BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 22

BALCLUTHA.

February 5. — The cyclonic stoim which passed over New Zealand has left its track over this district. The ripe and ripening crops have suffered severely, and much of it is so tangled about that it will be difficult to cut. Fortunately the wind was accompanied by rain, or else the ripe gran would have been completely threshed oiit. The orchards have been stripped of th,eir fruit, the ground being strewn with apples and plums, and as most of the fruit is unripe, the loss \s the greater. Fruit-growing is a precarious business in our climate, but the best safeguards are close shelter and trees of dwarfed growth. Fruit-grow-ing without ample shelter in the way .of hedges and belts of trees is not calculated to prove remunerative. The holiday-makers who were camped out under canvas at Port Molyneux and Nugget Bay had a rough experience on Friday night, or early on Saturday morning, when the storm broke. Most of the tents were blown down and some of them were torn to pieces by the wind. The campers had to seek shelter from the bitter storm in the nearest house. As one incident of the storm I may remark that at 9 a.m on Saturday, the lowest barometer reading ever made at the local post office was made. Astandard barometer of the Admiralty type is used, a,ud the mergury stood, at 2898. Records have

been kept for years, and no reading below 29. appears in the book. Harvest.— Harvest is upon us, but the clerk of the weather has favoured us with anything but harvest weather. In general, the crops are good in this locality ; but on account of the wet season they are laid in many instances, making the task of gathering them in the more difficult. Harvesting will not be general for another week or so yet. There are good crops on the new farms on the Manuka Island estate, which was only to be expected, as the land has never beeu cropped before. The settlers have no convenient road except to the river, and the River Board are erecting them a shed so that the steamer can call and take away the grain. The Pomahaka Estate.— A large number of intending selectors have visited the Pomahaka Downs estate ; and so far as can be seen at the present time the sections will all be applied for several times over. A great part of this estate is good agricultural land, and those lucky em ugh to procure selections will find themselves the possessors of good f amis. A portion of the estate is rough and better fitted for sheep grazing ; and this parth as been surveyed into larger sections. It is a great pity for this place that several other large estates cannot be dealt with in the same fashion. If Clydevale and Telford's could be divided up into farms, we should get a considerable influx of population, which would make a great difference to this place. More Light.— The Balclutha Gas Company have their works well on hand now. Messrs Sparrow and Co. are fixing the holder in position, and as the pipes are expected to land this week, the work of laying them will proceed as soon as they arrive here. In a very few weeks time now the gas should be laid on, and let us hope that more and better light wiU be cast upon our darkness during the winter months. Steam Launch.— Mr George Thompson has taken the hint I threw out a few weeks ago, and has placed a small steam launch on the river ; but the little boat is not powerful enough to stem the Clutha current. The Kaitangata people are now speaking of a launch to run across to Port Molyneux with. Such a conveyance would save weary miles of travel by road, and in fine weather would be much more pleasant.