DRUMMOND

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 35

DRUMMOND

April 21. — There ha° been fairly good weather for the Easter holidays, and as it is the last holiday for the y&ar it seems to have been taken full advantage of. A considerable number c£ pleasure-seekers have patronised the Riverton races. Good Friday and Easter Monday are upon the whole rigidly kept as holidays even in country districts, where only

' a few years ago a holiday was almost-ignored. It may be -for better or it may be for worse ; I am not going to say; but the rising generation is going more for holidays and sport and that at a, rapidly-increasing rate. Some ' even make it. a condition in an engagement that if they are expected to remain for a certain term, its duration is to be determined by the holidays allowed. There are others, I am aware, who are easily satisfied with a very brief holiday, or none at all. Ths Harvest. — Although, the complaint is very general about the backward summer — or the want of summer — weather, the harvest weather seems to have caused less grwjnbhng. It has been a little unsettled; but not so bad after all. The harvest still seems to be in. all stages. It is no uncommon thing to find some parties with their crops secured some weeks ago. or threshed out, and qthers jusf finishing cutting, and so on. Again, there are cases in which even the same party had part in weeks ago, with still a good deal in stook or even a late patch to cut. Changes. — A few changes are takfng place amongst us. Our schoolmaster, Mr A. G-reig, is, with the censent of the respective school committees and the Education Board, exchanging with Mr Selby, first assistant in the Middle School, Invercargill. Mr H. N. SJewart has disposed of his farm to Mr Jas. Brown, Mosgiel, at a satisfactory figure, and talks of taking a trip to the Home Countrju Mr Thomas Clark. Heddon Bush, and formerly of Limestone Plains, a well known and highly respected eld Southlander. has also retired, and was entertained by his more immediate neighbours a short time ago. His second son has acquired his excellent home property. Turnips. — The turnip crop — which at one time seemed to be an absolute failure recovered so far as the appearance cf tops was concerned, but it is doubtful if they can root up now as they should do to make anything like an average crop. „ Stock Sales.— The last Otautau sale, which was a very large one, and went well, was better than anyone expected it could be. and that was largely attributable to the rapid growth of the turnips for the last few weeks, and better prospect of feed from stubbles. Still, for a great many the outlook is gloomy, as thi grass paddocks are barer than they have been ft thiar season of tb* year for many a long time, and so few fat iambs havo gone away that the stock in hand must be out of all proportion to the feed forthcoming between this r.nci spring. Not a few are fervently hoping and longing for a mild open winter and an early spring. Crops.— From the reports of correspondents in local papers it seems the crops are cutting ud very light in some districts. From some of those localities large quantities of oats have ? ome yeaia been exported, but the crops are lighter this year than they have ever oeea. and many parties will have none to sell jf they keep sufficient for seed and feed. There was bitter disappointment with the threshing of the grass seed, and the oats are no better. Harvesting operations will now be stopped for some time, as a very heavy south-easterly rain has set in, and floods may be expected. Live Stock.— There is a little more inquiry for young, high-class, draught horses than there has been for some time, particularly for promising young entires. I heai of aeverar at present under o&'er, with a fair prospect of a sale being effected.