COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 49

COUNTRY.

(Continued from, page 36.)

LAWRENCE.

March 21.— Glorious weather prevails for harvesting operations, which are in full swing. The crops are, in most cases, very good, the recent long spell of fine weather having had a most beneficial effect.

The demand foi- all classes of sheep continues good, but more especially for lambs and ewes. As a proof of the rise in prices, a farmer told me this week that he was offered 25s for ewes he bought two months ago at 18s, bivt declined to sell, as he did not know whe.re to go to replace them.

A meeting was held in the Town Hall here last evening to take some steps towards the establishing of a creamery in the district. There was a large attendance of farmers and business people, who were unanimous in thinking that such an institution would be of considerable benefit to the district. A gentleman recently arrived from the noith, Mr Clark, gave the meeting the benefit of his knowledge of the working of creameries in the Bketahuna and Taranaki districts. Prom what he had seen of the country round about Lawrence he was of opinion that it was very suitable for the successful working of a cieanieTy. The meeting formed itself into a Dairying League, and all present paid the year's subscription as members. A Working Co'nxuiittee consisting of Messrs J. O. Browne, S. P. Askui, W. R. Pearson, R. Pilling, jun., and J. C. Aibuckle was appointed to carry out a canvass amongst the farmers with the least possible delay. The general opinion is that the establishment of a creamery is pretty well assured.

We had a visit from the Hon. the Minister of Minps last evening, when he was met by several deputations wanting Government assistance for local undertakings. Moet people are ol opinion that such hurried visits are more or less a farce, there not being sufficient time for the Minister to see for himself the capabilities of a district and its need of assistance «t tjie hands of the Government. TJie jMini&tei:

and party reached Lawrence about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and left by the early morning train, so had little opportunity of seeing much of the district except what could be seen from his conveyance in travelling along the Main road.

March 27. — Still another of our old pionears has gone to his rest, after considerable siiffering, in the person of James Sim, who died at his home in Lawrence on Sunday. He was a very old xesident here, and for many years was in business as a brickmaker and bricklayer. Until sickness incapacitated hini he was a most industrious man, quiet and unassuming, and much respected by those with whomie came in contact. A native of Ayrshire, he was a great lover of Burns's poems, and fond of a "' crack wi' a brither Scot" or a tune on the fiddle. This is the fourth death within the past few days — viz. : William George Buchan, of Tuapeka Mouth; David Watson, of Waitalmna; Thomas M. Scott (son of Thomas Scott), Waitahuna road ; and James Sim, of Lawrence. Fine weather still favours the farmers, who are getting on well with harvesting operations —a large portion of the crop now being cut and some of it stacked, — but so far I have not heard of any new oats bsing in the market yet. Apples and plums are very abundant in the district, and growers are at a, loss what to do with them. They cannot be sold locally, and the results of sending consignments to Dunedin are not very satisfactory — the proceeds netting about Sd per lb. It is most lamentable that we have nothing here in the shape of a jam factory, -which, with the low price of really good fruit, should be a profitable undertaking. A meeting of the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway League is convened for Thursday evening to, consider what steps it is advisable to take to counteract the influence the Southland people are endeavouring to work up to divert the Teviot and Miller's Flsit trade Invercargill-way by agitating for the extension of the Edievale railway to Roxburgh. Seeing the Ho\i3« has already sanctioned the extension of our line to Beaumont, I think the Sovithlanders have rather "a hard row to hoe"; but their pluck is undoubted, and they are quite prepared to fight an uphill game, even although they had very little encouragement fTom Sir Joseph Ward when they waited on him to solicit his influence in the matter. The Land Commission has come _ and gone. The farmers were too busy harvesting to give it much attention. The balloting for Greenfield sections will be our next bit of excitement, and the general impression here is they will be well competed for. ■