DEEP STREAM

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 39

DEEP STREAM

December 15. — The summer so far in this district has been a failure. The weather experienced during the spring gave promise of a late season, and this has come true. Crops »uA gardens are in a. very backv/ard state, and

there has been very little growth in the district latterly. We are at the present im<j being visited by very heavy thunderstorms, which follow the range at the foot of whi-jh Deep Stream lios, and for the past few dava we have had very heavy rains, which, though, good for the miner, are not wanted by pastoralists at this time of the year. Some very sharp frosts in tha morning have done great damage to the potato crops, as well as retarded other growth.

Pastora!. — The iambing in the district \vta very satisfactory, and the percentages in ull cades high. The ewes were in first-clasa condition at lambing time, and the weather at that time was favourable and the young lambs are now looking remarkably well. There were very few losses in the district, owing to the good weather, and the condition of tha flocks, and with good weather for the shearing-, flockowners will have reason to be well satisfied this year. The price of wool, too, vail be some compensation for previous bad seasons. Shearing is now well under way afc Messrs Nichols's Abbotsford station, and a so at Mr Allan ±Soyd's Hindon station; end shearing will begin at Rocklands Station at or a .little before Christinas.

General. — The county engineer has recently put his men on to the Dunstan road over the Rock and Pillar, and they will be engaged until Chrffatma? in putting "it into a thorough state of repair. The roads in this riding o* tho Taieri Counfj are at the present time in a very exce'lent state, and if our footbridsr over the Deep Stream were only redecked — the timber for this has been Si ere for -orae time — the residents in the locality would h?ve no reason for any complaint agaiflst the county authorities.

Bunny.— The rabbits are very thin in this district, and the wet weather during the last month has ki'.led hundreds of the young. In tha course of a recent visit to the Taicri I saw more rabbits between Whare Creek and Outram. than one could see in a fortnigb.t'3 tramp about the country here — that isi, no doubt, owing to the warmer climate down there, and also to the cover.

Mining.— Though the water has given out in. some of the smaller claims in the Lammerlaw, thero is still an abundance of that very necessary fluid in Deep creek, and the local mining company are hard- at work day and night, and as they recently paid a dividend, it is to be hoped that they are on good gold while they Lave plenty of water, and will soon be in a position to pay another. Ih- welfare of this company is of no small importance to the residents here, for it spells prosperity also for innr>v otbprs here, besides the shareholders. Sale. — Mr John Peat. .?ho for some tirna was ou. representative in the -County Council, has within the last few days concluded the sale of his run, known as 'Wantwood, and his stock have, I understand, been -sold at valuation. The purchaser is Mr Peter Fiannery, of Oaniaru, and he is to be congratulated en having secured such a fine run. With the sale of the run we may expect the departure of Mr and Mrs John Peat from the neighbourhood .and this will be & severe loss to us. Me Peat has been with us always, and Mrs Pea*for the lasC 33 years, and their many kindnesses have endeared them to everyone. Mr Peafc has been the right man in the right place, and always to the fore in everything connected with the district. However, we must rope that though the run is sold, his other interests in the neighbourhood will still keep him with us.