HINDON.

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

HINDON.

March 13. — The fine weather that has prevailed in this district for several weeks past has stimulated the growth of the farmers' cereal crops, as well as caused a rapicl growth to the root crops m all parts of the district. The excessive heat experienced here during the last month has been followed in rapid succession by tkunderatorins^ accompanied, by

heavy Tainfalls. Many of the small farmers say that we are having too much ram, with ■the result that it will throw ba,ck the ripening of the crops several weeks late» than usual. On the other hand, the stock are in splendid condition, and well they may be, a3 hill and valley are indeed "with veidue clad '' — sufficiently so to enable the pastoral tenants to tide over a period of several months to come, fs the native pasture is luxuriant throughout the district.

Small Giazing Puns. — The public mind at the present time, I note, is much exercised over the disposal of the Crown lands of the colony for grazing and settlement purposes, and a few remarks from, my pen may not be deemed out of place at the present time. Fiom what has passed under my notice in the interior of Otago for many years in the past, tho small grazing land system of leasing lias proved the most successful system of settlement to the small capitalist that the Legislature in its wisdom has yet sanctioned for the benefit of the middle classes. By way of illustration; I shall jot down a few cases in this neighbourhood to prove the truth of this statement. At Shannon Braes ard the Lower Sutton division of the Deep Stream district Messrs Peat Bros., K&miedy, Mathewson, Ballingall, Cattenack, and several otheis have pretty homesteads with plantations attached, and without exception graze some of the finest stock to be seen in Otago. The settlers under notice have for years been noted i'or their heavy cereal crops, and also for the high-class pedigree of tTieir flocks. In my own locality Mr D. M'Donald has a flock of sheep grazing on a small grazing run at Hindon that reflects the highest credit upon his system of management. Since the small grazing system of sheep fanning was adtopted a great improvement has been effected in the flocks in respect to pedigree and the grovrtb. of wool, as I hsve reason to know. Progression. — I note that Mr Duncan Iv['Bona T d, member for Deep Strepm. Riding in tli3 Taieri Coumy Council, has established his headquarters in a new house that he ha-s had erected for him near the Hindon railway station. It is a comfortable dwelling house, and, I may add, is replete with every requisite that could be oiesired. From his long residence in our midst Mr M'Donald is wellknown and highly respected by a wide circle of friends for "his genial disposition and sterling merit. His kindness to all is proverbial. and, I may add, in any case of distress Mr M'Donald is always leady to render assistance to the afflictedl by every means in his power. With reference to public pffairs, he has by his untiring efforts rendered signal service to the requirements of the district.

Eemimscence. — In the early days Hindon was one of the first goldfi,elds in Otago that the pioneers opened up, and a very rich fie'd it proved to be. Its fame attracted hundreds of miners to the scene of operations, where some rich patches of gold were struck by the lucky claim holders, as quite a large number left the field with a large quantity of gold en route to the Home Country. At the period of the rush to Hindon. men of every nationality under iieaven met and fraternised with, each other, regaidless of cree<? or colour, and the most primitive methods were adopted to extract the gold from Mother Ep.rth. The golden days of Hindon are now a thing c-f the past, as only a few miners remain to sin,* the praises of bygone days. Where hundreds of men in the ear'y days locked their cradles, silence now reigns supreme.