BURK'S PASS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2398, 15 February 1900, Page 38

BURK'S PASS,

Febiuary 2. — A trip through this land of veritable promise is especially mteiesting at the present time. It would be hard to imagine a tract of country being eet-n to better advantage than this iust at present. Feed is in abundance, all stock rue in grand condition, and the owners are naturally well couiei>ted. And they should be, for they have got down -cally abundant clips of strong, well-gicvn. good-co.idibioiied wool, and there is a ketn demand Tor a'l surplus stock. r lhe Season. — That this has been a mild season can be „udc,ed by the marvellous fieedom of s.iow on the ;c'ngps and high hills. Rarely is the high coimtiv so free from snow as at present, vvhieh, by the way, the piophets pie hct io "tells a =eveie, =nowy winter. Early Li^t week a srifE nor'-wester pievmled, which old residents predicted was the commencement of the d'y, windy season that was thought to he at hand. The langrs have never before, been so free from snow without a most disastioup'y wmdy autumn vas experienced. Befojo reaching the next station, howevci, a deeded eh uige of weather had occurred, and our gco.l lie-*.. ob~eivcd that he had always found •ho heavy banks of fog that came rolling up throi.-jb tt h .p Mackenzie and Eurke's Passes an. mm]lib' 1 c fign of a spell of congenial weather, "nd so o.i. About a3 of'^n as one changes his c>';o'!e, so do clip prophecies of coming weather vary, but all round it is generally agreed that

the present is a season of peace (of mind) ancG plenty — in the wilds; and also that now is the time to sell out, this being a piece of standing advice appreciable to all and sundry, Ear the adviser. At present there are three Mackenzie stations advertised to be submitted at auction to-morrow in Timaru, and a good, representation of the population of these wild parts have journeyed forth, bent on killing more than one bird at a shot, and no doubt they will tarry over the wool sales of the 7th, wuen the bulk of the Mackenzie clips will be on. . Sale. — The late adverse reports on the wool market from London will have an important bearing on the fortunes of our local squatters, and they will also, no doubt, manifest themselves in the lack of spirit in the bidding of those desirious of acquiring station property. The three properties to be offered to-morrow are Black Forest, Rhoborough, and Richmond. The two former are considered to be for bona. fide sale, and will fall to the lot of the highest bidder, who, it is deemed probable, will have to be possessed of considerable confidence in. the future, as keen competition is anticipated. Black Forest^ a small run of about 10,000 sheepcarrying capacity, with a stiffish rental, should command the highest figure, though- Rhoborough, with its 15,000 sheep, but higher moVntams, will not be far behind. Richmond, whose owner has lately decided to remain in England, is to be had at a moderate reserve, and consequently it should command attention. There are several other Mackenzie station properties in the market, including, I understand, Sandon, near Burkes Pass; Tekapo, on the southern, and Lily Bank, on tho northern, banks of Lake Tekapo ; Irishman. Creek, and one or two farther back. So anybody sacking investment for their money should be able to get good value for shekels. Wool, especially scoured, from these parts, is ever among the top prices in the London markets. Nov\r that it is recognised beyond dispute that the merino must be given a prominent place in the production of all our flocks whence otir frozen meat is to come to uphold the prestige of "Prime Canterbury," merino country surely must be at a premium. Another strong recommendation to this country is its practical immunity from the rabbit pest, which, should be a consideration for all intending buyers from the south.