POMAHAKA DOWNS

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 28

POMAHAKA DOWNS

March 21.— During the last fortnight we have had some »erj' nice days of sunshine. Cutting was commenced on some sections ou Monday, 14th. On Tuesday some rain fell, and from that to tha end of the week we had a south-west wind, with frlecttrcal t-howers. Yesterdaj' the weather cleared up agiin, and once more the sun shone out. It looks as if we are to have broken weather, arid we must take advantage of even possible bouriffiue. It ia tj be regretted that harvest issolaW this year, asmapy will be deterrrd from Xoin< down t-i Danediu to see the Jubilee of Ofcagi celebrations. However, we shall have the Winter Show lattr on, and thoae who can't g j t down to the Jubiiee will have to content tliernsKlves with it. Crops — The oat crop lias improved wonderfully lately owing to the few fine warm days we Dave had, and if favoured with good weather I c-xpect the average per acre to be fully up to what. I mentioned some short time ago— viz ,30 bushtls. Cutting- has now commenced on a good many of tbe section?, and by the thm this is iv priut I expect harvest will be in full swing should the weather permit. Turnip&have benefited grtatly by the late rains. Sale.— The Fanners' Agency Co. held a sale of implements, household furniture, and sundries on the farm of Mr Quin, Wairuna, on the 11th inst., and thf Pomahaka settlers were much in evidence thereat. At the commencement ot the sale Mr G-iindlyy raad^ us all very well pleased with ourselves I j onveying to us v message from Lord Jtanfurly, saying how pleased he w^uld be to &cc in all down at the Jubilee, aud sad hs would be glad ta inform his Excellency of any message we desired to sen.J him. I was so much taken aback afc the kindness of Mr Grindley and his friend the Governor that I could n«t compose n.yself to think of any metsage to send at the moment, but, vow I wi&h I had had the presence of mind to send a niessace to_his Excellency, whilst ha i? . n his rambles through the country, to visit the Puiuabak-< &ett ! ement, and vvu should endeavour to show him what a fine lot of loyal settlers we are. A- to the sale, lam glact 10 saj' that it was a very satisfactory one all through. Mr Quia provided a hearty Junch for all. The sheep were sold firsf, the cattle next, then the horses and the implements. The biddingwas keen throughout. The greater part of the thingi sold came, I think, to thd Pomahaka I saw one bachelor doing his best to diive a cow home. This inus* surely m? an that he will bs driving a milkmaid home soon also. Speaking of driving, I notice a good many buggies hive foimd their way out to the Pomaliaka. Here's good luck to alt. May prices keep up and returns be satisfactory, so that it may not bo laid en our shouide'S that we brought a certain honourable gentleman's giey hairs with, torrow to tbe gniw. Levse ix PithP&TUiTY.— This etein-il lea^e has been giving me much thousKt laS-e'y. find although I think it is a good enough system whereby a man with small m^ans may start on a faim, yet I would much like to sse settlers get the option of changing to the deferred payment system, becaust) jsverv true-bom Britisher like.s the idea of looking on his ffirm as hiu own, and it is tia incentive to him to go ou improving his place, knowing that 011^ day it will be hi* own. Ie would not affec!» thb principle of the lion. John M'K nzis's Biji, because no doubt many would p.-efcr to remain under the L.i.P. ; but ir would ai"i<i fresh lustre to his name were be to make it p.>.'sib]e for a man to buy up his holding, and thereby become monarch of all he surveyed, or rather of aIL the Government surveyed for h;m. Ecclesiastical.— On tbe second Sabbath of this mouth Messrs P Himay and W. Jioy conducted service at tha schcol, and *m Ibis cutting sabbath (4 h Suuday of the month) Mr J.is. K,oy vail officiate. The School. — The school is at present closed for holiddts, lseean-.ee p]ay>hed lias been put up, which will b-inpfit the scholia dming tho awful bursts of wind snd rain with which we are now so fam ; lia*r, I nlio notice some pipe's there with which some drain* will be put in. Habbitixg — iiunny ii getting a great doing just now .Everywhere are trappsrs busy at work. A gentleman was felling me iv Clinton the other day that not a ihiid of the rabbits that came ia lait year aro coming this year. This is surely evidence that they are not so thick as they were The spring- tim& is the grand time for poi-oning and the winter for trapping, and I think the inspect" rs should no.v gel a well-deserved holiday. Mr Tuflley, of Clinton, is running a cart out this way thiee limes a week. He just touches the Pomahak.l estate, p.oing oa through tbe Wairuna estate. I have heard that another cart is to run up as far as the school, but it has not yet started.