WAIHOLA GORGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1462, 22 November 1879, Page 12

WAIHOLA GORGE.

(from our own correspondent.) November 18th.

The weather has been execrable: winter, when summer should reign supreme. The hilltops have been covered in snow; and, to finish up, last Friday night a sharp frost nipped the early potatoes. This is rather disappointing, aa the potatoes were looking well, giving promise of a good, crop of this favourite esculent j but Dame Nature is very fickle, and often dooms us to disappointment when our hopes are highest. The late cold weather has completely checked the growth of everything— except the appetites of of stook— and the paddocks are beginning to look bare again ; but should the warm weather return, as it gives promise of doing, all will soon be bright again. All are taking advantage of the dull weather to get turnip land prepared, and for this purpoae the late damp weather is juet to their hand. There is a good deal of broken land on the splendid farms in this plain, caused by the numerous creeks which flow from the hills on either side. These creeks zigzag through almost every farm, forming an unBightly, tortuous rush-drain, and wasting a considerable area of good ground. But I notice some farmers are determined to do away with these waste places by cutting straight open ditohes, as covered drains would not do in time of heavy rain. This would be gone into more systematically, but it is very difficult to get a sufficient fall. What is required is a good central ditch to the Tokomairiro River, into which all side drains could fall. As the value of land increases, and competition becomes more keen to the farmer, this will be attended to : for men cannot afford to waste any of their land, in the face of sharp competition.