TEMUKA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7925, 30 July 1886, Page 3

TEMUKA.

[from oub OWN COBBESPONDENT.J ' The clear, frosty weather which we enjoyed for the past few weeks was broken on Saturday by a slight shower, and now there is every appearance of a decided change. Towards the hills the snow is lying more or less thickly, and the main ranges are more thickly covered than at any period during this winter. : While the fine weather lasted it was hard to realise that we were still in mid-winter. In the middle of the day the sun was quite genial, and in the gardens the rose bushes and the hardier shrubs are beginning to show the spring leaf. The wattles, too, have a decidedly yellow tinge, and the willows and poplars seem ready to break into foliage. This -somewhat; premature growth will now be checked, for we may expect a dose of really bad weather. Through enquiries I have made, I find that, as far as can be ascertained at present, the area under wheat this season in this district, as compared with that under oats, will be in the proportion of five acres of the former to three of the latter. This result has been arrived at by taking the crops of 30 of the principal holdings in the neighbourhood as a basis, and should, therefore, be a reasonable estimate. With a few exceptions, the greater portion of the wheat is now sown, and rarely indeed has there been a more favourable season. Feed is, of course, scarcer tnan ever, and farmers with roots to sell find ready purchasers. Mr Park, of. Milford, is just now pitting a really fine crop of swede turnips. On about eight acres he grew about 160, tons, all well-grown and sound. As an instance of the profits to be made from root crops, I may mention a small paddock of mangolds that has been brought under my notice. This paddock, of an acre in extent, yielded close on 50 tons, which are readily saleable at from 15s to 20a per ton. The cost of seed and labour in preparing the ground did not exceed JE6. The' most costly items were hoeing and thinning, but the magnificent yield is to be almost entirely attributed to the attention given to the young crops. , The dry weather has allowed holders of swamp lands to make good use of them. Mr Ackroyd has a flock of about 250 ewes with lambs grazing in his swamp, and they are looking remarkably well. As a rule it has impossible to keep sheep on these lands;during the winter months, but this year fs quite an exception. These lambs are the earliest in the district that I have heard of, with the exception of Mr Andrew Grant’s Shropshire Down flock, which have now almost all lambed. These have been bred for stud purposes, and the breeder has been fortunate in getting a large proportion of ram lambs. I understand some thirty of the ewes, with their progeny, are already disposed of to a Southern buyer at a satisfactory figure. ' With every desire to take a cheerful view of our prospects, it is impossible to deny that this is, and is likely to be, a hard winter for working men. Swaggers are quite plentiful, and every little job is eagerly snatched at. Wages are reduced to a minimum. Ploughmen on stations are working for 15s a week, and every vacancy is readily filled. At gorse-cutting a party of really decent workmen, who recently

took a contract near here, had the utmost difficulty in clearing 13s «. week per man. This is not very encouraging, nor does there seem to be much prospect of a change for the better. Sonde' slight stimulus has been given to the building trade by the simultaneous letting of the contracts for the alterations to the Volunteer Hall, and for the re-building of a portion of tbe Crown Hotel. The tenders for the former contract were remarkably close, there being only a few pounds between each tender, all of i which were within the estimate of J 6300. Messrs Clinch and Lloyd, the successful tenderers, will lose no time in making a start, and it is expected that the building will be completed within a couple of months. The plans were prepared by Mr W. G. Entland The amount of the contract for the Crown Hotel has not yet transpired. The building, when completed, will be by far the handsomest in the town, and as an hotel, promises to be most convenient. While on the subject of hotels, it is a matter of surprise that none of the hotelkeepers manifested the slightest interest in the movement for placing Temuka in telephonic connection with Timaru. The arrangement for the telephone fell through for want of one subscriber, and one would have thought that the convenience that it would have been to commercial men would have tempted the proprietor of our principal bouse to have borne a share of the cost. Perhaps, tbe odd member wanted will be found in the proprietor of the new house. With all deference to the Town Board I must enter a protest against their method of dealing with the footpaths. These have been repaired by " chucking” on a - lot of loose shingle, most unpleasant to walk upon, unsightly and only productive of good to'.the shoemakers, who seem, by-the-bye, to be doing a roaring tradeV As the Board have a very fair sum in hand, it is to be hoped that they will see their way to asphalting the paths in the business part of the town. The gazetting of the Arowhehua township has already caused some slight, stir, and enquiries are being made about the unsold sections. A business place it is hardly likely to become, but it is very favourably situated for people desiring a residence. The soil is gpod, and there is abundance of good water. Which in Temuka proper is a want much felt. The arrangements for registering births, &c-, at the Post-office are at present very inconvenient, and a great improvement might be made: A separate office is needed; and this could be arranged with vpry little expense. At present any person ■ desiring to register a birth or death has to do so at the delivery window, and has frequently to wait and submit to all sorts of interruptions while letters are being enquired for. Anxious ' enquiries have ■ been made lately as to whether the Temuka Brass Band is still in existence, as ' nothing has been beard of them. Having provided the Band with instruments and uniforms, and attended the one or two concerts that were held to augment the funds, the public are desirous of ascertaining if there is a prospectof enjoying a little music this side of Christmas. A suggestion has been thrown out that a promenade concert would take well, tbe proceeds from which might be given to some good purpose, say the Benevolent Society, which is urgently in need of funds, or any worthy object. If the band is still in existence, I trust the above hint will be taken in- good part.' The members of the Presbyterian Church are hot having a very good time just how. A difficulty occurred some little time ago between some of tie congregation and their minister on the subject of baptism.The breach, in spite of sundry endeavours to heal it, has widened, and Mr M'lutosh has now tendered his resignation, which has been accepted with deep regret, at all events by a section of the congregation. During bis stay amongst ns, Mr M'lntosb has always testified his willingness to promote any good work, although ill--health has prevented him from taking a prominent position. Wherever he may go, he will carry with him. the hearty, good wishes of a large section of this community. • ■ •• ■