BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 23

BALCLUTHA.

Sbitemuku 23.— The recent spell of fins weather has enabled the farmers to press forward with spring work A good many have their main oat crops sown, although there are others who hay« the land to plough yet. The lind has beon so wet in many cases that it could not be turucd over till it drained off a bit. Thia points to the. very gr«at necessity of having most of thr. ploughing done in autumn. Much of the oat crop must be late-Bown this season, but there may be good enough crops for all that ; it iR all a question of the weather that follows the sowing. I have seen oats sown early ia "November turn out a firstclass crop, but the chances aie all in favour of the early -sown crops Bhould a dry summer follow. Wheat is not grown to any great extent in this district, although most farmer* grow a small area for their own use. The grass is springing away fresh and green, and since the Stirling Dairy Factory has commenced its season the grass will be welcomed. There waa a move some time ago to establish another dairy factory in this district, at Waitepeka, but the project fell through for want of tho nece%ary capital. It is a pity, for the proposed site is a capital centre for a wide district south of Balclutha. If part of the Government advances to settlura could be devoted to the establishment of dairy factories in suitwbie centre*, a greater boon would be conferred in many instances than by lending money on mortgaged farms. With dairy factories at Stiilinjr, Inch-Clutha, and Waitepeka, the district would be fairly well covered. As one result of the appearance of spring feed there is a visible move forward in sheep dealing At the local sales larger quantities change hands, and the prices aro betpnning to look like old times. A week ago Messrs Begg Brothers, of Hillend, had a consignment of some 5000 sheep arrive from Tiimru by two special train?. Tho sheep were store hoggets, and will be fattened off speedily, a good supply of turnips being ready for them. A. and P Society.— The annual meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society was held a week ago, and it says little for the interest taken in the Hociety that only about half a dozen rntnv bers turned up to the meetiug. The only thing this society does to justify its existence ia to hold an annnal show, and this depends largely upon the exertions of a few enthusiasts and those interested. The local show is always a good one of its kind, and is looked forward to by the inhabitants of the surrounding dintrictn as the holiday of the season. Tee show fulfils its purpose well enough as small country shows go, but it ia evident better results would be attaiued if two ot three societies would combine to hold a representative show at come convenient centre, if. 8ay t Waitahuna, MiUon, and Clutha agreed to ConY bine a firafc-rate show could be held by tf"» Aav^

Lined societies either at Milton— as the most convenient centre— or alternately at Waitahuna, Milton, and Balclutha. With the exception of the t,how season, our local A. and P. Society is dormant the rest of the yo.ir, and scarcely doe 3 jiis>ic9 to it«elf as an agricultural s-ocicty, which ought to meet at stated intervals for the discussion of mattora affecting the interests of the farnitrs generally. As a real live working body the WaiUhnna farmers set a good example to their fallows her<s and elsewhere. Amusements.— The Literary Society brought its Eooßou to a close by a capital entertainment a week a£'\ which toolt the form of a conversaziouo, "in Mackenzie's Hall. With tho closing of the liitorary Society we lose for a seasou an excellent source of weekly niuusement. The teuuis season opened ou Saturday, when quite a large number cfploycrfl turned out, the afternoon being beautifully lino. At night tho local band gave an open air parade in the m%in street, which, to say the least, helped to liven up ttio now almost constant dull aspect of the streets, and constituted a marked contrast to the couple of Salvation Army la;ses and a small boy with a torch who attempted to create a ri\al attraction farther down str--':'. The Rujiin uku Flood. -Now that tho spring basso fai .on-wed without^any appearance of a flood, we may, I think, possess our souls in peace in the confident assurance that there will be no Hood. It is exasperating, of course, to those who were instrumental in having flood gauges placed in the river that the flood will not come when such elaborate preparations have been made to meet it. As I pointed out weeks ago, there is not tho quantity of snow up-country there was at one time thought to be; and the hard frozen slate of that on the highest country ensures that it will only come away gradually.