POMAHAKA DOWNS. WAIWERA. TIPPER TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 34

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

WAIWERA.

TIPPER TAIERI.

. November 27.— -Tho weather during the past fortnight has not been such as to call forth much grumbling. We havo had thunder on two different occasions accompanied "by heavy rain. The rain was wanted, and the crops are looking much better. Agricultural.— We aro all busy getting ground ready for turn.ipa. Mr William Moffat, of (Wairuna, has his manure and turnin dnli so^7e^ up hero at present, going from" settler to settler and putting the seed in. Tho niamire used is, I think, principally Maiden Island guano, although some are putting half standard bones and half Maiden Island- Tho turnip sowing is a good deal earlier this year than last, thanks to the clerk of tho weather. Political.— On the 20bh Mr M'Noil attended at the Pomahaka School to deliver his address. Having another engagement, I was unable to be present, but heavy rain came on, which would probably interfere with the attendance. 1 believe Mr M'Neil is on tho Opposition side, and this makes three \>n tho Opposition aide and one on tho Government — or, rather, two ■on the Opposition side, one Independent, and one Government man. I doubt if tho Opposition will havo much of a show under these circumstancss unless one of them rotire3. The fact is that under tho present party system it matters very little what man is sent up bo. long, as he is of the colour wished by tho majority of the voters and under these circumstances let everyone have hia turn as far as practicablo in getting a trip to Wellington and a nice easy life for three years. I think I'll have a shot at it myself next time. One thins I should like to see brought into force, and that is tho Bible in schools. On the wall of a room in a house in tho Old Country with which I was familiar hung a picture of her Majesty the Queen presenting a dusky Indian Prince with the Bible and saying, " Tbi3 is the secret of England's greatness, England's glory." So it is, and unless our children get well grounded in the Bible, which is really the foundation of all our laws, we canuot ezpect to build up a great colony. This matter, I consider, ia far before prohibition. A true

-born Briton does not believe in being compelled, to do a thing beyond hia liking. Although I am a total abstainer, and would like to see all who are in any way given to. drink on my side, I would much prefer t osee it clone voluntarily than have it done by compulsion. Therefore get our children well grounded in the teachings of the Bible, and there will ba no need of r>rohibitioa.

November 20.—There has been an unusual amount of sicknes3 in the district thi3 year. At present Mrs Murray, jun., of Rosevalo farm, is very ill indeed. This is all the mere sorious, [ as Mr and Mrs Murray so recently lost their • infant son. General sympathy is expressed for j the invalid. I Political.—Since my last we have had quite 1 a storm of politics. The Premier at Clinton 1 gave us an opportunity of hearing the side of things from the Seddonian standpoint. Mr Mackenzie, at Waiwera, also R.ddr&sscd a large audience, and had a very warm reception. Mr Malcolm followed, and was well received. Indeed, all the candidates may depend on fair • play and a patient hearing at the hands of tho j Waiwera people, who pride themselves on good i manners and proper behaviour on all such occasions. The ballot only will toll tha true tale as to who is the favourite. Concert.—A most successful concert was recently held in the Public Hall in aid of the Cricket Club, at which frier.ds gave ' most valuable assistance—indeed, I think the . principal part of the work fell on their shoulders. The Misses Garden, M'Nair, Fyfe, and Breeze contributed solos or instrumental selections, Dr Cran, Mr Stark, and Mr Brown baing tha other principal performers. Dr Cran, { who is a ttranger in our midst, has created quite j a favourable impression, not only with his per1 formances at social Junctions, but also in his ) profession. An agreedLle add klad manner goc3 1 a long way to help establish a professional j man in popular favour, and Dr Cran has certainly made many friends during his short sojourn amongst us. Mr Stark, too, well deserves a word of praise, as ho has on several occasions willingly helped both Clinton and Waiv.'era. j Both gentlemen possess plonsing baritone I ivoioes, and most unassuming manners on the j stago. On the whole, tho entertainment was a pronounced success, and added materially to the Cricket Club's funds. ,

November 25.—The excessive Keat experienced in this district during the past fort-, night culminated a few days ago in a terrific [ thunderstorm and a heavy downpour of rain f of several hours' duration. It came just in , tha nick of timo to stimulate the growth of the ' cereal crops over an immense area of the ! Maniototo Plain that were languishing for L lack of moisture. It ia a fact worthy of re- \ mark that tho Maniototo sheep-farmers are i going in strongly for turnip growing this season for sheep-fattening purposes. The pastoral ; outlook is rapidly assuming a brighter aspect, as there is every prospect of abundance cf grass throughout the district. Shearing.—Shearing operations commenced at Puketoi Station last week, with a full band of shearers and shed hands. I am in a posi- ! tion to roporfc that no reduction in tho rate of | wages has been made for "the current season's j labour by the manager Mr R. S. Charters. As \ this is an early shearing shed in ' the Maniototo, / the following rate of wages may be ' noted: —Shearing, 15a . per 100 sheep; wool-rollers at tho rate of so much per 1000 sheep shorn; fleece-lifters , and other hands engaged pro rata on a lower j acalo on the number of sheep shorn at Puketoi, ' aqd also at Linburn Station. In connection with t this matter, it is only fair to state that the accommodation provided for tho shearers and • shed hands at Puketoi by tho manager is second to nono in Central Otago. Last year i a commodious building waa erected with sepaS( rate' apartments, and every requisite furnished \ for the men that could be desired. Tho men, i speak in high terms of praise of the excellent j accommodatipn provided for their comfort during the season. Mr Turner, lorfg and favourably known in Central Otago, has arranged with the managers of Puketoi and Linburn Stations to provide the men with food at contract prices, and under his liberal hand the entire band receive every kindness and attention. Stock Transactions.—A large nurnbei of sheep ! for delivery" after shearingJia-s already been ' soldi in Central Otago to "buyers at-a distance, \ at very satisfactory prices to the largo flockowners in the south-western division of the Upper Taiori district. It has. transpired that tho manager of Puketoi Station (Mr R. S. ■ Charters) has sold a largo number of crossbred j. sheep for immediate delivery at a very high f figure. I understand that orders for sheep a"o coming through the mail every week to Puketoi Station. Tho manager has also sold a fine draft of young merino stud rams at | a very high price per head to a northern sheep-" farmer. MINING. Messrs Auld, M'Coll and party, at the head of the Taiari River, have taken on several extra I Hands, to enable- them to work their splendid J mining .claim by night shifts of men as well . as during tho day. It is said by practical I miners that the promoters of the claim under , notice hold one of tho best mining properties lin this large mining district. Tho estimated value of this mining property to date is set down at £4000. I venture to predict the day ia not far distant when a large mining population, will be settled along the banks of the Taieri River > (east and west), busily engaged in developing I the auriferous areas of that almost " terra in- \ cognita" for many years to come. j Bond's Creek Hydraulic Company (Limited.) ' Tho prospectus of the Bond's Creek Hydrau- } lie Sluicing Company has been issued, and { I am glad to report that a largo number of ■ shares have been sold. The capital is £2200, in 1 2200 shares of £1 each. The brokers are Mr , F. J. Quinn (Christchurch) and Messrs Sachtler aud Cahill (Cromwoll). The highly satis- ; factory report transmitted to Christchurch by j the mining experts, Messrs Nicholson and j Turner, sent hero to examine the ground has j resulted in a large number of shares being sold to tho public. There is every prospect of the I company being floated at an early date. There ia a heavy volume of water availablo for »luicing ; operations and other requirements all -tho year round. Riddell'a Creek Company.—lt is announced I here that arrangements aro in progress with j a view to the formation of a mining comnany ,i to wory Riddell's Creek and Gully under the t hydraulic system of labour. For years in the \ past tho gully under notice has proved highly j remunerative to a large number of miners." [ The Mongolians havo from timo to timo unI earthed some rich patches of gold in thi3 locality. A 3hort time since a party of Mongolians struck a rich patch of gold at Riddell'a Creek, ; and left our shores for tho " Flowery Land " to : enjoy tho fruits of their labour. Mr C. Ayton, I I note, has secured tho first right of the water • for sluicing purposes that thunders down the creek from tho Beaumont heights. Tho pries paid for tho Barncgo estate was £3 15s per aero. The Gazetto contains particulars of a numher of village-homestead allotments in Otago open for lease on application. The entries for tho Gore A. and P. Association's summer show total 676, us against 612 for last yoar.