LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1461, 15 November 1879, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Our West Taieri correspondent writes :—: — The crops and grass are looking very well in this district. Some of the early-sown crops are so luxuriant as to cause the farmers some anxiety, and fears are entertained that should the present fine weather continue they will be so heavy that they will lodge and rot instead of ripening. To prevent this, Mr James Shand and Mr David Grant (Granton), have turned large flocks of sheep on their early-sown wheat crops to eat them down, and in some degree to chesk the extraordinary growth caused by the genial spring. All the grain crops are sown, and most of the potatoes planted in the district.

The promised legislation for the promotion of settlement on the waste lands of the Colony (says the Hew Zealander) is already exciting much attention in various parts of the Colony, and several applications have been made, or are about being made, by intending promoters of special settlements and emailfarm associations. The prospectus of the Wellington Small-Farm Association is already before the public, and has been favourably received. The promoters propose to obtain a grant of land on the Waimate Plains or elsewhere, and cut it up into sections ranging ia value from LIOO to L4OO, which applicants will obtain on deferred payments. We mentioned also some days since that Mr Fitzgibbon Loucb, C.E,, of Castle Grace, Katikati, had applied to the Government for a block of land for special settlement purposes in the Bay of Plenty district. He has handed us a copy of his letter to the Hon. Minister of Lands, in •which he applies for 25,000 acres at Rangaira and Pahiko, Bay of Plenty, on the following terms :— Should the Government grant the land be is prepared to pay the sum to be agreed on, and proceed to the United Kingdom to bring oat a (sufficient number of families possessed of capital, to take up the lands. He proposes to apportion one-fifth of the quantity of land granted for settlement by colonists. He has intimated to the Government that he is already in communication with Beveral families, intending emigrants, in the Home country, and we learn from him personally that he has not the slightest reason to apprehend any difficulty in getting together a party of firstclas3 people, who would come out without delay and settle on the lands. On Wednesday last Mr Louch had an interview with the Minister for Lands, and fully explained the bond fides of his proposal. We hear further that another old resident in the Bay of Plenty district is at present in the city, bent on a similar errand, his purpose being to open up another block of land of similar or larger area.

The following communication appears in the columns of the Stockton Independent : — "Hitherto one of our greatest troubles has been the great liability of wheat to ruafc. I think, however, we have this year been fortunate enough to find a wheat that comes as near being rust-proof as anything we may hope to get. Through the courtesy of J. D. Peters, who put himself to a great deal of trouble in the matter, I secured last spiiag a small lot of Odessa wheat — a strong, hard, red variety that I was told had proved to be free from liability to rust. I think the test given it was as severe as can well be imagined — it was sown on April 15th on peat land that had only been reclaimed nine months. The land had never been ploughed, and the seed was simply harrowed in in ashes, the subsoil being as spongy and hollow as it is poEsible to conceive. The wheat matured in about 100 days, the straw being about 3ft 6in high, small but stiff, and standing up well, and we estimate the yield over tbe 60 acres sown at 25 bushels to the acre. A little chili, nonpareil, and club was sown at the sseco time for comparison, and while every straw of these varieties is so thoroughly rusted as to produce no flour - bearing grain, the Odessa is entirely free, and has matured a plump kernel. The grain appears a little, liable to shell out, but will thresh well. If you will kindly find space for this, I think it may be of iuterest to gentlemen farmingjlow-lying land. — John W. Ferris, Roberts Island, August 12fch, 1879."

From every part of the surrounding agricultural districts (says the Mataura Ensign) we hear the most favourable reports, and are from every side assured that the prospects of an excellent harvest are very promising. The crops are further advanced even now than they were in January of last Heason, and in fact everything portends a most satisfactory and successful year for our farmer friends. We are extremely gratified to learn this fact, and are happy to bo able_ to congratulate the settlers on the probability of their making amends for last season's disastrous results.

Two settlers near Blenheim have, at their own expense, cut a drain over four miles in length for the purpose of draining their lands. This long guttor is 20 feet wide at the mouth, narrowing to 12 feet, and cost L 717 12s 6d.

At a special meeting of the W. and S. V. A. and P. Association held last week at Young's Hotel, Pleasant Valley, it was decided to give a special prize for collie doga (rough and smooth). A prize will also be given for a mare and two of ncr progeny.

The forthcoming Show of the North Otago Agricultural and Paßtoral Association promises to be a more equal show in every respect than those of previous years. The total number of entries is not equal to that of last year, but this is attribufable to the falling off in the number for dairy produce, and to the fact that the ra are less private prJzes, for which separate entries are required. All the main classes of exhibits will bo well represented, as will be seen from the following rough statement of entries : — Horses : Draught, 106 ; thoroughbreds, 31 ; hacks, 48. Cattle : Shorthorn, 34 ; Ayrshire, 103 ; other kinds, 34. Sheep: Merino, 81 ; Leicester, 20 ; Lincolns, 65 ; Romney Marsh, 14 ; other kinds, 3. Pig, 1 ; poultry, 49 ; dairy produce, 90 ; cured meats, 12 ; agricultural implements, 41 ; buggies and harness 13 ; flour and bread, 11 ; grain and sreda, 88; dogb, 17; other entries, 133. Total, 1014.

It is a good sign (says an English paper) when such public-spirited men as the Hob. T. Rnßsell, and Mr Paton, of New Zealand, and Mr W. M'Culloch, of Victoria, devote sa much of their capital to the improvement of stock iv their respective Colonies. From more than one point of view such men are to be regarded as public benefactors, and we hope they will meet with that reward which their enterprise desnrves. Very lately we noticed that Mr Russell bought both Clydesdales and shorthorns at Lord Dunm ore's sales. Since then he has bought two valuable fillies of Mr Martin, of Dumbarton, and four very high-cla*s young shorthorn bulls, from the herd of Mr K. Oliver, of Whittlebury, with pedigrees the best in the kingdom. At a recent sale of the far-famed Panton stock, the best pen of gimmers was bought for Mr W. M'Culloch ; and a splendid stallion, named Bob of tha Bent, has been purchased by Mr Paton for New Zealand.

Tbe traction engine, one of Fowler's patent, lately imported by Messrs Tweedie and Hamilton, of Tokomairiro, was tried on Saturday in Milton. The engine traversed the streets of the town, and apparently gave everjr satisfaction to her owners from the facility with which she moved, turned, and stopped. It will doubtless be a great acquisition to the district, and a profitable investment to the owners.

The entries for the approaching Show of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association are (says the Oamaru Mail of the 7th inst.) a nice little lot in every respect. This year tbe entries for the Society's prizes are nearly 900, as against 846 last year. These, with the entries for the private prizes, make a total of upwards of 1000. The entries are not only more numerous tbis year, but they are of a better quality. Starting with draught horsas, there were oE these 104, and fine animals they are in the main. The thoroughbreds and hacks also show up well. The shorthorns are an improvement both in number and quality, whilst the Ayrshires (94 in number) will surprise beholders, for the Bhow of these (some of which are from Scotland, Invercargill, &c ) will be unsurpassably good, and far superior to anything that has been shown in the Colony. The merino sheep (of which there will ba 80) from the flocks of the Hon. B. Campbell and Messrs John M'Lean, Borton, and Tesche^ maker will, of course, defy competition, whilst the Border Leicesters (though, unfortunately, few in number) will not be beaten. Lincolns will show up fairly from Canterbury and else' where. In dairy produce, as a matter of course, there is a very large number of entries, and we are glad to note that the exhibition of agricultural implements will be numerous and varied, and will bear the name of the firm of Mesfrs Reid and Gray and other good makers. The show of grain and seeds promises to be magnificent. In dogs, there are 10 sheepdogs and seven greyhounds ; but no one has had the courage to enter a Scotch terrier. Amongst the extras, there will be exhibited several novelties in the various departments.

The tenth show in connection with the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Canterbury (says the Press) was held on ,the grounds of the society at Rangiora on the 6th, and was in every way a success. The aggregate number of entries exhibited was in excess of last year. There was an improvement in the cattle section, and though there was better quality in the horse section, the number was not so large as ought to be reasonably expected from Buch a district. The sheep pens showed a deficit, which could be provided for by offering prizes for the black-facad and downs sheep. There was a splendid exhibition of dairy produce, manufactures, and implement?. Mr P. C. Threlkeld was the largest exhibitor in sheep and cattle, having upwards of 40 entries in the yards. About 2000 people were estimated to have been on the ground at one time during the day. The entries com' prised :— Sheep, 111 ; cattle, 77 ; horses, 117 j pigs, 23; poultry, 21; dogs, 7; implements, 75 ; dairy produce, 40 ; New Zealand manufactures, 25 ; farms, 4 ; sundries, 3 ; grand total, 503. Every provision had been made in the way of seating and the arrangement of exhibits so as to be easily inspected. The implements were placed alongside the fences on entering, the cattle-pens in the norbh corner, the sheep-pens along the north side, and the horses at stations round the remainder of the grounds. In the centre wa3 placed the secretary's office, the luncheon -tent, refreshment-boths, &c. Four entries of farms were made, but will not be judged till the crops on them have matured.

Tho Forest Hill correspondent of the Southland Times writes as follows in a recent issue of that journal : — " Our farmers are rejoicing over the prospecls of an abundant harvest, and ■by the appearance cf the crops at present their expectations are not without a good foundation. Taken a,H a whole, I think we can compete favourably with any district in Southland. Last year the average crop obtained here was as good as any I have heard of, and as for quality it was not to be surpassed. In consoquence of the lownees of oats in price, some of our farmers have still retained all their crop. One farmer, who is a very old resident, told me he would rather let it rot than sell at the ruling prices since harvest. He has it all stored loosely in one of the outhouses, and it seems to keep in first-clas3 condition. The amount is reckoned at between 2500 and 3000 bushels. The finest crop ever I saw, with the exception of one on Inch Olutha, was grown by Mr J. Hamilton, of WoodsidejFarm ; the straw was fully seven fe r t, long, and the average yield 45 bushels to the acre. It was truly a splendid crop, and was threshed by a new self- feeding throshirig machine belonging to Thomson and Sons, of Winton. It was the universal opinion that it was the best machine ever seen in the district. In noticing the work of the past winter I would just mention that fencing and ditching has been carried out with great", vigour, and as the weather has heon. very fine a great deal has been done, of which, I have no doubt, those who have been at work will feel the bonefit."

We hear (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) that pome of the settlers on the E weburn block are desirous to increase the area of the sections held by them, and that the necessary step? will shortly be taken to memorialise the Government to throw open a small block, to adjoin the one on which they are located, with that object in view. This is only reasonable, as several of the sections taken up are so small &b to be almost unprofitable!

The Cromwell Argus says the lambing this season throughout the Kawaru district has been very favourable, and will tend in some measure to compensate for the disasters suffered by the pastoral tenants this time last year.

Instead of being large importers of hams and bacon (says the Courier) the Tapanui merchants intend for the future to export these article?, Messrs ,Bremner and Waßher having sent a large consignment to Dunedin last week. Mr James Hair has finished his bacon-smoking house, and that branch of hia business is now in cpsration.

Many a long year has passed since such weather as that of the 24th hag been exneri enced in the spring (says the Southland News of the lsfciusfc.) The heat was really oppressive, the thermometer registering 84 degrees in the shade. Thursday was a'so a warm day. The influence of such weather upon the country is truly benignant. Mr Hepburn, of Dunedin, who had been, out Aparima way during the greater part of the week and returned to town on the 24tb, pays he never knew agricultural and pastoral matters to be in a more flourishing Btate. Pastures are running riot in luxuriance, and the difficulty that threatens is to provide sufficient stock to consume them. The growing crops are also comiDg on at a grand rate. In fact, everything betokens a season of exceptional abundance.

The Tuapeka Times states that the weather in Tuappka. continues almost unprecedentedly fine, aiid on all sides vegetation proceeds apace.