HAWEA AND WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 13

HAWEA AND WANAKA.

Pembroke, March 25th. During tho lato few weeka of glorious weather the lakes and rivers fell considerably; bvoad tracts ou tbo shores of ihe lakes usually inundated were lying bare and dry. The Wanaka presented quite a diminutive appearance. During the past week tho lakes attained a high elevation, and the Hawoa and Clutha rivers have risen in consequence. The last-named having previously beon too low for rafting purposes rattsmen are now enabled to continue their avocation— a work ossential to the progress of the interior. Rain has not fallen in sufficient quantities in those localities to materially affect the state of the rivtra. Betides the strong party of men road-forming between the Haa9t aod Paringa rivers (West Coast) another set are widening and repairing tho track from the Haast Saddle seaward. No doubt tho work will bo vigorously pushed forward to its completion before the first permanent snowfall, which generally .occurs here about the middle of May. Several mon havo left Pemhroko to aid in furthering the work. • As I predicted in a former letter, reaping is but just -finished in the Mount Barker district;. Tho crops ;were very lato this seuaon. The tnsuing woek will ;see bar ve.t operations, with Iho exception of thresh'ing,'brought to :l conclusion. Ploughing haa become general, and large strips of stubble land are already ( black- ned by that invaluable aid to farmers, the doublefurrow plough. Farmets here and in tho Hawea district are 'anxious to get their autumn wheat sown by t'ae ond of April. The wool-washing on the Wanaka Station, hithorto carried on at Pembroke, is now conducted at Alberttown, under the able supervision of Mr J. P. Cox. The advantages gained by this shift of position are manifold and obvious. Tho capacious shed for tho final drying and pressing is close at hand. Tho press is a iirst-class one, of the description known as the " cog-and-pinion." Tho drying yards are Bituated on tho terrace bordering tho river, which carries a splendid sward of English grass. As regards water, thero is tho whole flow from the Wanaka, the wash being situated but two or three mileß from the source of the Clutha. Cnlike Binall streams which avc continually contaminated by the nauseous scour from the wool-boxes, where such a mighty flood as tho Clubha ig utilised the chance of polluting the nvor is reduced te a minimum : in fact the thing is next to impossible. I waa recently invited to inspect tho wool unucrgoing the process of drying. It looked well and presented a snowy and lustrous appearance, and felt sotb aud *p]iant to the touch. The wool ia got up in Bjjlendid condition, is a credit to the supervisor, and tit for exhibition anywhere. The combined staging and wa9h boxes are a rather novel apparatus, tho construction at which is mainly due to the fertile conception of Mr Holmes, manager. They aro built on the floating principle. It appoars Mr Holmes had seen or read of something similar on the bauks of the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers, Victoria, so he here ossayod and has worked the theory to a successful issue, ijoine little difficulty was experienced at first in getting the arrangement to answer the rise and fall of the river, but patience and determination have overcome every obstacle and the affair is now an established fact. The Uev. Charles Connor preached his final Bermon in this locality, and delivered his farewell address to an attentive and appreciative congregation in the scboolhouse, at Pembroke on the afternoon of Sunday, the 19th insc. The text waa token from the four last vtwes of Romans viii. The' sermon was preached in an eloquent and impressive manner, and tue feryentexpoßition of the exalted theme as expounded by the rev. gentleman must have touched all hearts and made a deep, and, it is to be hoped, a lasting impression on the minds of bis heaters, treating, as it did, ■on -the redemption of man, their duty to God, and brimming to overflowing with the love of Christ. 'The address was delivered extempore, and with much feeling, and long will icaDy of his hearers retain its ■ purport vivid and green in their memories. At the conclusion of his remarks the rev. gentlemen oxpresEed . deep regret, saying circumstances over which he had 1 no control compelled him to leave a community among whom he would havo loved still to dwell. The Rev. G. Blackie, of Cromwell, and the Rev. R. - Lothian, of Alexandra, delivered impressive discourses to a fair congregation in the schoolnouse at Pembroke on the eve of the 22nd inst.