MIDDLEMARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2342, 19 January 1899, Page 34

MIDDLEMARCH.

January 17. — The weather has been all that could be desired — showers in abundance and warm, close weather, which is making the crops come on apace. The excessive heat experienced on Friday and Saturday ended in a thunder ptorm on Sunday about mid-day. Very heavy rain fell on the Rock and Pillar; in fact, it could have been nothing less than a waterspout, for in less than half an hour the creeks were flooded, and came rushing down in torrents, flooding a part of the plain in a few minutes. I hear considerable damage has been jdone to some of the crops. Fortunately the rain was all over in about an hour, or no doubt very Serious damage would have resulted. The wet weather came at the very nick of time, for things were looking parched. Agricultural. — Crops are looking splendid. Ip._ fact, all over the district excellent fields of grain and turnips can be seen. There has been nothing like it for years, and with favourable ■weather from now on till harvesting, it will be one of the best years the farmers nave had. Pastoral. — Shearing is now over, and I hear in most cases the flocks came in better than they did last year. The clip, on the whole, is better than last year's, and the sheep are in very good condition. The second wool sale was held in Dunedin last Tuesday. Some of the farmers seemed satisfied with the prices their clips realised, in some cases bringing Jd joer 1b more this 'year. I hear several of the sheep farmers have already sold their store wethers at very good prices, delivery to be given in a few days, which will give them a chance of- saving the feed for winter, aa they generally dispose of them at the end of March or early in April. The dealers .are certainly on the job this year, and it is to be hoped this will last. Congratulatory. — Now that we have safely got o*^r the holidays, and entered into another year all in good health and cheer, bo far as I can hear, let us hope things will work together for pur good, and that we may face the battle pf life in 1899 with a cheerful spirit.