FORTROSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 34

FORTROSE.

October 6. — Owing, no doubt, to the fine ■weathei experienced, the farrneis have neaiiy all their ploughing and sowing finished. Crops all over the district are above giou.id, and are coming away well. In a few cases the turnips nre only now eaten off, so that a few farmers are a, little later than their neighbours. The grass is coming away well; nice gieen iieL&s are to be seen everywhere, with lambs iri&king about. The late rough wcatiier must nave caused some mortality among young lambs, "foul from present indications the percentage -*,his year should be a high one. It is generally remarked that a larger number of twins sire being found in the flocks than previouslj

Stock Sales. — Several of the settlers here aie going out of the dairying line, and so theii lierds have been,~brought tinder the "hammer." 'The largest herd so treated was that o£ Mr jEL G. M'Kenzje, of Green Bushes, which consisted of 100 picked milkers and 25 fine heitcrs. ■The average price was well on for £Q. The itighest price any of the herd realised was :£ip. 12s 6d for a fine cow, bought more for breeding purposes than for milking.

Dairying. — Some of the factories have, al-i-eady commenced operations, and the remainder intend beginning on Monday. The cheese in most cases has already been sold, the purchasers' in every case being Messrs Tothili, ■Watson, and Co., of Invercargill. Some dissatisfaction seems to exist in one part of the district amongst the suppliers at getting paid only about 7d a pound for buttei fat, as against about lOd in the rest of the district, but these suppliers are actually at the same time buying the factory.

Timber. — The sawmilling industry is about to become more active in the Waikawa dis,irict. For some time past the trade has been ,very slack, but a new mill is about to make si start. The engine — a fine traction — passed down the other day, and work should soon commence. Messrs A. Currie, of Waikawa, and Edwin Thomas, of Tokonui, are the proprietors, and their many friends in the ,dis■trict hope that success will crown their efforts

Peace Celebrations. — Fortrose is not ijomg to be behind' its larger neighbours in the mat ter of celebrating peace. A committee has been ■formed, which will meet and diaw up a programme 611 Monday evening. ' Invalided. — One of "our boys" from the front is expected home about the end of the week. This is Mr S. Templeton, son of Mr John , Templeton, of Waimahaka. The deally fever 'laid its ruthless grasp on "the young warrior,'who has been invalided home m consequence.,

MINING.

31ining matters are not boon.ing. The Mj.flas Company is pushing on with, the water xace, some seven miles having been excavated. !Tha company is at present calling tenders for some 59 chains of fiuming. The whole length of the race, when completed, will be 11 miles.

Rumour had it some time ago that a few lucky ones at Waikawa had pegged off a wonderfully rich claim, but I am afraid the slump in mining stock must have affected the successful floating of the concern.

It may interest some of your readers to know that Mr Fred Brunton, for many years a resident of this district, and later tiie manager ot the Waipapa dredge, is now located in Sydney, and .d doing well there in his profession of mining engineer, principally m connection with dredging, which is tailing root in the motliei colony.