OTAMA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 24

OTAMA.

April 10. —Except for a few patches on the high lands in Otama the harvest ia finished, aud the threshing nearly so also. Threshing this ye.rhaa bee.n got through very quickly, and the returns are disappointing, "not so good as I expected" being tho general answer when you ask how the stuff threshed out. Turnips also are not a very good crop. They have a wilted and dried up appearance asr-a rule, but I notice one very fair crop— that of Mr Dodds, on the Otama Flat. Rain is badly wanted both for grass and turnips. We have been having a great deal of east winds lately, which has -had the effect of retarding the growth of grass, and I am afraid feed will be scarce this winter. It is » pity that more of our farmers could not avail themselves of the trip to Edendale given by the Wilburn Lime Co. Those Who went enjoyed themselves thoroughly, besides getting thsir ideas enlarged. After viewing the dairy factory the excursionists were token to the paddocks to see the effects of lime, which were, indeed, excellent, the crops of turnips and grass being simply luxuriant. They were then shown the process of dehorning cattle, and bad a look round the homestead. A substantial luucheon was provided during the day for the excuisiouists, and altogether, as one of them remarked, they had a very good time. It is a pity the train met with a mishap at Clinton ; but it is a blessing it Was no worse, oh it might easily have been. Political.— l see our M.H.R., Mr Fraser, is to addrrss his constituents in the Otama. ; Hall on the 23rd inst. Out With Bluey.— Never since Otama ha« been settled have I seen soraany men s wagging It. I won't say they are looking for work, for they certainly don't aßk for it. It is invariably 11 tucker" that is the request. With rabbits in every quarter, I do not see ,the necessity of so many men running- through the country, and if an} one offers a job at reduced rates they a3 a rule would rather go on than accept of it. If the farmer has to accept reduced prices for his produce, it stands to reason that the price for labour must fall. Band:— The band still holds its weekly practice in the hall. Mr Hirst, a to Otama, has, been teaching the members these last two months, very kindly undertaking to give them some training. He is an adept at the cornet, and he will be much missed.