DISTRICT NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 8, 28 July 1916, Page 5

DISTRICT NEWS.

CLYDEVALt;. FEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. WEATHER AND THE FARM. Since writing my last notes the weather lias kept exceptionally mild, sonic days being quite 'not. We had a nice shower on July 21, which will help to fill the tanks. Stock are wintering well, and by all appearances there will be turnips to spare. The small birds are very numerous and destructive this winter. I tried the phosphorised oats supplied by the county council and found them effective with the sparrows, but have not come across a single dead linnet.. SALEYARDS. The salevards committee decided not to hold a sale this month, but if sufficient stock offer a sale will be held on August 20 (the last Tuesday in the month). The salevards have proved a great success anil are of much advantage to the district. It rests with the farmers themselves to make them continue to be a success by forwarding their en tries of stock in good time to their respective agents, and by doing so people from a distance will come to the sale when they know what stock is under offer. PATRIOTIC. The ladies of CJydevale will forward goods and produce to Dunedin on Friday for sale in response to an appeal from the Dunedin Women's Patriotic Association. A meeting of 'ladies will be held in the hall on "August 2u to form a branch of the Red Cross Guild. A branch has already been formed at Wharetop, and good work is being done. TP RIVER SERVICE. The river has fallen lower lately, but it is to be hoped it will only be temporary. The p.s. Clyde, under the charge of Captain Butler, is able to cope with the river traffic, the rush of the grain season being over. .Manure will soon be coming up river, and 1 would .just point out that there is room for improvement in the way the steamer people handle this commodity. I think the using of the single bale hook should be prohibited. Manure is rather an expensive item this year, and with the cost of railway and river freight it will work out at close on £8 per ton landed at the jetty. It is annoying as well as destructive to find the bags torn and a large quantity of the manure lost, owing to using these single baghooks, but as I pointed out before we will never have a good service till the settlers agitate and get an elective board—a board elected by the settlers who use and depend on the river service* tOPOTUNOA DOWNS. FEOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT The weather we have been experiencing has been exceptionally mild for this time of the year, there having beeu very little rain or frost. The roads are in very good order for this time of the year. Farming operations are well advanced for the coming year. The turnip crops are holding out well, and the weather being so fine stock are doing well on them. Another section on the Downs has changed hands. Mr Watt has sold his farm to Mr McNamara. Mr Watt is one of the Original settlers. lie is well respected by all, and will be much missed in the district. Rabbits are fairly plentiful, aud rabbiters are busy, the price being tempting—lOd on the fence. Social life is very quiet here at present. Everyone is busy working for patriotic purposes, but the bachelors will soon "be making arrangements for their annual ball.