MIDDLEMARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 44

MIDDLEMA RCH.

February B.— The weather is still very dry, though the few showers that have fallen for the Ast week have freshened things cons.derab.y. Still, the cry is for more rain, and if we do not get it, and very soon at that, the outlook for winter feed will be serious indeed. Even at this eaily date there is not an overabundance of feed, a fact entwely due to the long drought and excessive heat of weeks' duiation. I really do think we have never experienced such intense heat here before. The whole district represents a parched appearance ; and little wonder, after such heat and drought. Harvest. — Harvest operations are in full swing; in fact, the bulk of the crops are cut and m the stook, and the end of this week v/ill see the cutting a.bout finished. Leadmgm has already commenced, and quite a number of stacks are already to be seen here and there, and the gram should be in splendid order. The crops on the whole are very good, and seem to have filled much better than was expected. The harvest this year is fully a month earlier than that of last year. It cs simply perfect harvest weather, if that is any consolation to the farmei, which, in a sense, I am afraid it will not be, when so many other things are to be taken into consideration in connection with it.

Turnips. — The outlook for this crop is bad indeed, and unless we get ram very soon, and plenty of it, it wall bs. all up with the turnips, which spells great loss, to the dairymen especially.

Creamery. — There is still a large quantity of milk being sent to the creamery every morning, but already there are complaints all round from, the daurymen of the great shrinkage so early in the season. Of course this is entirely due to the want of ram.

Show. — The annual meeting of our local Agricultural Society was held m the school some little time ago, when there ■was a recoid attendance, the greatest heartiness and enthusiasm being displayed throughout the meeting. Mr W. Moymhan was re-elected president, showing clearly the wisdom and tact of the meeting. No man in the district can fill the position better, and the selection is entirely m the interests and for the success of the show. The committee is holding periodica.l meetings, arranging the programme, which will no doubt bf in the printer's hands very soon. Given a fine day on Easter Monday, our show will be the feature of 1904 for StrathTaieri.

Angling. — The trout here are having a bad time of it, owing to the streams being so low and poachers so numeious. It is high time the Acclimatisation Society took steps to have thus evil put a stop to. In the fhst part of the seasoii, when the streams were in good fishimg condition, some very gocd baskets were obtained, ranging up to as m->ny as 50 fish, weiphmg Ircni 2ib downwards. Inspector Richardson, who was here for a week's furlough, secured about 150 fi&h, and no doubt would have caught as many more if the streams had been in good condition. Some of our local disciples of Isaak Walton say they have caught for this season up to the present from 500 to 700. "Very good, af tine ; but, of course, fishermen's yarns as well as the fish, require a good pinch of salt to help one to swallow them. The thanks of the fishermen in „bis district are due to Messrs C. D. Smith ard Anderson, who, at no small to themse'ves, liberated seme thousands of fry in the Nenthorn, Ec«s s Creek, ?nd the Sntton. Several cans wer,e foi warded by the Acclimatisation Society on Tuesday, arriving in splendid order, so our sports can look forward to plenty af fishing in due time

School. — -The leal school re-opened on Monday, after six weeks' holiday.