WETHERSTONES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 31

WETHERSTONES.

February 1. — Some of the oa: crop here is quite green yet, but it is growing last, while in other paits the owners have had to cut it on tlia green side because of tho sparrows and other hmall buds. In some cases the straw is ovei 6ft in length, but with hard.y a pickle on the straw, the buds having completely stripped it. The insect pe3t on tbe turnips and cabbage is very bad 111 some iOcahties this year; bul still the turnips arc making rapid giowth. Weather. — The weather ha 3 tuken a turn foi the better, or the worse, according to the point of view, the hot, diy wept 11 er having passed away- for the prssent. 'ihere was thundex agia^ m the N.W. 011 Wednesday, with a N.E. wind, strong at times; barometer, 2G.56, steady all day. On ths following day theie was a N.E. gale, which blew up rain by night. On Friday mornung the barometer was down to 2557, wind N.W. to W., with showeis throughout the day. It rained steadny all Saturday evening and night, which will be a blessing to miners and farmers, tho grass in p!ace3 being brown and burnt up; while the dust waa fearful. The ram ct fiist was in streaks and patches. On the Waipoii road, while one waggoner would be in the midst oi a heavy showea-, and get wet through, another a mile or two behind would be enveloped in dust. Sunday was showery. This morning js fine, barometer 29.57, rising. The lowest reading of the thermometer was 52dcg at 8 a.m. of tha 31st tilt. ; the highest, OOdeg, at 1 p.m. of the 26th, and in grass 120J-eg.