UPPER TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2289, 13 January 1898, Page 30

UPPER TAIERI.

Jan-uaky 10.— The excessive heat that has prevailed in this district for the past fortnight culminated a few days ago in a heavy dow n-jour of rain • of several hours' duration. In all conscience it was fcadly needed, as the growing crops aud native grasses were languishing for lack of moisture. This timely downfall of rain will be hailed with much satisfaction by the resident community. ' The supply of water at several of the homesteads Was getting short, and had not the. rain come a -great deal of inconvenience would have been experienced by a-number of the residents here. Pastorai. — The Crown tenants of Rocklands ' station (Messrs A. and J B yd) have ju&t recorded the highest percentage of lambs in their station books that has been marked for the past 20 years. When I state that fully 6000 lambs have been earmarked, or at the rate of 75 per cent to 100 ewes, it will be readily soan that Messrs A. and J Boyd have beaten the record this teason by many points in this district Of course lam referring to their merino fl >ck of ewes. lam glad to add that the current clip will be a very heavy one, as I have reason to know for several years in the past the gentlemen under notice have had almost insurmountable difficulties- to overcome in the prosecution of pastoral enterpi ise. They have run the risk of grazing their flocks over the towering ■freights of the Laminerlaw, and have paid the • Government an enormous sum of money for the right of a large block of country above the snowline that is only available for a few nvuths in the year for giazing purposes; while, on the other band, the low country attached to Rocklands ia very small indeed. Under their manager at Deep , Stream (Mr Donald M'lntyre)an immense sum of money has been extended in effecting- substantial improvements in the working requirements of the homes-tead. It gies without saying that Messrs A. and J. Bo^d have given employment to a I irge number of men for many . years in the past. Personae.— The advent of the New Year k " minds me that the time is opportune for making a few remarks in respect to myself. It h+vinff come to my knowledge that an opinion has got abroad to the effect that I am about to lay aside my pen and resign my literary duties as your correspondent for the Upper Taieri district, I beg respectfully to announce that there is no tuith in this report. For ■a period of 20 years p«.sl; I have acted as your representative for the Upper Taieri district, and I flatter myself that my literary labours ia respect to bringing many matters of district importance under public notice h^ve sot proved in vain.