ASHBURTON NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8552, 4 August 1888, Page 3

ASHBURTON NOTES.

[from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THE WEATHER. Until the beginning of July the winter bad been the finest that waa remembered by the oldest but since then we have had some very wintry snaps. Last week tbe rainfall was the largest, for tbe time that it lasted, that was ever experienced in the district. It was quite beyond the capacity of drains, creeks, and even rivers; and nob only was a great deal of land flooded, but traffic was stcqrped in many places owing to the depth of water on the roads from the overflowing of races and drains. It is said that in one district, where there has been a large expenditure upon drainage, the members of the Drainage Board had on Friday to wade through water six inches over the top of the culvert which led to their meeting place. They could not well have had a stronger reminder of their duty to the district. The weather is now bright, bub very wintry, and thanks to the previous dryness of the season, the storm-water has already disappeared from all but the most holding spots. If we do not get further wet weather, the damage that has been done by the recent rains will repair itself. THE TIMES. The winter months are naturally quiet in an agricultural district such as this, and this year the scanty harvest, low prices, and the large proportion of unsold grain makes things even quieter than usual. Still, there is a generally hopeful feeling among farmers and traders alike. The fine season has allowed contractors and other outdoor workers to make almost unbroken time, so that tbe low prices paid for work are not so much felt as they would have been where work was frequently interrupted. This is a cause for great thankfulness among our working population, whoso earnings during harvest and threshing were much below an average. There is a healthy demand for good farms, a preference being shown for those of dairy quality. One of our leading solicitors tells me he has done more during the last week or two in mortgages to purchasers of land than he had done for two or three years past, and no doubt others having capital to invest have experienced a similar state of affairs. Also, that all the farmers in the district did not suffer from bad harvest returns is shown by a letter from one of them, which states that he threshed fifty bushels per acre of Hunter’s White from grass land once ploughed, and over fifty bushels of Velvet Chaff from a stubble paddock where he had over fifty bushels Hunter’s White tbe previous year from grass land once ploughed. Such land as this is not to be had for £3 or £4i an acre. It is valued at .£l6 to .£lB an acre, and fetches its value whenever a farm of it is for sale. A little grain has been trucked from the Ashburton stores lately, but cheaper freight or higher prices must come before a substantial move is made. VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. A visit to the Ashburton Special Settlement showed that material progress had been made since harvest. The whole of the land is now broken up, and seeded down wish oats, English grass, &c. Some of the dwellings have been greatly improved; and, more promising than anything, a large number of fruit trees have been planted. One settler alone has spent about .£4O in improvements since the beginning of winter. There is a matter in which the settlers are not being well treated, and which the responsible persons should see to at once. This is the water supply. The hardships which the Dromore settlers had to undergo for want of water, while races were on each side of them, were pointed out in your account of the village settlements last March. A similar hardship troubles the Ashburton settlers, although water could be more easily laid on here than at Dromore. The levels of the Ashburton settlement afford no difficulty. The settlers are willing—even anxious—to do the work for themselves, if only the County Council will instruct their Engineer to peg it out for them. The waste of water could not be felt by the landholders below, as a short “ loop ” race would supply all the settlers and return the water, almost undiminished by the small wants of the settlers, into the race from which it was drawn. The settlers are also willing to pay the stated water-race rates. Holders of large areas are in the position of Mahomet and the mountain. If they cannot bring the water to their stock they can take their stock to the water —by simply opening a gate, or cutting a gap in a hedge between two paddocks. But the twenty-acre man has to go by roundabout ways perhaps half a mile for water, and, assisted by hia wife or children, carry it to where it is wanted for cow or horse to drink. It is a matter of justice that village settlers, as well as other holders, should be able to obtain the benefits of the water-races when willing to pay the cost. JACK ASHORE. Our simplicity has been scandalously imposed upon ! Last Friday a young man, say twenty-five to thirty, arrived in Ashbuiton from the South. After knocking around in a forlorn-looking way for a little while, he confided to one of our best-known tradesmen a story of his having been third made of a vessel which had gone ashore, and, being hard up, wished to sell the material for a blue serge suit, which he had purchased from a well-known London outfitter for 355, including buttons and gold braid. The victim fell into the trap, and so did some dozen or fifteen more before Saturday evening came, and the brave sailor departed towards Christchurch by the express. As usual in these cases, just those who might have been expected to know better were taken in. A genial citizen had actually been warned against the imposture —and by hia mother-in-law! Imagine his feelings when called upon to explain why the warning went unheeded! The right-hand man of an auctioneer also bought, and several equally experienced dealers. The pieces of six yards were sold at prices ranging from £1 down to 12s 6d, and were found to have been bought from a draper in town at Is 2d or Is 4d a yard, to whom the culprit had respectfully enquired the way of a constable. Readers, take a note of!