WINCHESTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2254, 15 September 1891, Page 2

WINCHESTER.

Winchester, under the influence of the "first sweet breath of spring," is putting on its daintiest garb. Along the creek side the grass shows tenderly verdant, and in the bed of the stream itself aquatic plants are putting forth delicately* tinted leaves. The willows already give promise of shade, and their drooping branches reach out longingly towards the water, in which already their tiny pink colored rootlets may be seen waving responsive to the ripple of the stream. The observant angler will notice that trout appear unusually plentiful, and the past season must have been a most favorable one for spawning. The fish, of course, are not yet in good condition; a few warm days, however, will make a difference, for insect life will then rife. In the meantime it is that cannibalism iff in vogue amongst the finny denizens of the creeks, and, although that is doubtless a very reprehensible practice, it is one that the average onlooker is hardly justified in censuring, own designs upon the cannibals not being of the tenderest. In writing of Winchester one naturally refers to the stream, and angling first, because the place has of late years become somewhat noted in that way. There are, however, plenty of other objects of interest to be noted, especially in a commercial sense. Visitors to Winchester this season will miss the presence of Mr J. A. Young from the Wolseley Hotel, he having let the hotel to Mr Langdon, of Timaru. The latter is a thorough sportsman, very well known in the district, and likely in consequence to do well. He is under a special agreement to keep the gardens up to their present high standard, and no man should know better how to do it. Already he is having the garden put in order for the summer, and intends to add, if possible, to its attractions. Mr Young retires to take his ease at " The villa,'* * the grounds of which are being improved in various ways. A lot of the old trees have been cut away, and a capital tennis lawn put down. Mr Inwood, who has returned to his old home, has also'made extensive alterations, and the plifce scarcely looks the same. The church grounds adjoining are a credit to the place, and are more neatly kept than many in large citie3. Mr W. Harrison

still controls the mill, and/evidently means to make Winchester his residence for some time yet, as he has purchased a capital dwelling site near the church, ancl erected a comfortable hor.se upon i£. Other buildings are in course of erection. The park board are expending Borne of their accumulated funds in substantial improvements to the domain. The avenue of deciduous trees promises in course of time to be quite a feature of the place, and the belt of trees planted to the

north of the recreation ground will in a

year or two afford capital shelter. In the

township itself there is always a lot of

Avork going on. The Haar Bros, and Mr Barrett genarally have their hammers

ringing merrily, while Mr Carston's

wheelwright's shop is worthier of a larger town. Just now he has several neatly finished traps on view, and, what is more

to the purpose, several more on the stocks. In the rear of the building he has a paint shop securely lined, in which four vehicles can undergo their final varnishings at one time. The blacksmith's business formerlyworked in conjunction with this business is now carried on by Mr Watson upon his own jjfr. account. The grain shed erected by Mr. Inwood, but now occupied by Messrs Webster & Co., proved a great boon to farmers during the season. It is now-

being cleared for the reception of wool. Mr McCaskill's wool works are just now idle, but in about a couple of months' time they will re-open. At Smithfield

flax dressing is still being carried on; and. this industry has proved of importance to the district, as it has afforded employment ■ to quite a number of lands. . Tlie flax-

cutting season is now approaching, and ■ the QQ-o.perative company, who carry ox^

the works, have just let a heavy contract to Messrs Harte and Mewhinney. Host Mcintosh still beams tipon his customers from behind the bar of the old hotel, and being an old identity and a very genial soul to boot he has apparently'no lack of them. Round about the township the crops are looking very well, and there are Borne very neat gardens. Among the latter Mr Ensor's new orchard looks very well.