CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 431, 3 March 1860, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

THE H VRVF.ST.

A considerable breadth of grain hns now been cut; the weather has held good and appears likely to be Settled for a time. As far as we can judge at rjresent, the yield promises to be a full average ; the heavy lands show in most places remarkably fine crops, not having suffered from the dry season as much as the lighter soils.

We should say that the wheat crop will Yield generally about 40 bushels to the acre, and oats about 70 ; there has not been much barley grown. Potatoes vary very much, in some places looking exceedingly well, in others quite the reverse.

Thanks to the more general uso of the reaping machine, farmers have been enabled to get their harvest •wo'-k dune at a lower rate than for some ye»rs past ; without the general use of this valuable assistant, there is no doubt that, though hands have been more plentiful, wages would have been little if any lower than in former seasons, the same rates having been asked at the commencement of harvest as ruled during the last two or three years. The rates paid, in the immediate neighbourhood of Christchurch may be quoted at 2Js an acre, higher wages being paid in more remote districts.

We would impress upon farmers generally that the use of machinery for their work is of equal importance to them with the construction of the railway; it must be remembered that high wages are the normal condition of a new country, and that though exceptional circumstances may lower them for a seapon or two, they are always liable and likely to rise. It is by the general use of machinery only that the farmer can render himself to some extent independent of labour, and calculate upon securing his crop upon something like reasonable terms.

The price of new wheat, of which a little has appeared, is quoted at 7s. ; oats, from 3s. 6d. to 45. ; barley (nominal) Gs. ; new potatoes, £6 to £6 lod, per ton: hay, £3 10s. to £-1 10s. — Times, Feb. 8.

We have but little news to report under this head. The weather has been rather unsettled during the pabt week, and harvest work has been retarded by some heavy thunder showers which have visited us, doing a great deal of good to the gardens and pastures, and making us wish for more. Farmers are too busy to come even to market iv any number, so that prices may be considered almost nominal at present. We observe that some are already getting alarmed at the prospect of exporting any wheat from the country, kst we should run short ourselves. We believe that we shall have enough and to spare, in spite of largely increasing consumption, and a considerable amount of seed corn required for new land likely to be broken up this winter. — Ibid. Feb. 25.