WAIAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1931, 26 February 1891, Page 16

WAIAU.

February 24.— Things in this part of the world as a whole are ia a satisfactory state. We have one or two evils ; the biggest ia foot-rot. The Edinburgh Veterinary College have decided that it ia not contagious. Some of us wovtld be the last people in the world to dispute their dictum. IF ifc had not been pronounced, we should have been sure that foot-rot amongst sheep was, and is, and will be, as infectious as it is possible for any disease to be. I see the editor of the "Sheep and Lamb" in Jack's series says that there are two classes of foot-rot, one contagious, the other non-contagious, He seems well informed on. most things. Hia book was recommended to me by Mr M'Gregor, of Bnfield, than whom I suppose there ia no higher authority on sheep in the colony. One run has it on ground high and dry. Though the sheeD are put through again

and again, this troublesome pest ii only scalded, not killed. Luxurious Gbass.-I was on Merrivale a week ago and saw such grais as I never saw before in my life, except in certain paddocks in the Old Country which were heavily manured year after year with cow dung. The grass on Merrivale was trampled down by sheep, and more was wasted by their feet than was consumed by their mouths. The difficulty is how to get stock to eat the grass, and keep it clean enough for feed. The singular part is that though the OrawiaFlatis very good in itself yet the ground gets better and better the higher it goes. There were 10 sheep to the acre in one paddock. From another 1300 sheep and 119 per oent of lambs had just been shifted, and with a good wathing and a few days' spell it would have made a good bullock pasture for an ordinary farmer. Good Land.— So far as I can make out there is a stretch of this extraordinary land running north from Orepuki to the Limestone Gorge at Eastern Bush, and lying between the Longwoods and the Waiau. Moat of it is timbered, and I believe heavily. I understand there is a track out from Orepuki to the Waiau. If any one wants good land he might see if tbe above view is oorreot, and endeavour to get the Government ground opened out. At any rate at both ends— viz., Orepuki and Merrivale — the ground is of an exceptionally high clats. Orepuki is out of my beat; but mention may be made of a conversation with an Invercargill gentleman on tbe ground near Orepuki. He had a boy of about 10 years old with him, who was quite bidden amongst the grass. Another gentleman told me that Mr Hirst had fescue growing so tall tbat for fear of being put down as untruthful I will refrain from giving the height. I was yesterday over some ground widely differing in its mature. Some parts were good, but the change from good to bad was almost startling. la one place there wonld be limestone, in another a hungry brown day on which stuuted red tussock bad bard work to pick up a living. Another place would not keep a cow in full milk on ICO aores. It was mere washed out sand and shingle. It would do some of our city members who talk about 100 acres supporting a man in comfort good to take a turn round here, and look at the thing for themselves. They would then find out by personal experience what cockatooing out in the rough is. Half a dozen of us stumbled across each other at a neighbour's last sight, one man of 600 acres had made only £11 in one year and £14 the next. He was considered a lucky man to have done so well for the first year. Two more hai to go out and work to make both snds meet. Thb Nbw Bbidob.— The Wairaki bridge was finished months ago. It is more like a very long •heep race than a bridge. This is the only purpose for whioh it will be useful, except in bad weather. Eiders who can persuade their horses to walk across it will be able to pass over. It will serve their purposes very well, but so far as regards opening up Crown lands it will certainly not be of much use. Fortunately the river falls rapidly, and it is only in especially bad seasons that the traveller will have to seek the friendly shelter of Bellmount or Otahu. School Matters.— We are at loggerheads here Over Bchool matters. One party wants the school in one place, another in another ; while a third is petitioning to have it as near the Wairaki as possible. I suppose when it is up the disturbance will cease, although there are sure to be sore minds for years to come. Enterprise.— Dr Brown, of Dunedin, has put up a oapitat woolshed on his ground, and yards which are said to be capable of working 10,000 sheep at once. Burning Grass.— Some of the natural grass has been half-ruined in times past by injudicious burning. Some traveller was over a piece of country and set it on fire a week ago, and burnt out 50 aores perhaps. It will be many years before the ground is able to carry as much grass as it did before. It is sheer waste to burn off tut sock at this time of the year. Bunny.— Rabbits are troublesome. The Government has poisoned Eastern and other bushes. The poison was taken and must have done a lot of good, although the rabbits appear to be as tniok as ever. Everybody is at work against them. It is a pity to many oats and ferrets are caught, for at this season of the year trapping is the only way in which we can wage war against them. Daddy Longlhgs — I came aoross another trouble last night. The daddy longlegs was plentiful on the grass. As the cattle walked over it they roused up these Insects, whioh formed a thin oieud about them. I .hope they are not general, as they are a great trouble to the grass. I have not noticed them in any numbers in the c olony before, and sincerely hope they may not be general. It is to be hoped that the starlings may soon comeaaross them. They, however, seem very full of work to the westward, and return late in the evening to their camps, flying- east ward at a great elevation.