OTAUTAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 29

OTAUTAU.

July 9. — All the Southland correspondents have told enough about the beautiful winter we are having without my wasting your valuable space by expatiating any more over that subject, except, perhaps, I might be allowed to add the wish that we may not be hibernating when we ought to be sowing, or when the lambing is in full swing. Agricultural and Pastoral.— Ploughing is bsing pushed vigorously ahead, and there will be a large acreage this year under crop, especially wheat, when that ceraal can be sown, and if the weather only holds good for a week or two longer the harrows will he hard at work. Grass Has held out well, the frost 3 having been slight and far between ; thus the mildness of the winter has compensated to a great extent for the turnip crop being rather below the average in quality. Jubilke. — No doubt the Otautau people are loyal enough, although there was very little outward show of rejoicing on the 22nd, but the explanation is ttrat most of the holiday-seekers betook themselves to the large centres, where they could see illuminations, etc., etc., ad lib. Land i^ales. — The last of the fine Bayswater estate has been sold, so, ai a station, it is a thing of the past. The late manager, Mr Mitchell, the other evening got a send-off in the shape of a presentation of a gun. I trust no reader will misinterpret my meaning of the last sentence.