UPPER TAIERI.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 22

UPPER TAIERI.

December 11. — Shearing operations have been grpatly interrupted during the past week, consequent on the severity of the weather. Hurricane gales v hered in heavy showeis of rain and sleet, while snow fell in the higher country to tho depth of several feet. The gales are still raging at date of writing, and the weather is bitteily cold in Central Otago. Fcais of the result are entertained by the flockowners. Unless there is an improvement in the weather soon there is a probability of a heavy death rate among the shorn sheep.

Labour.— There has been no scarcity of labour in Central Otago. Since the busy season opened shearers have turned up in large numbers at Linburn, Puketoi, -Eweburn, and Patearoa stations respectively, and the several managers and owners have experienced no difficulty in hading {rood hands for the various branches of labour required to be performed in the different sheds. The current rates ruling for labour are as follows, : Shearing 15s per 110 bleep, wool rolleia Xl 5.-., fleece lifters £1 per wcuk, and rouscabouts XI per week. Of course food is included in the above.

Oik. M.H.R.— Tbo recent contest for the Waihemo seat by the two Macken/ies caused gieat excitement throughout Cential Otago. Crowds of men thronged the various telegraph otliccs throughout the day and far inti the night of the polling time, awaiting news from headquarteis. The news of Mr Scobie Mackenzie's defeat w as leceived here by his fiiunds and supnoiters with deep legict. The Minister for Lnncis in his addresses was, it must be confessed, very bitter against tbe monopoly of land companies in New Zealand. Ho hurled forth strong language against them, ar,d boldly announced that the reign of squatterdoia was over. The Minister said, amocg other things, that he would cut up Hamilton

station next year into small blocks, so as to enable settlers with a small capital to tpke up a section on easy terms. The hon. gentleman quite surpassed himself in bringing to the surface some tempting baits with which to turn the tide of public opinion in his favour.