INCH CLUTHA.

Clutha Leader, Volume IX, Issue 494, 30 March 1883, Page 5

INCH CLUTHA.

(FROM OUBOWK CORRESPONDENT.) Harvest operations are again drawing to a close. Had it not been for the recent storm, I would haye been able to chronicle a general harvest home. As far as I have heard, or have been able to judge, a very satisfactory crop will be the result. Wheat, esoecially, is very fine in quality, while in many cases 60 and 70 bushels per acre is expected. A good many fine samples of white velvet have already been threshed, and sold at the highest price quoted in the Dunedin market. Its well got-up, hard condition was certain to attract the attention of the millers. I believe better samples will yet be threshed, if only the same hardness can be obtained. The white velvet is now v all the run" with the farmers hero; they find it is less liable to rust and blight than any other wheat, while it is far easier to harden and bring into milling condition. No doubt it is the millers' favourite. The harvest this year came on all of a sudden, while hands .were not \o be had for money, owing chiefly, I believe, to the protracted wet harvest in the North, from where we., generally hare » plentiful supply of labour. T have heardof Is 3d per hour being given, and, had it not been for the self-binders, I do not know what would have been'the result. The Island could only boast of one binder, last year ; this year seven have been bard at work. Messrs Stnaill Bros, had two on their farm alone, and they gave great satisfaction both with heavy wheat and upon a rough newly broken-up surface. Thus the binders have' been' well tasted here. I hear Messrs Thomas M'Donald and 3. Watt, with a binder each, cut down about 700 acres jointly. It was no uncommon thing to see the lamps burniner on the harvest field all night,, and a field waving with ripe grain at night would be all cut down and in the sheaf in the morning. Had this been done 50 years ago in the Old Country, what would the old folks have said ? Not long since it •was believed the binders would never do for the heavy Island crops, but this year they have cut magnificent wheat growing on land which a few years ago was almost useless. It was simply a root bag with Maori heads and stunted flax. Now, with its extra foot of rich alluvial deposit and improved drainage —owing to the new outlet at' Coal Pomt —such soil is simply perfection. A few years ago the river banks were supposed to be incomparable, but now they are certainly eclipsed by the low-lying ground which seems at present to be not only inexhaustible^, but always improving. This is especially the case with Messrs Smaill Bros.', Bell's and Mosley's farms. I believe that double the amount of wheat will go off the Island this year than what was produced a few seasons back, and the continued increase be at the rate of 30 or 40 per cent, every year. Many people have this year come to have a drive down the centre rrfad — some from a distance; and all were highly delighted with what they saw. The roads now are very pleasant in summer down to the sea,.while most of the obnoxious gates have been ordered off by the Road Board. Visitors were, however, greatly surprised that the owners of such rich and fertile soil should permit a luxuriant crop of thistles to grow unmolested —in many cases half taking possession of pasture, torturing tho harvesters and threshers, and almost taking possession of the roads. Surely we will not be compelled to have a Thistle Act for Inch Clutha ; but it seems like it. The turnip crops are now thriving well, and will sis usual be good, although the summer, heat and dronsrht for a time were almost too much for the crop. Potatoes are, I think, gradually becoming neglected by the farmers. The cause is the uncei-tain and fluctuating price obtainable. In stock, sheep are becoming " the rage." All agree they are now paying, and will continue to pay well, on account of the opening up of the frozen meat trade in the Home market. The reports are always becoming more cheering, so our stubble " foggage " will in a short time be covered with the woolly flocks. Some of our farmers have already fattened and disposed of a good few thousands this season. A good deal of grumbling has been indulged in lately, owing to the embankment raised at the Matau Bridge. Some time ago, when the Matau Road Board applied to the Bruce County Council for funds to erect the bank, the reply waß. " No ; you will damage the bridge ;" but when the inhabitants pluckily set their heads together, raised the required funds, and erected the safe-guard to their town and property, the Council could easily see the danger. They appointed a Commission to inqiure into the matter. Thin Commission reported, giving a history of the banks erected —not at the bridge, but miles above it —and especially those on the Inch Clutha side, where the freshet of last winter caused considerable damage. Happily, however, there was no overflow. When I read the first portion of the report I felt that a mistake ..had been made, but as I read on and found more in the same strain I saw that >". n>isl<ake" was not the proper word. It is a pity the Commissioners did not make some effort to adhere to facts. The matter at present is in a most unsatisfactory position, and we sometimes think we almast hear the river say, I'll burst your banks of earth and clay, And sweep your woodeu bridge away , Like broken reeds or stubble.