IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15174, 12 January 1915, Page 4

IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

A correspondent writes:—The heavy rains have wonderfully improved the appearance of South Canterbury, turning the sunburnt grass lands from brown to green, and quickening all vegetation into a vigorous growth. However, in most places the wet has not> penetrated deeper than a few inches, and many people would welcome- a further downpour. Otherwise, turnip sowing is delayed, especially on the land near the hills and about Woodbury and Orari bridge. Almost everywhere tho young rapo is now coming away very well. To-day (Monday) most of tho. streams and rivers are in fresh, and tho Upper Rangitata. is a muddy torrent. A s an instance of the destruction among trout, which, has occurred during recent weeks of hot weather, the high water has brought a whole mass of dead fish down tho Waihi river, leaving them strewn upon the shingle as the first rush of the fresh receded from its limit mark.

Harvest prospects vary considerably, and in almost every district one may se© crops which-are yet making excellent progress, and others where the yield must bo very light. .In the hill country or near Kakahu and towards the Opuha bridge- there aro many good or fair crops, but on some of the light land —for instance, near Arundel—tho outlook is not so satisfactory. Beyond tho Upper Rangitata bridge, a fanner finished a whole-day cutting of un oat field at six o'clock in tho evening; but he Tvas able, single-handed, to put the entire crop into-slooks before eight o'clock. Happily, tho adjoining crop is in every way an encouraging contrast, and "the same remark will apply generally in the district from Orari to the sea-