Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1862; 1872; 1882; 1885 - 1897; 1899 - 1904), Monday 24 February 1890, page 2


District Intelligence.

PARKES. (Independent.)

It would appear that the venomous red-backed spiders are getting both numerous and vicious. On Friday last a little son of Mr. W. Rogan was bitten on a very tender part by these little pests, and for a

time was in great danger of losing his life, but we are pleased to learn from Dr. Murray that he is on a fair to recovery. On Sunday evening, a man named Charles Spicer was bitten on the forearm by one of the same species, and but for the im-mediate assistance of Dr. Eagar may have suffered severely. We learn that Spicer has not felt any serious effects from the sting he received. As showing the fertility of the soil in this district in anything like a fair season, we may mention that four peaches taken promiscuously from a case brought into Mr. W. Jones' shop, on Monday, from Mr. H. H. Cooke's garden at Currajong, known as Trelowarren, turned the scale at two pounds — and these were by no means the largest in the parcel. During the storm on Monday morning last, one of the chimneys at the court house was struck by lightning, but very little damage was done further than dis arranging a portion of the top work. It is almost a pity that the electricity did not take a better hold of the miserable structure now used as a courthouse and razed it to the ground, as then we might have had something more in keeping with requirements and advancement of the place.