THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 39

THE COUNTRY.

IgT Correspondents are reminded that all letters for the current week's issue must reach Dunedin NOT LATER THAN MONDAY NIGHT. Letters coming to hand on Tuesday are too late, md are thus a week old when they appear. OPIO. March 19.—Since writing las* the weather has been fairly good. A few much-needed showers have fallen, but not enough to delay the harvesting for any length of time. Nearly all crops are ; .n stack, with the exception of a few late crops, and the hum of the mills can be heard far and near. Trapping.—The rabbit carts have commenced to run this year, much earlier than usual. No doubt the high price of rabbits (a penny per pair above what ihey were last year) has induced exporter's o start' earlier, so bunny will have rather a lively time of it for a while, as it is an encouragement to the trapper as well. Sports.—Sports were held at Invercargill on Wednesday,' and several tell me the of rain marred the pleasure of the day's outing. On Thursday, St. Patrick's Day, sports were held -it Wrey's Bush, and a goodly number turned out to the day's, enjoyment. Next week Easter will be upon us, and then there will be a few more holidays for some of the folk. WREY'S BUSH. March 21. —Harvest operations are completed, and the mills are now busy. The quantity to be threshed is much below that of last season The roads are in' good order, and grain carting will be accomplished under the most favourable conditions. Picnic and Sports.—The Picnic and Sports \Club held their annual gathering on Thursday,, 17th inst. Though somewhat boisterous in the early part of the day, the afternoon proved fine, and an excellent day's sport resulted. All the events were keenly contested, the entries being very large. In the running events it was found necessary to run them off in heats. The gathering was well managed, and a word of praise is due the secretary (Mr T. Driscoll) and the executive for their excellent arrangements. Tea and cakes supplied by the ladies were handed around at an interval in the programme.- The Nightcaps Band played a good programme of music during the afternoon. The following are the results of principal events: — 100 Yards Handicap—John Hogan 1, J. Vial 2, C. Keen 3. Twenty-one entries. High Leap—J. Kean 1, P. Chamberlain 2. Ten entries." Married Men's Race —J. Keen 1. Young Ladies' Race —Miss Murphy 1, Miss Muir 2. Putting the Stone—J. Hogan 1, W. Crowe 2. Ten entries. 220 Yards Handicap—S. Hogan 1, J Vial 2, C Keen 3. Ten entries? Cumberland Wrestling—L. Crowe 1, W. Crowe .2. Six entries. Married Ladies' Race—Mrs Win. Egan 1, Mrs Cuthbertson 2. Old Ladies' Race—Mrs Murphy 1, Mrs Curtin 2.- 75 Yards Handicap—M. Kean I', P. Malone 2. Bandsman's Race— A. Harry 1. Old Married Men's Race—A. Valli 1, T. Cairns 2. Sack Race—J. Kanley 1, J. Valli 2. Twelve entries. , A lengthy programme of juvenile sports was also gone through during the afternoon. The dance at night was ,v«ery largely attended-, 80 couples bqing present. The music provided by Messrs Egan Bros, (violins) was of the best. The dancwg was controlled by Messrs Gallaher and Gallahue, who gave every satisfaction. Excellent refreshments were provided by Mr T Batten Shaw. Songs rendered by Messrs M'Call and Cusack Were well received. . , March 26.—The harvest just finished has been one of the most favourable for the ingathering of the crops we .have ever experienced in Southland. Many of the crops were get in without a shower; and the weather has continued equally as good for threashing. The yield in many cases is very disappointing.' It has been a good season for wheat, but too dry and • with too. much windy weather for oats. The oat crops, except on heavy swampy land, are yielding under an average, considerably.' taking it over a number of years, but not so with wheat The oats are bright in colour, but in too many cases not well filled or so plump as usuaL Farmers are not. putting "their oats particularly on the market so readily as has sometimes been the case. One not infrequently hears : " I was. in town on Saturday and oats were worth so much per bushel." "Have you threshed?" 'Yes. but, I did not take a sample with me. I'm in no hurry to ■sell; if oate don't- go up soon they- won't go baek." All eager, feverish desire to sell is not apparent, putting.it in that way, but a decided tendency to bold on in the belief ' that if there is any outside demand at, all oats will and must go up. Winter Feed.—-A short time ago the prospects for winter feed were not at _ all bright, and there are those who are fairly anxious, yet and not over sanguine, of having a fairlv good turnip crop, and not sure about the future . unless we again have a very mild and favourable winter. Some of the early-sown crops in districts on the other side of the' Mataura have suffered from bright, but there is nothing of the kind that I have come across in the Western District The season is not yet late for turnips, and the growth was so after the first, rain we had that, wh-pre the ground was in gocd order, and a liberal sun-ply of manure given, the crops promise fully better than might at, one time have been expected. If we have anything like our usual run of autumn weather, and no severe frosts until nbout, the shortest day, we will have sufficientwinter feed. Dairying.—This has not, been one of the favourable seasons for dairying. The grass has been always too dry—not enough dew at. nights and too many high winds. There ha.s been neither quantity nor quality. The tests -have been lower and have continued low longer •at a great manv factories than usual. I hear of -pa.vt/'es who hove on account of a'lessened supplv and a lower test, not coming im to previous year's re fords per cow, by about, £2 per This calculation was based not. on what, is being paid provisionally this season, but upon the basis of previous years. However, it, is to be hoped most of the factories will manage to pay up to 1« Der lib of butter fat; some of them possiblv over, and very few. if any, less than that.

Stock.—While the season just being 1 left • behind has not been highly favourable from some points of view to the agriculturist it has possessed some more agreeable features. Stock have, upon the whole, done fairly well. Sheep and cattle have held their own. In moving about in any direction there is every indication of them doing well. Sheep look well and healthy wherever they have had a chance Ito do at ail. Lambs are I think, upon the whole, much more forward than they have been at the same period for some yea.rs back, and more prime lambs will be got away this year than has been the case for some years back. Fruit.—lt has also been a good season for fruit so far as fruit is grown in Southf land, as fruit production is not one of our® strong points. There seems to be a very heavy crop of apples in every orchard one comes across, whether they have been well Looked after or not, or just allowed to produce what they might. ! Garden Party.—At the beginning%f the month a very pleasant, garden party was , given by Mr and Mrs Mackintosh, of Greenlea, under the auspices of the Drum- ! mond P.W.M.U., in honour of Mrs and I Mrs Mawson. on furlough from China. I am persuaded the Greenlea garden, under Mrs Macintosh's management and ca're, is I not only one of the most beautiful in ' Southland, but I am confident much further afield. I question if there is any | farmer's garden in the South Island can make such a show in variety and rich profusion of its floral display. Everyone of the party seemed highly delighted with the afternoon's enjoyment, and Mr and j Mrs Maclvjnto-h and family's hospitality j was unbounded. C'l.l^TOX. March 21.—The harvest is now safely I over and surplus labour dispensed with. j for another year. Farmers all say that I this is the earliest season on record. Never j before has anyone in the district finished. j his harvest in February, which many did | this year. The crop is fairly light* and j prices will likely harden before long. Farj iners, however, prefer a big yield before big prices. I Turnips.—The rain which fell at intervals during the last month has helped the i turnip crop along- wonderfully, and winter feed should now be plentiful. ' Changes—Mr Jas M'Neur has disposed ,of Jus fsrm at Wairuna. Mr A. Mathison, a neighbour, being the purchaser. This i now gives -Mr Matbeson a compact farm i with a frontage to the Old Lake road. Mr j M'Neur's clearing sale takes place on the j 29th when it is hoped all who can will I turn up and give their worthy friend and ■ neighbour a good send off. | Obituary.—Death during the week carried j ofil two of our wall-known townsmen. The , first was Mr John Gormackr which took j place in a private hospital in Dunedin after I a serious operation. ' The funeral took ; place OB Friday at the local cemeterv, and .was largely _ attended. The late.Mr Gori. mack was born in Duiming, a town m ' Perthshire, Scotland, and after serving his time as a carpenter came out 'to \' New Zealand. He worked at his trade "or a ■l me \5 a * ,at€r Took U P a small farm near , the Wairuna Siding. Here he proved j himself a tidy and good farmer, and with j the assistance 'of his worthy wife whom 1 he met in the. district, reared a' largo family. Lately, along with Mrs Gormack "- he took over Nelson's Private Hotel, hoping to spend bis remaining days with I greater ease and comfort. Much sympathy | is expressed J for Mrs Gormack and family iin their sad loss. The other death was that .' ot Mrs Charles Bruce, also a very old and respected resident of our town, which took , Place in the Dunedin Public Hospital on Saturday last, "Charlie Bruce," as he was familiarly jknown, was a charactei unique m his generation. He was of Dutch extraction, and nad a wonderful power of speech which he gave off in broken Eng-" • "11 ?? T as , thor ougbly straightforward j in all his dealings, and, like hi's countrymen very hard working. The people seemed to nave great faith In him for he j lias occupied almost every position of trust !in the town—School Committee. Town i Board etc. -and he -was invariably returned at the head of the x noll. H« was ever zealous regarding the interest of the ratepayers, and sometimes made things sultry at meeting* especially when he fought everything was not above board For many years he carried on the occupation of gardener, but latterly he had' a Srhnent: 88 T^'^h ■ ' M*SBEVILLE. March 21.-The weather has remained | wonderfully mild right through harvest consequently work generally on the farm'is' ; turther forward than has even been the j caste at this time of the year. The large ; quantity of threshing -plants was an im- : portent factor in expediting harvest work, I as it enabled the majority to get their j grain threshed from the. stook. The bulk to be handled fell far short of the average and those who have to depend on the oat ( : crop will find very little surplus after expenses have been met, for their year's i work. The price merchants are offering I for oats this year is miserably small, con°- • sklering- the great scarcity there must be j if the reports to hand are borne out ' when the correct returns are available. The farmers are evidently pretty well of the one _ mind, that a better price will be obtainable ere long, as very few are disposing of their surplus, but are storing in anticipation. The sheep market has improved wonderfully with the better prospects of winter feed and the upward trend of the English market. Bunny.—The . exporters having commenced buying rabbits again, the trappers have started operations in earnest, and large tallies and big cheques are the expectations of all. Social Events. —Things socially have come to a very low ebb in the township, but I . have no doubt that as the season for I dancing, etc., is drawing near one will hear of more engagements for the hall as winter approaches. Indeed, I have just learnt that preparations are in hand for the annual harvest home ball. —Mr Jensen was the recipient of many handsome and useful presents on the eve of his departure from the district, but many who would like to have been at the social in his honour were prevented from attending by harvest work.

Personal. —Mr Overton has had a Tather severe illne*,*. During last week he was confined to his room for several days. His many friends-will be glad to know that although not fully recovered, lie has so

' much improved as to be able to take on his duties at the school again. Mr Wilkinson has disposed of his farm to Mi Horrell. it being his intention to devote rhe whole of bis lime to the milling business. WAIWERA. March 19.—We are still enjoying favourable weather for this seasor of the yearoccasional showers, but at time it is a little cold—just enough rain to keep tbe land in good order for the turnips and other fall crops growing. Everyone now is anxious to get their threshing done before the land gets saturated, making it difficult for the engine and machin to get about from stack to stack, and causing much damage to the fields by cutting up its surface. However, all cannot be first; some must run the risk and be lag*. The chaerfu] part is the price for oats and chaff, which seem to be hardening. With this and the fairly good demand 'for sheep farmers are encouraged to still, jog along as of yore. I notice the plough has been started in several places, the good weather being an inducement to push tli' important parr of our work on. Yields. —Chatting with some of our farmers, and also with an influential farmei front the fokomairiro district, I gleaned that the samples of oats they have threshed have been rather disappointing, not being «o well filled as m some seasons. I suppose the unusually dry weather accounts for this. ;

Stock.—Stock continues to look well. At the popular Clinton sale? some splendid sheep are *o b<j seen from time to time. To say the least, ours is most certainly a good /sheep country, and buyers from all parts can purchase any locally-bred sneep with the utmost confidence, knowing'them to be clean well-doers,' fit to be taken tc any part for fattening or othei purposes, hence the popularity of our local sales.

Land Sale.—Every now and again we. bear of some land saler taking place around as. The most important lately was thepurchase by Mr A. Mathieson of ! Mr M'Neur's farm. While we regret very much the less from the -district of such splendid people as the M'Neur family, who are indeed a credit to any country for their interest in religious matters as well as very careful and intelligent farmers. We congratulate Mr Mathieson on the valuable addition to his already fine "property. We feel doubly interested in his welfare, seeing that he is, so to apeak, one of our old boys, who have been among us off and on from a youth. He, too, has proved himself a worthy citizen, a firstclass farmer, and, in popular language, has bis head screwed on right. Genial, shrewd, and up to date in his methods, he is found to succeed. ' At this stage I am sure it will no be out of place to add a tribute of praise to his late father, Mr A. Mathieson, of the Peninsula, who was too well known to need much comment from me. He was one of Otago's noble pioneers—successful, considerate, and bene- ; volent to a degree*.- so that one would he, more surprised at Mr A. Mathieson, jan.'s. failure than his continued success, seeing from whom ,he received his early, training-. • - ,_.'•-✓ Acclimatisation.—l notice }the large new pond at. the fish hatchery is about-finished It adds, very much tc the appearance of the already -pretty place, with its numerous ponds stacked with fish. The grounds and ponds are well laid >ut and neatly kept. The new pond when filled will be quite a little lake. A visit co the ponds just nowwell repays one. especially those interested in fish etc. The old-time and primitive methods have given place to up-to-date fixtures Water is conveyed . from place to place in every conceivable way, including hydraulic rams, etc. Old wooden: structures have made way for concrete ff iving the whole thing a clean and neat appearance. The hatchery seems to be worked on the principle of a place foi everything and everything in its place Credit is due to those responsible for tins state of affairs. BERWICK. March 14 —Last Saturday trie combine* Berwick and Henley annual Sunday acnoo Picnic was held down at TaieriMouth, The dav was all that could be■ deaxwdcalm, drv, and warm, and as was anUci; pated, a -large number of adults ancT school children availed themselves of Captain M'Kegg's very generous ofter to convey all children free and adults for the nominal charge of Is each, to and from Taieri Mouth in 'his new and comfortable--,oil - launch Moturata.- Much credit to Miss Sinclair and Mr A. J. Wither, representing the Berwick Sunday bchool, and- Mr Neil Black and Mr Johnson., 0f... the Henley Sunday School, for the. ener-4 get-ic manner in which they carried out» their respective duties in connectior with 'the picnic. A large numoov of the.-chit-dren's parents conveyed them from Berwick to Henley, where they were soon all oomfortaoly seated aboard the steamer, , and about "45 minutes later they were aL. *lifely landed at Taieri Mouth, where boiling water was in readiness for making tea, etc. Judging by the way that the tempting refreshments disappeared a trip to the sea does much to sharpen tEe appetite. Refreshments being over, the children engaged themselves wading in the sea, while a'numbei of the parents heartilyenjoyed a game of cricket on the beach. When the afternoon had been spent and all had again partaken of refreshments the steamer's warning whistle announce*, the time of her departure for home. Afte£ all being safely seated aboard the Motut rata, they were soon again back at Henley, when three ringing cheers having beenj given for Captain M'-Kegg. each and all wended their severil ways home with the memory of the trip indelibly fixed on their minds. aiiLßUitft. March 28.—The weather continues very dry, and the turnips are being greatly, affected with the blight. Even the softf turnips are going, and the outlook -for winter feed is not very bright. Tha mills are going at full time, but the returns of both oats and wheat- are not u* to the usual.. Sports.—A rounder club was reoentlj formed at Clarendon and one at Milbuni A friendly match between the two clul/ was played at Clarendon, and -esulted il an easy win. for Milburn. A returt. match was played on Saturday at Milbarns. and this time the Clarendon team won, so a„ final match is to be played.—Thf '•ticket season is now closed, and the loci. ! lii'-t has had a successful one, playing sil

matches, winning four, losing one, and drawing one. Church Services.—At last Sunday morning's service at the local church Messrs D. Manson and W. £. Brabyn were duly ordained as elders in the church, the service being conducted by the Rev. W. H. II owes. In the evening the harvest thanksgiving service was held at Clarendon, - and was largely attended, the preacher being Mr Lockhart. Surprise Parties.—On the evening of last •Monday a number of teachers and scholars- >f" the Waihola Presbyterian Sunday School paid a surprise visit to Mr #nd Mrs -W. Young at Clarendon, and during the course of a pleasant evening (presented Mrs Young with an enlarged ■framed photo of the Sunday school scholars.—A large surprise party assembled at .the residence jf Mr James and Miss Williamson on Thursday evening, and a merry evening was spent in dancing in £he woolshed. TAIKUI MOUTH. 1 March 28. —We have a lot of visitors at jpresentf all the cottages, being occupied, .while -others are accommodated in tents. iWe had a regular gale on Saturday, but the tents on the beach were not seriously affected by the wind. Picnic parties have 'been numerous of late. Visitors are beginning to realise that the best view is- obtainable at what is known as iCraggs, just above Mr Gibson's place. '.'Even old residents are only just beginning • <to. find out. what a lovely view there is Krom this spot. Amongst other visitors jyras Mr John M'Cormack, from Sydney, fvho with a / Dunerlin friend has been (visiting friends here. They only stayed Hiour days, as Mr M'Cormack had to return to attend to important "business. He thought a great, deal of Taieri Mouth, and hopes to pay another visit next year yj company with Mrs M'Cormack. 'Crops.—The wheat crop here is said to „|be below the average. Visiting Clarkcs•prille last week-I .found that Messrs Cooper /.Bros., who only entered into posseission ijust in time to secure their crops, threshed _ ; over 40 bushels of good wheat to the acre, ,which must be considered gocd considering the dry season. I also visited the •fairm of Messrs Anderson, ajj Wyllie's jOrossing. on the Taieri Plain. *They' have a number of stacks of what appears to be Splendid wheat, but nave not threshed Jyet. I am afraid the grain crops here will i not yield up to the average. The (turnips are much better than on the Toko|imairiro Plain, but they would be benefited by. rain, which threatens but passes "|Lway again. oi;tram. March 28—The "weather still,keeps very •fliy and windy, and on Saturday one of ythe .worst gales experienced for some time '.prevailedr It left its mark on all the stacks jj xonnd, blowing the heads off a good numfoer.- ' V- Threshing.—Another .fortnight should see jail the threshing finished. Only those that vlare lower down the plain have to thresh mow. I only hear of an odd paddock that has threshed up to expectations. The mills are finishing up earlier this year than for many years past. The chaffeutting remains yet to be done, and it is to be hoped £haff will keep a fair price to compensate farmers foi their outlay. . f Blight.—Potato-digging is now. in full yswing. ( The crop is fairly good, with very (little blight on it. lam sorry to say the Iblight is getting worse among the turnips iSome paddocks are quite black, and the Vrape is also affected. Farmers will be almost afraid to sow turnips another season, "and will have to go in more for mangolds, iThere are some splendid crops of mangolds to be seen, and. right alongside turnips flat iwith blight. Winter feed will be scare | with those who are depending bn tu.rnips alone.

Farm Work. —Ploughing has commenced 'on some farms. The , disc plough is J favoured, • being a handy implement, and i very suitable for skim ploughing. . Export of Horses. —A number of horses liave been bought for shipment to Australia, 42 <k ,leaving this week. There is a Wood demand for suitable farm horses there. and it will help to keep the prices up ",oere."

General. —The Fisk Jubilee Singers gave k most enjoyable concert to a , crowded Souse on Thursday evening;. Next Friday I ihe "Will Wisps," from Dunedin. Jre giving" an entertainment. I hear that § pliss Mitchell, of Dunedin,. has been apI /pointed assistant teacher at the school in ■ place of Miss Hurley, who has secured a position, at the Musselburgh School.