UNKNOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 32

UNKNOWN.

April 16. — Ever since the middle of March we Lave had very severe gales, accompanied occasionally by rain, and to-night heavy rain is falling. Bright sunny day& aic few and far between in this part of the country, and some veiy cold blasts from the south-west herald the approach of winter. Ihe Harvest. — The crops are now pretty well cut and stocked. It is very sad to see so much giain lying in the paddocks, the- result °f the standing crops being battered about by the Winds. Verily this is a most ungenerous climate. Stacking is going on when th&v\md will allow, and Mr Trusslei's mill has- started work. At present it is at Mr M'lndoe's term, where they are threphing out of the stook. The Land Commission. — This body is woiking its way through the country. Although its stay here was short, yet I hope the evidence it got with reference to the Pomaha.ka estate will show to the powers that be in "Wellington ihat it is io- the interests of settlement that settlers should bo made as contented and happy as possible, seeing they are the mainstay of tha country. It has now been pioved that small farming — up to QOO acres — in this distnct, cannot be a success. The land is too poor to pioduce heavy crops, and a settler must huvo a Luger area and ieiy on stock-

laising principally, with a light rental. Why. when I came here first, and before I h?d tried the ground, a faimer said to me in Clinton, "I liave as good laud as yours at Gd an acre." That was not very encouraging to a new settler.

Harvest Holidays. — The school has been closed for harvest holidays, and will be resumed after Easter. The election of a new committee takes place on the 25th mst. There has been seme talk of having the children sens back to the school proper (lately they have been taught m a hut on the loadside n<*ar Mr Erskine's farm), but I think that as winter is approaching they should remain where they are. as the hut is nearer for the majority of the children. Ball — Some of the young bachelors hereabout aie getting up a ball, to bo held m Mr A. &ra\"b barn on the night ofthe sSlli iust.