TUAPEKA WEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 39

TUAPEKA WEST.

January 7. — After the long spell «f dry weather we are getting too much rain for the farmer, as it is making both wheat and oats lie clown. The wheat was doing very well before the rain came on, and premised to be a good crop. The late sown oate will be much benefited by the rain, as they had the appearance of being light and short in the straw. It 13 to be hoped that a strong breeze will help to straighten what is now lying down, as the grain is not fully matured. Turnip-sowing is pretty nearly all finished, and in most cases the turnip 3 are doing very well. I hear of the fly attacking them in some piaces. I notice b orne early sown soft varieties growing very well and covering the ground. There are also some paddocks of rape doing well. Grass is plentiful on m&st of the farms. There are several paddocks to be cut for seed, but the gra?3 is rather short on account of the spell of dry weather during October and November. Wool Clip.— Shearing is nearly all finished. - A few smell lots are still unshorn, the work having been hindered by the wet veathar. | Picnic — The annual picnic was announced to come off on the sth, but it turned out a pouring wet day, so it was postponed until Wednesday next, the 13th, | wlipn wo hope to have better luck. | Personal. — Our late neighbour, Mr W. ' Osborne. has been back with us for a few days. He has been travelling since he left this }>lace, principally through North Otago and Canterbury. In all his travels he l'p.s not seen, generally speaking, any j locality wherp things are looking so well as , in his old district. He cannot draw any I j comparison with the places that he ha 6 If^en 111 with xfois place as regards the price of land. He has been on forms where lainl has been bought and sold at from £30 <o £40 per acre, and here, where land is from £6 to £8 per acre, crops are 1 I equally a* good, and in som<& cases better, j He is also favourably impressed with his old district for sheep-farming- compared with what he has seen in his travels. Mr i Osborne has bought a nice residence in the I suburbs of Dunedin, whe.ro he intends to spend iha evening of his life.