BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 14

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA. August 6. SLACKENING DEMAND FOR COWS. Consequent on the recent large sale of dairy cows in South Otago, the, demand for spring calvers has visibly slackened off, albeit really good wellbred milkers will always command a fair price. Inquiry amongst farmers as to the cause underlying the selling of so ranch potentially profitable dairy stock at this season of the year elicited the information that the low prices ruling for butter-fat during the past season, and the recent rise in sheep values, have turned the farmer s eyes again towards sheep as being a much .easier job than cow milking. Wool has risen almost coincident with the rise in mutton and lamb, and a good sheepskin is worth from 4s to 4s 6d. whereas a very little while ago it could hardly be disposed of at 6d. The better chance ui sheep, together with, in some cases, real economic pressure, has caused the disposal of some very promising cow herds. It must be confessed that the dairy outlook is not altogether promising in spite ot optimism in high places. That, briefly summed up, is the view of some ot the shrewdest farmers in this district. BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. In the construction of the new Balclutba traffic bridge a patent airlock is now being used. This is said to be one of the very latest of its kind, and its function is to force back the water in the cylinders, to enable the workmen to get out the spoil. The spoil is brought up in buckets, and tipped down a chute into the n\er. Three men work inside the cylinder and one at the top, and three shifts of four hours each are worked in every 12 hours, so that the work of getting a cylinder down to bedrock is proceeding very expeditiously. HOCKEY. The South Otago Hockey Associations seven-a-side tournament attracted a tßir attendance and a good entry of district teams yesterday on the Balclutha Grouna. Some good play was witnessed. In the final for the A Grade Milton defeated Clutha by two goals to nil. Owaka won the B section, defeating Milton 111 by two goals to one. TUG-OF-WAR. Eleven teams were entered for the Owaka tug-of-war, held last night, the contest being limited to light-weight teams (55st). In the semi-final WoocP haugh (Dunedin) beat Kaka I. oint. Kiwi (Balclutha) having a bye. Final: vvoodhaugh beat Kiwi. The result was, therefore’, a win for Woodhaugh, with Kiwi second, and Kaka Point third. Mr Allan (Owaka) acted as judge, Dr Johnson as announcer, Mr W. Currie (Balclutha) starter, and Mr W. Stewart (Balclutha) timekeeper. RUGBY FOOTBALL. A good game was seen on the Show Ground yesterday between Clutha Seniors and Owaka. Play was even throughout, and Clutha won by 11 points to 8 points. Henderson, Dawson, and Stephens scored tries for Clutha, one of which Moffat, converted. For Owaka Paterson scored a try which H. Jackman converted. The latter also kicked a penalty goal. The Rev. F. J. Handy was the referee. On the Milton ground Toko defeated Star by 28 points to 3 points. Clutha Juniors visited Clarksville and were defeated by Union to the tune of. 32 points to 3. The banner competitions are now finished, and next Saturday the senior knock-out competition will be commenced.