ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY).

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 25

ALBURY (SOUTH CANTERBURY).

April 7.— The past week has been a pretty busy oue what with threshing, grain carting, sheep drafting for dipping, and disposing of surplus stock, keeping both the agriculturist and pastor alist busy. For the latter the business has been a pretty trying one, the weather having been anything but favourable, a howling nor'west wind prevailing frequently, and the general diy state of the ground causing the mere moving of a mob of sheep to result in clouds of dust, while the days have been invariably hot, often followed by a rather severe squall of rain and sleet, ending in frost, which is the more unfortunate since so many were engaged dipping their flocks, and no doubt congratulating themselves the while on the warmth and dryness of the af teruoone. Alas ! " fond hopes are too often akin to beautiful dreams."

Markets. — The market, too, has proved adverse to those wautiug to dispose of stock of any description, except the best of draught horses, which about hold their own. All classes of sheep have fallen back about Is, pigs 20 per cent., whils cattle fetch about " half less nothing."

Harvest. — Threshing in the district is about finished, and all round oue hears expressions of disappointment with the scores, the register by the mills in some places not being more than half what was expected. The best yields I've heard of are Messrs Askin, Rutherford, Irving, D. Elliot, Smith and M'Cort, and Angland. Twenty-six bushels of wheat and 42 of oats are the most satisfactory crops— just about 10 bushels under what would have been the case but for the " big man ■with the bellows." A fortnight ago 4s 4d up to 4s 6d for spot lines of primest white wheats was obtainable, but now that the bulk of the harvest is on offer 2d less has to be accepted to effect a deal. However, lam glad to say little is changing hands at the reduced price. Oats are about holdisff their own at from 2s to 2s 3d. Potatoes, though another scarce commodity, are being booked for forward delivery at &)s, local sales, but I fear trouble at time of delivery, the late severe frosts and the prevalenca of second growth accounting for the impression. Bunny.— This pest, which I am glad to say is comparatively a thing of the past, is just now exercising tha minds of the landholders, the poisoning season being near at hand. Obituary.— lt. was my painful duty a short time ago to report the death of the wife of one of our respected residents, and now I have a similar task to perform. Mr R. Mahoney, local blacksmith, who has of late experienced considerable adversity, has been further afflicted by the loss of his wife. Deceased, who had_ been ailing for a considerable time, leaves an infant only a few weeks old aud two elder children and a large circle of friends to mourn the loss of one who endeared herself to one and all who were brought into contact with her. Nobody sought assistance from her ill vain. Mr Mahoney_ has a very large number of sympathisers in his sad bereavement, as there are few better known in South Canterbury ihan he.

Cricket. — Our local representatives journeyed to Fairlie on Saturday, and after a very pleasant day returned victors. Mr J. S. Rutherford kindly drove the team up, and such a drive is not to be forgotten iv a hurry.

The rabbit season, says the Dunback correspondent of the Falmerston Times, militates much against our school. With the new competition that has come upon us for rabbits to freeze, the price has gone up to 6d per pair, and the big boys are tempted to earn a few shillings. Nine hundred and fifty pounds was paid by the factory for rabbits last month. Two hundred pounds more would not covet the cost of coal, railajte and material,