POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 35

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

March 12. — Showery weather, with some very not days, has been the state of affairs liere during the last fortnight.

The Farm. — Local settlers have now started to cut their oats, as the hot weather has brought on the crops wonderfully, a.nd it will not be such, a late harvest as we anticipated, provided we still have favourable weather. A shower now would be very acceptable for the turnips and grass. I should say that the turnip crop will be quite up to the average of former years, the best crop that I notice "being on Mr Hemott's farm. Those who lave grass seed ior sale this year will be congratulating themselves; for I hear that 3s in Dunedin is now the price. lam sorry tc cay that a weed, which has caused great trouble in Wairuna — viz., yar, or yarrow — is making itself known here also. Some people say it comes in the manure ; but Mr Eoy, ar old resident of Wairuna, told me that he had eeen. yarrow before any artificial manure came to the district.

Improvements. — When a man has any improvements to make in connection with his farm it is cheaper in the long run to have them done well, and I must congratulate Mi K-owe, our neighbour, on having put up 'most substantial sheep yards, in which he can acoomm-cidate from 4000' to 5000 sheep.

A Departure. — Last week Mr John Forno, •who has been closely connected with this district almost since the start of the settlement, bade us farewell. A year or two ago some correspondence took place in the papers about Mr Forno' s adventure- in coming through the Tautuku forest. That was, I think, in the year 1866, after which he was engaged in farming in the Waiwera district Tiuftil about 13 years ago. Whilst on the Pomahaka Estate he has been a good deal engaged in quarrying coal, and he was ever jready to give a helping hand to any settler who asked him. He is a man of very kindly disposition, and his cheery smile and hearty salutation will be missed by all whe know him, especially the children, with whom lie is a great favourite. I ani sure we all •wish him a peaceful and happy time of it •wherever his lot may be cast.

Our "Plague."— This late hot weather ha c ferought on us the plague of flies. They are fiiiough to drive horses and men crazy.