TAIERI MOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2905, 17 November 1909, Page 37

TAIERI MOUTH.

November 12.—For several weeks past the weather has been cold and showery, the bitter winds drying up quickly the rain i that fell, and grass is rather backward. ! There was an early lambing and a good percentage, although there were some losses. The weather seems to have taken up this last week, and to-day was very hot. Progress.—/ Improvement in the way of [ building «nd fencing is'going on. Two I new houses ai-e being built at the beach, one by a Dunedin gentleman, and the other , by Mr Knaiston to further accommodate visitors, and srill there are inquiries for ' more accommodation. I hear that all the i cottages are already let, and even a barn I has been secured. Mr Knaiston's 'aur.eb i runs daily to Titri, and sometimes twice ! a day. Mi Knaiston is so obliging that if : two or three wire him co meet them at T. nhe will send the launch there. This is a much better way of coming to the beach, as it is only two or three minutes' 1 walk from the ebation co the launch. We have now a fishing launch here, and the owners, -I hear, are doing- very well. The first time they were out they got 50 groper ■ in a very short time, and in about three . hours one day they secured 108. The Interior.—l see by the paper that the Messrs Collings Brothers, of Mount Barker, near Wanaka, have a very fine crop of wheit. I had a letter from a friend at Hawea Flat some time ago, who said he had hk cheep on the wheat to eat it down, and that it was then op to their knees. It seenw a pity co 6ee such t splendid wbeatgrovring district -without means of getting Hie produce to market, for there is no market,, except tbe flour milL and the mil-

ler cannot take anything like what could be grown, there. I was on© of the first cottiers at Hawea, and once owned the no'tcd Blink Bonny Farm. It was the first selection undei the deferred payment system. That was in April. 1875. That farm has grown -wheat, I believe, every year since it was taken up, •without artificial or other manure, only sheep eating off +-urnips; still the wheat is plentiful and of splendid quality. This is only one of the farms'. There are many others as good, and yet there is such a song about having no water, and that water is wanted before a railway. I, who 'have lived in the district 44 years, say " No." Although I left becausa I saw no sign of the promised railway, I have the good of the farmers at heart, for I know what labour was expended to make the places what they are. I know several who made small fortunes up there, in spite of the labour and expense of getting their grain to a market, afterwards going away and buying land elsewhere. The same men would" willingly go back if tlieve was a Tail way.

Fruit-growing. — Talking about the fruit industry at Clyde, here at Taieri Mouth fruit can !>o grown equal to any in that district if ths bird pest could be put down. I don't know about peaches and apricots, but apples, pears plums, and strawberries could be easily grown. It ie so near a market, too, but the people seem to have just grown a few for themselves. 1 have seen some pear trees t just a picture, first with blossom, and now with pears. When we' ge* the promised bridge — whenever that will Ik — I hare no doubt there will be a bi* -of a stir. Already there are a number putting" w.re-netting around ' eomeof their paddocks, as .bunny iff getting too plentiful; when the bridge is up no doubt thoy will be turned into money and become les£ numerous. It is hard" to reduce them much while there is so much buah land unoccupied. There ha 6 been a good deal of burning off lately, and I think the place is more prosperous-looking thanitAvas when I came here a little over a year When the ,bridge ia a reality no doubt land will r'se in price and more improvements will follow. % A Mysterious Find. — Almost the complete apparel of a woman has been found in good order at a place which is known, I believe, as John Bull's Gut. The clothes have been brought to the beach and hung up in a barn or a building belonging to Mr Knaiston, near the wharf; but so far no claim has been made on them. The strangest thing is that, unless landed m" a boat, a woman could hardly reach the spot.' Evidently the things must have been put there. Whether there 'lias been a fatal accident, or whether the clothes were put there to cause a lot of excitement is not known. So far as can be ascertained no one is missing. Personal.— Many of the readers of the Witness will be sorry to hear that Mr Jofin M'Cormiok, the great bridge contractor, of Sydney and Brisbane, and one time of New Zealand, has lost another of his daughters. This makes eight sons and daughters which Mr M'Cormick has lest out of 13 of a family,, all being over 20 years at the time of death. Mr and Mr3,M'Cormick visited' New Zealand last February, and paid a short visit to the Mouth. lam sure all who know -Mr and Mrs M'Cormick wilL sympathise with them in their great, bereavement.