ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 31

ROXBURGH.

February G. — Siuce my last many and various have becxi our experiences. Tha old year has passed and the new year is well advanced ajieady. Mrs Matthews, widow of the late Mr W. i±. Matthews, whose death has been recorded m your pap«.r, and her two sons hava gone to YiCLona to join her own people. She will be greatly missed by thos-e who knew her benevolent, Christian, kindly disposition. Mr K. Bennetts and Mr John Tarnb.yn, of Coal Creek, also passed away recently. They were amongst the first to settle ?t Coal Creek Flat, and wrrp mining mates m the first water race brought mto Coal Creek Flat. The latter was the first to make a garden in that locality, pome years before the idea of fruit-growing was entertained. In 1576, along with his brother James ?nd Joseph Tamblyn, who still reside at Coal Creek Flat, he began the fruit-growing industry, which has grown to such large and important proportions.

Fruit. — This season is an unparalleled one in regard to fruit production. In the first place, the reason a& the beginning was in every way favours ble to the fiuit setting, there being no frost to injure it. Indeed, it wps a i^nenornenal season, for scarcely has there been a bad windy day during the seasoo. Welcome rams continued throughout November and December, bringing on the truit at a lapid rata, this satisfactory state of affairs b.nig assisted by the hot days that intervened. The strawberry season was ovei nearly a fortnight before the vs.ual lime, and the stone fruits came m with a ■rush nearly a fortnight sooner than last season As a consequence it was impossible to treat with the crop satisfactorily, much fruit being lost m some gardens for the want of pickuig, while much more was lost by its being too ripe when cased, and from other causes such as the terrible heat we experienced throughout January, the glass ra.iging 90 in the shade, and up to 110 in the sun. The roads were covered with dust to a depth of fully l>m, and this encircied the fruit-carryirg waggons and vehicles of various kinds whilst tiavelling. The large bulk of frtut stacked m these large waggons a'so told — from 250 to 350 cases a load, and in many cases the fruit picked and packed an Monday would rot get to its destination for four and five clays,. There is no wonder, therefore, that so much fruti has been lost, and that prices were so low. Inferior-conditioned fruit helps to spoil the market, and make pa-ices generally low. Tins season is an object lesson to fruit-gtowers. .They have assisted themselves by industrious thrift, hoping against hope that by the time the fruit industry should become so important as it now is that assistance wou'd be given them. So far the prayers of the people of the district have been paid little heed to. Why arc we not considered as important as Culverden and Hanmer' A narrow gauge light ]ma, such as is intended for those parts, would suit us admirably, and if biought to Moa Flat would meet the requirements of the- district. That is a distance of 18 miles, and at Sir Joseph's estimate of £1500 a mile it would not mean a very large sum — only £27,000. Make tt a special line, rite the lands through which it passes to subsidise its working and construction, ard charge a special jfte on- that particular branch. If we had to pay £1 per ton to Henot alone for fruit, or goods generally, it would x>?y the district Besides, we would save thousands of pounds worth A fruit with such a season as this. If this caunot bs done give us ovsr the surveyed line and let us raise a special loan for the construction of a light gauge line, calling for tenders fci its constiucticn. We would soon find out then what it would cost. It could be constructed m a year. Remove the red tapeism from the job, a:;d all Government ofnc:r-Js give & straight-out dsci 1 , as m old times, ard have the work carried out according to specifications, then we would heve a rai'way, and our district is willing and abe to pay for it. Over 100 horses have been engaged m the cartage of fruit.

Mining. — Dredging operations are quiet. All the machines are working with tlia exception of the Teviot, which has been on the stocks for a considerable time getting a thorough overhaul and having a Payne mid Peck elevator put on. The gorge dredges — Long Valley and Deposit — have been removed to Miller's Flat.

iJirvest. — Harvesting is m full swing, the ciops having ripened well.

Bread. — Our btkers made a liberal concession, from the Ist of February of Id reduction per 41b loif We have only to £>ay 7d perr 4lb loaf now, having paid 8d for a very long^ time. Even 7d is outiaseous, hov;ev a ' considering the price of flour. In Dunedm, I learn, it is sd, ttnd at Lawrence also. A penny pci loaf means £1 15^ per ton eithei as a rise in flour or olheiwi&o, and at Cd pci.- leaf there should be p good profit.

On Tual. — The jSToxious Weeds Act does not seem to do all it was thought it would effect. Round about Roxburgh thcie- is room foi much improvement in that li..c. revest bri?rs could now be clesdoyed, and should bs burnt so as to destroy tap seeds, otherwise that now m the haws w.i l ripen after b.mg cut down. Owr les-cive, as well as private properties, wants pttending to. I notice a partial destruction has been effected but I am r.fraid tho°e smaller sprigs will grow into Irrger ones. Furthermore, cutting off the benches ard allowing the roots to sfand is onh playing with the evil. Rag ve":l is to bo seen plso and the way it is snrendmsr down coimtiy is lci,lorab l e. especially fiom Is'and TJ'ock toward Hevo.t. I notice the =o">ool r^eivo at CoM Cl-eekC 1- eek Flat is if n diPcidful state. Evidently notliing has been done to nn + i°ate the e\il. Whilst th" l^eop'e round about air- tiring '•o kerp thcii-J^-°l<lirLc(a. alaa.r_ iho. ITxluci-tion lioarii <viuld.

! su,ip'y t^o who'c co.iiitiy with s:ed fioai their Coal Cioek F1..1 »iop«rty.