WAREPA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 29

WAREPA.

December 11.—The past fortnight has been prolific in thunderstorms more or less violent, and much rain has fallen, creeks being above a level attained for many years past. The rains were much needed for the crops and grass, but we have now had enough for a season, and the getting in of turnips has been much hindered on account of the wet weather. Farmers here are going in much more extensively for turnips in the drill, and although the process creates more labour and expense, the extra working of the land and the eradication of weeds ensure a better crop of turnips and a subsequent crop of grain or grass seed. Cereal crops of all kinds are looking remarkably healthy, and .promise a good yield. Grass is abundant, more on account of shortage of stock than extra growth, however, and where grass is being saved for seed, the heavy rains have laid and twisted it about a great deal. This will mean extra expense in harvesting, and unless, the price mends it will jiot-be a payable crop. Owing ia tho high price, of sheep, many farmers sold out their -'stock and.held their grass for harvesting, .-and it is likely to be an open question whether it would not have been 'more pro- ■ fitable to have fed the grass rather than .harvest it. Stock Mortality.—Quite a number 'of cases have come under my knowledge of losses .in ■draught Horses, and more particularly mares m foal. Whether the losses are duo to a contagious disease or not has not been discovered. The loss of mares with foal is at present a serious one, and when the mares are fairly right a number of foals have died in spite of care and precaution. What is known as "taking a weed" has occurred amongst quite a number of mares, and in many cases here and in the surrounding districts the result has been fatal. This is a matter for the Government veterinarians to ace to, but many farmers never report thenlosses, and the Department cannot act unless it has information. If any losses either in horses, cattle, sheep, or pigs which pointed in any way to an epidemic were reported to tho local stock inspector, the matter would leceive his immediate attention, for at all times Mr. Bruce- is very approachable, and cau give farmers valuable advice respecting stock diseases, and, moreover, can arrange for 'tho departmental veterinarian to make an examination if the circumstances warrant it. Under the present regime —and the Government deserve every credit for it—the work of a stock inspector is not confined entirely to the keeping down of rabbits, but his duties embrace a much wider range, and where there is a resident inspector as qualified as Mr Bruce, the district is proportionately fortunate in obtaining the benefit of his experience and research.. Parliamentary.—The election for Clutha resulted as the majority expected it would,' though some hardly expected Mr Thomson's majority to be so large, seeing there was Mr Malcolm's candidature to reckon with. Mv M'Leod's friends worked very hard/ and were' very confident, but the country districts were against him almost unanimously. Even in the Catlins district Mr M'Leod did-not 'have /he, block vote his admirer 3 declared he would have. Practically no interest was taken in tho election here. liach candidate was w6ll received at the hustings, and Mr Malcolm, despite his pronounced prohibition proclivities, was thought a deal of, and would have scored more votes, only many thought his chance not so good as Thomson's, and voted for the "old man" rather than let Mr Seddon's candidate get in. There are many here who bclievo strongly in the Government's policy, tut dislike the administration of it, and are opposed to whnt is termed the "Government candidate" simply because he is so. A strong local man with Liberal tendencies, and going in independent of Mr Seddon's patronage, would, it is confidently asserted, have won the Clutha seat even from Mr Thomson. Mr T. Mackenzie's inability to contest the seat was a matter for some regret, as Mr Mackenzie proved himself a very capable member before, and with his views widened by greater experience and travel, his aid in the' counsels cf his country at the present time would have been .invaluable.