SOUTH LAND.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9117, 30 May 1895, Page 3

SOUTH LAND.

" Weekly Press and Referee." For year-i it has been our constant complaint that we were neglected and nob thought enough of by the rest ot the colony, hue that yarn won't hold good any longer. We are before the world now and no mistake. First it was the Colonial Treasurer that gave us a lift with the wonderful S% loan, aud this followed by reports cf cable messages enquiring if anybody and everybody would ltko to be bought out, made us feel that we were in ir, and were Hying sky high right off the reel, and visions of untold riches floated before cur eyes, and. while we were waiting for more news of the right colour, which never came, we were suddenly dropped upon by the Winton baby farming case, a nice ending to all our hopes. There is no money iv it, only notoriety. We are known now far and wide, but it is a bad business certainly, and it will open the eyes of the people of this colony to the fact that the vices of great cities are gradually finding a home amongst us. How long the game would have gone on had not the woman done that twisting and turning on the railway lines it is hard to say, but the case is full of difficulties. She is a smart woman, Mrs Dean, and will be found a difficult nut to crack ; anyhow, when the trial does takes place we shall be advertised again. In the meantime all proceeding* have been adjourned to the 27th last. Five infants and a girl of fifteen, who were found at the Deans, have been removed to Invercargill and are being cared for at the Southland Home. If the enquiries which are being made should result in it being found out who these babies belong to the revelation would be unpleasant to a number of people, for already there are some ugly rumours about. We cannot boast much of the weather lately for it lias been oue long succession of dreary, wet days. Just now we are having a touch of frost, but by the look of it it is not for loDg. The wet weather commenced very early this year, and this makes a long, weary winter of it, and the grass suffers. Stock doesn't thrive on grass continuously soaked with rain and touched occasionally with frost. The freezing companies are not doing much just now, the reason given being thab freezers of a suitable clasa are not coming forward freely. Threshing is pretty well through now till spring. Oats are in fair demand, but tbe price doesn't rise, lid and Is being aboub the price. Sheep are low enough too, though during the last woek or two there has been a fair demand for crossbred lambs' aud wethsrs suitable for turniping. Fat cattle are down in price ; they have kept up for a long time, but have met their fate ab last. Prime dairy cattle, however, are in great demand and bring good prices. Some people hold to the opinion that oats will go up; they may, bub when one goes through the country and sees the innumerable stacks scattered all over, you may be excused for having doubts on the matter; but in spite of the low price of oats, croppers continue to pay cood prices for lands to let, 10s to 10s an acre being readily paid. I suppose ie is that under this system there is little or no re* sponsibility, and with low prices ruling and a very fair prospect of their continuance, men don't care to take up farms, which though apparently cheap now may be dear enough in a year or t<vo, and all over the country good farms are for sale and on reasonable terms, but no buyers. Between perpetual leases and low prices the freehold farm hasn't much of a show just now considering the low >

price of oats. The question may be asked. How it is that so many are grown here if Well it cleans the land, makes its fresh and wholesome when afterwards laid down io grass. If this system was more generally followed in other places we should not hear so much about-heavy losses among sheep. It is the dirty land that does the mischief. We hear "Wry little of trouble among sheep in this district.

The, police have been raiding the sly grog shops in the country districts. A couple of informers have been going round, their pay being seven shillings per 4ay. Not much hag been made of the cases, the last two having been dismissed, the Magistrate having declined to accept ths uncorroborated evidence of the informers.

The Invercargill S.M., Mr C. EL Rawson, is being removed to the Clyde district, and Mr J. W. Poynton, of Wellington, takes his place. The position of S.M. and Warden of the Southland district entalls/a great deal of work.

Now that the Advances to Settlers Act is coming into operation, its details aia being closely looked into, especially tinmatter of foreclosure, which is given as fourteen days, but in the case of Goverpment lease lands the Land Act fixes tfhe month. It now appears that the Act rules in the ease, so that where mortgage is consented to by the Land Board, in case of default, the power .of saie cannot be exercised for oae month, consequently we must infer that, so far as outsiders are concerned, fourteen days grace is all they will get. I suppose all this is only a matter of form. If she Government attempts to sell anyone out there will be an awful row, and parliament will be called on to interfere.

The fine new steamer Aotea paid a visit to the Bluff and there loaded some-6000 sacks of oats, 600 cases of preserved rabbits, 435 carcases of frozen mutton, and a quantity of rabbitskins and wool. Shipments of oats coastwise have not during the past week been large—some 2000 sacks.