POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 28

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

April 13.— Sioo my last from this settlement Several of the settlers have had their stacks threi-hed, and some grain has already been carted taway. Those at the lower end of the settlement Were not ready for themill, so it left and went to Wairuna Flat, and I do not know for certain when 'It may proeced with the rest of the Pomahaka Bottlers' work. So far as it has gone the result is far from satisfactory, the field being ranch below what is expected from new ground. No doubt the levere weather had something to do with this, but I am beginning to think that Mr Scobie MacJkenzie's remarks about the quality of the land when the Government first bought it are going to torove too true. 'Taking the results as shown by the threshing,- 1 f«il to see how the- settlers can pay these high, rents and still live on the place. If • the rent were reduced by about half their present rate, I have no doubt but that the settlers could snake comfortable homes, and I know also for a fact that several are looking after vacant sections en the estate, but will not touch them at the present rates. I feel assured that the Hon. John M'Kenzie wishes to encourage land settlement, &nd if he would now pay us a visit" and have a tauiet talk over the matter with the settlers, I think he would see that it would be advantageous tooth to land settlement and to the Government to' make some allowance. When he visited us last year, and some were then complaining of the high rents, he said it was absurd to be complaining of the rents then before" we had tried th« ground, " but wait," said he, " for another year, aud then you will have something 1o go upon." The year has passed, and certainly we have gained «ome experience, and for those of us who wish to make our homes here a satisfactory arrangement frith the Government ia very much to be fleiiired. \ Roads. — At present the roads are in a very fair \ £tite for carting grain, but if we get weather like that of last Friday they will soon be " up a tree." 3 hear some of the settlers 4 at the lower end are 1 negotiating for a road through the Clydevale property to the Molyneux, where the boat will take the grain down to Balclucha. This road would be ..of immense advantage to the settlers, as it would tnean a drive of about only five to" six miles, Whereat the distance to- Clinton is about 12 or 13 Xniles. ■ Improvements. — I see that our neighbour, Mr Mitchell, who I am glad to say seems to be picking up a little slnco his late attack of influenza, is putting up commodious sheep yar-ls, and I hear ge is going to enlarge his dwelling house. Mr W. Davidson, our blacksmith, has got a very neat . three-roomed house almost completed. lam glad to see, also, that the horses on the Pomahaka estate are going to be better looked after this year, for several straw stable* are in course of erection. > [A description of these would be of interast. —