MATAURA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 22

MATAURA.

February 12. — The weather here has been more variable during the last few weeks than it has been for years past. A fortnight ago we had heavy gales and a severe hailstorm ; great heat followed, with close muggy weather and a dripping rain. There is abundance of fruit of all kinds this season, especially apples, notwithstanding the heavy gales, which shook the trees badly. There is a plentiful supply of grass. A week or two ago it looked as if the hot weather would burn it up altogether. The recent showers have freshened it, and there is again good feed for stock. All the cereal crops are looking well. Harvesting has commenced, and will be got through in a week or two should the weather prove favourable. The potato crop is likely to be a heavy one. Turnips are rather late, having suffered a good deal from the hailstorm. Stock of all kinds are in good condition, especially the sheep and lambs for freezing purposes. The Bot Fly.— That much-dreaded pest, the bot fly, is in our midst, a number of horses within the last week or two having been attacked. The preventives usually recommended have been generally applied with a view to destroying the eggs before they are conveyed to the stomach. Horticultural. — Our annual horticultural show takes place on Wednesday next, and judging from the preparations being made and the number of exhibits promised it is likely to be as successful as it ,has been in the three preceding years.

An Acquisition.— Dr Hendry, late of Port Chalmers, has pitched his tent here. He has just come in time, as sickness is somewhat prevalent, and he has been kept busy since his arrival. The district is large and scattered, and a young man is most suitable for it.

The Control of the River Banks.— The question of whether the local body has control of the river banks of the Mataura river within its boundaries has lately cropped up. Two works of some magnitude are paying rent to the Waste Lands Board for land on the banks of the river. The Town Board asked the Land Board who had control of the river banks within the town boundaries, and the Land Board replied that in its opinion the Town Board had jurisdiction, but as it was a legal question the board had better consult a solicitor. The opinion of the legal adviser of the Town Board is entirely in favour of that body, which is satisfactory to the ratepayers, as it is quite likely considerable emoluments may be derived for sites for works along the banks of the river below the Mataura Falls.

Paper Milt,.— The new paper mill is just about completed. It is expected that a trial of the paper-making machine will be made this week. The turbine which drives tho beatere, digester, pumps, Ac, has been tried and found to work satisfactorily. The electric light is completed. Competent judges say that this mill will be one of the finest in Australasia.

Freezing Works.— The freezing works have made a fresh start, after being three months idle. The two machines at work will be able &o put through twice the number of sheep per week that they did last year, 'at comparatively speaking Tory little more cost. The engine room required more) light, and this has been accomplished with ai 500-candle power lamp. Lamps have also beeni put in the belt room and on the turbine. The! company have sheep booked at the rate of 500 per " day for the next eight or ten months, and there • are still a great number that will be sent to the works not yet booked. From one grower alone it is expected that 12,000 will be received. Thore is • every reason now to think that this company is in > a fair way of becoming a dividend-paying concern before long. It behoves the farmers to support the company which inaugurated freezing in Southland, and has been the means of so materially increasing tho shipping at the Bluff Harbour, there being now no less than four diro.it lines trading between the Bluff and the mother country.