WAIWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1929, 9 November 1888, Page 17

WAIWERA.

November s.— The weather during the last week or 10 days has been very rough indeed. On one morning the district was enveloped in snow— a very unusual occurrence at this time of tho year. Although it did not lie long on the ground, it is feaved that considerable damage will be done to fruit trees. Early potatoes, too— which in some places had made their appearance above ground— were cut down. Indeed, vegetables of all descriptions sustained a very severe check. The resulting sodden state of the land effectually put a stop to all preparations for turnips, grass seed sowing, &c. Drainage.— l had a talk with Mr T. Blacklock, who is a thoroughly practical farmer, on this subject the other day, during -which he gave me a few points of the method he adopts in working his farm. One of these is certainly worth quoting Where it is necessary to keep open drains through paddocks, the banks are sloped on either side to enable sheep or lambs which slip in to get out with as much facility as possible. In cases where this precaution is not adopted considerable losses are frequently experienced, so that the extra trouble is amply repaid in a very short time. Roads.— The only return farmers in this district get for the payment of rates is the rather empty honour of being a portion of a country. The council has no money to make roads for us, the whole of the revenue being swallowed by official and kindred expenses, As a consequence if we want our roads attended to we shall have to do the work]ourselves. If thi3 state of affairs is to be perpetuated I think the sooner the counties are abolished and we revert to the old road board system the better. Dairy FACTORY.-There is some talk of starting a dairy factory here. It has been proposed that steps should be taken to procure for this purpose the large building now standing unoccupied in the township. If the undertaking is thought too large for our farmers to start on their own account a company might be floated for the purpose. The district is a very suitable one for a factory. It is thiokly populated, has a railway station in close proximity to the building mentioned above, is a good healthy district for stock of all descriptions, and has a never-failing water supply. I hope to see the matter fully discussed at the next meeting of the Farmers' Club. GORE Novkmbeb 6. — Most farming work has been at a standstill inconsequence, of the inclement weather experienced lately. Potato planting has been almost impossible, and the growth of the crops was effectually checked. Adjourned Creditors' Meeting.— Last Tuesday ihe deputy-assignee sat here again in the matter of I Peter Henderson, carpenter, a bankrupt, and reportad as to his investigation of the bankrupt's books. Apparently there was nothing wrong with the books, but at the request of two creditors he promised to bring before the notice of the judge the fact that the bankrupt had kept no proper cashbook. The Tourist-rush to Te Anau. -Signs of the beginning of this event are daily visible here. "The Saturday before last Messrs Pilians, Thomai Mackenzie, and Fred Muir passed through for the North as -the first white men that had crossed Milford Sound to Te Anau (note that Quentin M'Kinnon and Ernest Mitchell were the first; men to find the track and to cross it from Te Anau to the Sound). The very next Monday (Ootober £9) a young Dunedin amateur photographer, a Bon of Mr George Cook, the solicitor, passed through for Te Anau with bia camera ; the next day Mr Fred, flfoir returned to get more views of the track between Te Anau and the Sound, and last Saturday a party of young fellows from Dunedin— Messrs Turton.Ful ton and another— passed throughforthesame country with a view to birdskins and such like curiosities.

If the influx goes on much longer at this pace the .whole of Te Anau will stink of photographers' chemicals, and as for kiwis and other small deer, tflere won't be a lingle one left in a year or to, mo Jess

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wereckon stuffed specimens in unnatural atfcifcudeß in museumß. Veiily the Britisher, especially of the colonial type, is not happy unless he is destroying or exterminating something, r Biz — At the best or times this "important centre "and " rapidly-growing town," as ifc is so frequently spoken of by people thab either know nothing whatever about it, or else have sections for sale, is nofc a place of delirious excitement, nor is the roar of traffic in its streets quite as deafening and overwhelming . as the ceaseless rolling of the traffic down Fleet street, or in Cheapeide ; but this last week its absolute stillness aud silence has been something strange and saddenine even for its most sanguine inhabitants. If "ihings" go on as at present, Gore will soon become a charming refuge for victims of nervous diseases, who have to get as far away from noise as they can ; or perhaps Gore will bo choeen as a good place for a monastery of La Trappe, where absolute silence is fche strictest rule. As for " biz "it is an unknown quantity, and apparently will remain so till harvest time comes with all its " filthy lucre," a sort of lucre that will be yery acceptable to the inhabitants, whatever adjeefciee may be given to ifc.

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