LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 9

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Reference is made in the Winton Record to the loss of a nice foal, the property of Mr James Hamilton, of Riverside, from a disease which is somewhat common in Southland this c-eaeon. It causes peculiar swellimg3, from which the foal seldom recovers, and probably (fays the Southland Times) over 100 animals have been lost in Southland County this season.

The Island Dairy Factory is taking m a daily supply of over 2500 gallons, tho highest quantity being 2529 gallons. The increase is due in part to a number of the Glenham supplie-rs sending their milk to this factory, the Glenham factory (which had been used as a creamery by the Invcrcargil! Dairy Supply Company) having closed down on the 16th inst. owing to a disagreement about price. Tho Island factory was fully prepared to accept and treat tho milk. The Waikouaiti Dairy Factory Company's milk accojnt for December am punted to £928. This amount was distributed among 68 suppliers in sums ranging from £1 to £4-1 10s.

The Gore Dairy Faetroy Company, with a nominal capital of £\jooo, having accepted the offer of Mr Warden of £1050 for its property, has resolved to go into voluntary liquidation. Stoats and weasels are very prevalent in the neighbourhood of Wyllie's Crossing just now, and are committing extensive depredations.

It is reported that in the Wyndham district harvesting operations have already begun. It was expected, of course, that harvesting would be early this year, but Wyndham ha? evidently anticipated the date generally fixed by a fortnight or three weeks.

The strong wind which prevailed on Thursday did considerable damage to the fruit crops about Mosgiel and the other centres in the plain. Apples especially came down in largS* numbeis, and considerably reduced what otherwise would have been a very heavy crop. The spell of hot weather experienced of late is fast ripening the. crops in the Matakanui and Lauder districts. In some of the earliest of the paddocks the reaper and binder has commenced operations.

The daily supply of milk at the Puorua creamery is now about 700 gal a day. Weasels in the Fraser Gorge (Clyde district) are becoming very mumerous. Rabbits, on the other hand, are very scarce, and hardly one is to be seen where last season there were thousands.

Harvesting is being commenced now in the North Otago district in real earnest. Oats, which aro looking exceedingly well, are ripening fast with the continued warm weather. In the Waiareka Valley the reaper is going as long as daylight lasts, and at the rate that the crops are being cut now all will be in stook in a surprisingly short time.