ALBURY (S.C.).

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 11

ALBURY (S.C.).

April 28. — The weathei has baen j>f a very accommodating disposition lately— fust aboufc as \ariable as could well be imagined. On the whole, however, till within-the last day or s» it has been of a satisfactory nature — moist and warm. The weather was just beginning to have a beneficial effect on the pastures „ when an adverse turn was taken. However, there should be no serious cause for complaint. It takes more than a snownake to make a winter; so if there is not still a good time in store for holders of sheep, then the writer is wider tha mark iv his prophecies than he proved to be last year, when he advised holders to be firm..

Land Settlement. — The balloting for Pxraaroß. locally know as Three Springs, is now of tha past. The 7000 rural acres purchased by the Government last October were subdivided into 16 farms, varying in area from 60 acres to 800 acres, at an annual rental of from 3s 6d to 9s per acre, and one small grazing run of about 2000 acres at 2s. The major portion of the run is purely pastoral, of but medium quality; but there is included in the total area aboufc 400 acres of good agricultural land, in several divisions, and carrying a very large stone building, consisting of woolshed, stable, storeroom, men's quarters, cook's galley, and also commodious sheepyards and dips, and the minor accessories usually found on a sheep station. The country comprising the settlement has never been put to it 3 utmost producing capacity, either in carrying stock" or growing crop 3. For a number of years it has been under capp-ble management, and has earned a widespread name; and consequently the ballot attracted considerable attention. The result was; that 160 applications were received, out of which, for various reasons, the Board of Examiners rejected a few. Every section was over applied for, and especially so in the case of the larger blocks, for which in some instances there were 20, 30, and 35 m the ballot. About half the sections fell to local people. One small section still remains on the hands of the department, th& four parties who applied for it haying been, successful in drawing sections earlier. The commissioner intimated that any of the unsuccessful applicants could apply for it, but evidently, though of equal area and quality to ita neighbours, and the nearest to the township of Fairlie and the railway, the considerablesized patch of Californian thistle on it frightened would-be farmers. In reference to this noxious weed, it seems strange that carswas not taken by the department to pievent the weed from goiug to seed. The weed should be taken in hand at onee — in fact, the section should be at once withdrawn from offer, and the department undertake to clear it of the thistle, "practically demonstrating to the neighbouring holders how best to treat this scourge, which has got a pretty good hold throughout ike whole settlement and district. So far as I have learned, its presence has not been taken seriously yet, settlers having to become experienced of its devastating nature, and ita tenaciousne&3 once it gets in the land.