DEEP STREAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 40

DEEP STREAM.

Jai:uary 16. — Since the advent of the new year shearing operations at RockHnds Station have been very much retarded, consequent on the severity of the elements, floaty lainfalls have followed each other la qzick su n ces§ion, with the result that for a period of eight days not a single sheep wa3 shorn, and now, at the time of writing, torrents of rain are falling to put a stop to work being resumed for several days to come. This condition of things is much to be regretted, as large drafts of sheep have been mustered in from the back country to the homstead station, but in consequence of the inclement weather cannot be shorn. It is nianifest that the current sheaving season will prove an expensive one to a number of the flockowners in the interior, as very slow progress is being made with the shearing of the flocks. The suspension of work means an extra expense to the owner, as a band of shearers and shed hands have to be kept together, fed, and paid wages during the several periods of suspension of work through wet weather. I am inclined to think that in many instances a heavy expenditure will be incurred before the shearing is finished. At this stage I would remark that I witnessed the shearing of a large draft of wethers mustered in from the Lammerlaws. The sheep have grown a splendid fleece of wool of the best quality, (hereby demonstrating that Rocklands .Station is one of the best grazing runs in Otago for the production of wool. The percentage of lambs marked this season has proved a record one, and has surpassed the standard of expectation, despite the drawback of a very dry spring, combined with a scarcity of feed for the flocks during the period of lambing.