — take the little school-book (which I dare say was pretty well thumbed last winter) and read very carefully the fable of «* Look before you Leap." _____