UPPER TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 25

UPPER TAIERI.

December I.— The long spell of dry weather experienced in the Maniototo district is having a disastrous effect on the crops, as well as the pastures, over the broad expanse of the entire plain, and unless a heavy downpour of rain sets in at once there will be no crops to gather in from the fields at the time of narvest. The generallyexpressed opinion here is to the effect that unless a fall of rain occurs soon the turnip crop will be a failure over a large acreage of Central Otago. The paßtoral outlook for Jtrass at present is very gloomy indeed. Station Notes.— Shearing operations during the past week have been vigorously carried on on several of the large stations in the south-western division of the district. At Puketol station ft great number of sheep have been divested of thefo fleece under a large band of professional .shearers. At this early date of the season it would probably he deemed premature for the writer to express an opinion iv respect to the quality, as well as tho Quantity^ of wool that la shorn worn the nooks

{ here. Judging from what has gone under my own j observation during the past two months I rhould i say that thore will be a- heavy deficiency In tho current clip, while the quality la not so good as that of the previous year. With refereuce to station labour available in Central Otago for the 'current busy season, I may remark that the several stations here have not been thronged by bands of men in quest of work. The shearing , rate of wages has been fixed at the old rate of IBs | per 100 sheep of all descriptions. WooJ rollers , are belug paid by retulte, or at the rate of so much P'jr 1000 sheep shorn. Musterers with dogs and horses are beinc paid at the rate of £2 5s per week. Of course the above rates include station tucker, supplied by a contract cook at so much per meal to all hands during the shearing season. Ecclesiastical.— The Rev. M'Oosh Smith, of Naaeby, held two religious services in Central Otago laßt week — one at Linburn station and. the other at the Pukctoi station. He was well received at the latter station. The rev. gentleman delivered an Impressive religious discourse to a largo body of station hands with telling effect. Iv the courao of his dircourHe he strongly denounced the evil effects of strong j drink to the sons of toil in this fair land. He i announced himself as a strong supporter of the Prohibition Liquor Bill that was now before toe public, "and he trusted to see it become law throughout the length and breadth of New Zea- ' land.