NGAPARA. (From A Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1639, 21 April 1883, Page 13

NGAPARA. (From A Correspondent.

April 16th. ■ AtticovnmAb -Threshing operations in this district are t'-eing push d on with vigour, ami already a •oodly number of farmers know exactly the returns for their labours. The yield of this uititrict will compare favourably with that of a< y other in New Zealand. Yelret ia the principal wheat grown, and this jrnt'* experience has proved its superiority over all #th«rt. On M* Charles Jessop'a farm his velvet ihrwtfhcd B2 bushels to the acre, and was a splendid «unpl«. He kad also about 40 acres of defiance, an American wheat, which seems to be well adapted to th« toll and climate of this country. Mr Jessop bas •coved it to be rust-proof, and not so liable to shake «■ velvet or red straw. It is a npring wheat, and was epwn very thin. It threshed 40 bushels to the aero This wheat, in my opinion, will take the place ot ren #,raw, which has been an entire failure in this district during »b» past three years. I sshoutt t strongly advise farmers U try a little of the defiance, not only on account of its prolific yield, but as for milling it aaswers the place of red straw. 9OMMHIN6 Mills. — I obterve a controversy going bo about threshing mills. In, my opinion the best tadgts an tho farmers; and they- sometimes know that to their cost. "Thresher, Timaru," in Notes and Queries, eayi ho can do 64 bags per hour with a Marshall thresher; he does not state what he threshed. I know a Marshall that did 70 bags per Sonr in eati, bat SO of this was chaff. A Clayton and Shuttlsworth threshing oats on » farm here did 400 feast ft day, and shifted, averaging that for four days. ' K*AM.— I would suggest that the fanners issue invitations to that august body the Koad Board to hold M picnic in some of the shady ruts on the main road, treat them to a few nips of the Kgapara royal blend, and Invit*) them to take a walk over the road, and *9 they stumble in up to their waists in mud, leave them the tender mercies of the waggoners. ' SroiTiso.— A. little excitement was created hero when it became known that a race had been arranged batween our local storekeeper and our worthy dominie. It was considered plucky of the storekeeper to chalUng«' a " profOHSibnal" ped. like the dominie, and when both men stripped for the race, public opinion was greatly in favour of the dominie. His grand physique and muscular appearance were greatly admired, and ithewed he possessed the frame and build of a well-trained athlete. The men got away to a splendid start ; the distance 160 yards. The dominie in ft few bounds like a reindeer soan got. ahead of his adv«r**>y, and maintained the lead till he breasted the tops, winning easily, and not the least fatigued.