MACRAES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 38

MACRAES.

September 13.— Like most parts of the country, we have enjoyed a very mild winter, and stock are doing well accordingly. Already tome early lambs are to be seen, and they are doing well, being on turnips, and having favourable weather; but the general lambing for \his district only begins in October. Agricultural. — The farmers axe busy getting in their grain crops, and a considerable quantity of oats will be sown this season, no cloubt 'in anticipation of their keeping up in price. Good Times. — There is an air of prosperity UnJ activity about Macraes at present: The U>ld houses that were put up some 30 or 40 \Vears ago by the early settlers are being replaced by larger and more subsantial huildjngs; then the usual crop of marriages that piosperity has taken place, and several new cottages have been put up, to accommodate what may be termed the second generation "jf settlers. Mining — The chief cause of the activity ia .She nuinbei of reefs j that have been taken Up and are being wrought bj pmtics of miners {>-who do all the work themselves, and have ,lo managers or directors to pay; conscquontly fcese reefs pay handsome wages or dividniO. > to he fortunate shareholders.

Dredging. — The dredge was taken away from the fiat, as it was not paying ; but the general opinion here is it would have paid better had it been farther up the Flat, among the old workings; there was always a quantity of water that sometimes^ bested the miners, and compelled them to abandon otheiwise payable ground, and the dredge would have got such X^atches as had been lett ; besides, it could have mads considerable headway, as the ground was all broken up by the nimeis.