UPPER TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 25

UPPER TAIERI.

r>Ecn:MBER.27 — The glorious ipell of fine weather experienced here during the past foitnight has enabled the large flock-owners in the southwestern division of this district to prosecute shearing operations with a full complement of men to the full bent of their power. Since the Fhearing season opeuerl here rapid progress has been made with the shearing work, and should the weather continue fine a short time longer Puketoi, Linbuin, and Patearoa will be finished and the flocks turned to the mountains for the summer. The line breezy weather has cleared away the fog

from the mountain heights, thereby enabling the shepherds to muster iv the Hocks from the back country to the several homestead stations without loss of time through dense fogs settling dowa on the mountain tops, sometimes for days together. The current season has, however, proved au exception to tho general rule at this season of the year. It is giatifying to note that the flocks coming forward are in splendid c 'nditiou. Little wonder that a rapid improvement has been effected when there is feed iv abundance eve) y where. Wool-scouring.— l note that Mr Kennedy has a full baud of men pivseutly engiged' in the woolscouring luuinegg in close proximity to Linburn station. For many years p.»st scouring operations have been carried ou at Pa'earoa, but it was found that the Taieri River water, owing to its silty nature, pro\ed a great drawback to the wool scouring business. The present site near Linburn is all that could be desired for the prosecution of this branch of work. There is a splendid dam of clear water and well-grassc.l paddocks for drying purposes. An immense quantity of the inferior description of wool is conveyed to the above establishment, and, I may add, under the supei vision of Mr Kennedy good prices are obtained.

Station Isiprovements.— lt is worthy of remark that great improvements have been carried out on sevf ral of the large homestead stations in this district during the past two years in regard to"providing commodious sleeping apartments for the station hands dining the buw season. Several of the laige stations have erected commodious dining hulls detsched from the sleeping apartments. The old landmarks uf ancient history are being rapidly removed, aud substantial structures to meet modern requiiemenls are to be seen where tumbledown outhouses did duty for sleeping apartments in many instances for 20 year 3 past. A change fov the better has now come round.