WANGALOA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1381, 6 March 1900, Page 3

WANGALOA.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

Of late the weather has been as variable as human nature — extreme heat one day, mild the next, with an occasional dash of rain, and blowing great guns the next. Such is the sort of weather we have been having all summer ; in fact we have had no summer weather at all. Although the crops throughout the district are looking well, I very much fear we will have a late and uneven harvest. This is always more ov less of a calamity for this district, owing to the short days, combined with bad roads, for carting the grain away. I think lam safe in saying that this is one of the oldest settled districts in Otago. It is close on 40 years since the first settlers settled in Wangaioa, and yet there is not one yard of metal on any one of our roads. I heard one of our farmers saying the other day that he was as well off for roads 25 years ago as he is at the present time. Now, this should not be so. Other districts away down south that have not been nearly so long have miles and miles of splendid metalled roads, %vhile we havo to plod away through mud and slush up to the axle in the winter time and say nothing. One of our farmers remarked the other day, and I believe he is not far wrong, that he had not the least doubt, but that there was someone behind the scenes doing a bit of, wire pulling, and that till such time as there is a change in the council we will never be one whit be'tter than we are at the present time.

There are some very nice crops of oats in the d'strict. There are but very few patches of wheat to be seen here this season. I have been told by some wise men— l might cell them street-corner men— that wheat will not pay so well as oats this season. But who can tell ? Oats at this time last year was a drug in the market. One never knows till the numbers are up how the markets are to be. It will be a fortnight or so before there is much harvesting done here. Although a few paddocks are getting pretty well turned, I doubt it will be well into March before we will hear much of the burr of the binder. The turnips throughout the district are looking well although late.

War has been declared here against the rabbits, and the trappers are hard at work night and day. Mr lteid, of Kaitangata, runs round this way every morning gathering in the dead.

Great interest is taken in the war news here as elsewhere, and the doings of Our Boys at the front are watched with the greatest interest by old and young alike. Like other places, we have had out patriotic meetings, and the call for public aid has been responded to by the people of this district, Avho showed that they were both patriotic and liberal.

The sohool committee voted for Messrs T. Mackenzie, Eev. P. B. Fraser, and W. Snow to the Education Board.