HOKONUI

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 35

HOKONUI

June IS. — TYe are now in midwinter, but to lock arot-ijd and fee the green pasture, the ■pillows still holding their verdure, aiid the. weather keeping mild, yoa would imagine it was only the end of autumn. As a consequence, sock -0.T3 looking well, end arc not in need of tuijiips yet, excepting lambs, which always lequao special feed after weaning. The mildness of the winter will be a great help to stockownc-rs, as it will allow the ttulxips to last well into the spring.

Agricultural — Farmers are busy drainplot ghing their land. Traction engines and horses can ba seen hauling the plough. The iormer are coming more intouse for the drawing of this heavy draught, and tihe work is n.uch superior, as they go t- a greater depth ai d use a larger plug. Timber Industry. — This once-despieed bush for sawmilhng has become very prominent of late, for no less than three sawmillmg areas n-e-re taken up in one week. Messrs D. Mackciizie and Sons, well-known sawmillers cf Lady Buikly, are i;i possession of two of the an-a«. They have iaiol iiie base of an up-to-date plcnt. A new 20 horse-power engine is to be put in shoriV. A stait; is about to be made io Jay a tramway on to Brown's railway sidmg, the distance being about five miles. Me=&rs Moffett and Co. aru making arrangements to start the third area. Their railway s'ding will be Otapiri. Land Sale.— The property of the late William Butler has beED ,sold to a. syndicate. Tlie estate compiises over 2000 acres. It 33 probable that it \\:ll now be cut \ip ii.to ordi-raiy-sized farms .and resold. Tiapping. — Most of the Tabbit-traippers have stopped operation's owing to the Rpbbiterb' Association stopping payments. A few are keeping on and saving the 6kins. They consider they will make as much by the skins as they will by sending their to the freezing works.

Fiaxmiilrcg. — Messrs Simpson and GLer-;-ary are still working their flaxmrll at Otapiv: Siding. The farmers of the district have bten supplying them with flax for some time. The roads have suffered considerably through th ; s continual carting of flax. Personal.— Mr W. Paterson, who is leaving the district for his new liome at- the Oreti P'airis, is to be tendered a farewell social on Friday evening.