WAIWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 25

WAIWERA.

April 10. —The long spell of fine weather we had at the beginning of the season was broken some time since, and lately we have been getting vary changeable weather indeed. There has been an occasional fine day, but u-mally rough and at times with snow on the hills, accompanied by hail showers, with very cold and high winds. The few who have part of their crops still in stook are experiencing great difficulty in getting it in, and I fear in any case now it will be much damaged. We really seem to have made a sudden jump from summer right into winter. Threshing, too, although pretty well forward, is being rendered difficult to go on with. The rain at times has damaged much grain, even after it has been stacked but has not had time to settle. Such are some of the misfortunes the poor farmeis are subject to.

Stock Sales, Etc. — Sheep continue to realise good prices at our local sales. Fat lambs have all along been commanding very fair prices. The turnip crops everywhere have improved a great deal lately ; consequently there is a better prospect for winter feed thin at one time seemed probable. Cattle are spiling very cheaply, bnth fat and store, prime fat only fetching 15s per 1001b. It seems a pity the exnerinieuts tried to place our beef on the London market have not been more successful. Somehow I cannot help thinking there is alack of eneigy among our commercial men both in the mutton and beef trade with the Home country. I fancj with such a grand producing country and such bpleudid facilities for taking produce Home, vve ought, rightly and economically managed, to be able to compete with the world. What wouldn't the Yankee do with such splendid opportunities? We too often find our leading men fighting over trifles, costing hundreds for very little, while the more important matters are left to- drift here and there.