MORTON MAINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 39

MORTON MAINS.

December 18.—The Morton Mains district affords another example of the success of the enterprising Canterbury farmer in the matter of systematically cultivating the - soil. This district, which comprises portion of the old N.Z. Land Company’s estate, was looked upon some 12 years ago as a drug on the market, and even £1 an acre was not sufficiently tempting to prospective buyers. It was not until the late Mr Calder took up a large port-on of the estate that the district began to be recoginsed as good farming country, and it is mainly due to the above-men-tioned gentleman that Morton Mains has since occupied a prominent position in the land market. At the present time the majority of the farmers are ex-Canter-bury men, who took up land some 10 years ago at anything between £3 and £4 an acre. They are now disposing of this same land at an average price of £l4 an acre. Farms and Farming.—Quite recently Mr A. Slhetat sold a portion of his property at £l7 an acre, and last week Mr W. Lambert, who is commencing a butchery business at the Siding, purchased 10 acres- from the same gentleman at £2O an acre. The wet weather which has been general all over Southland has put a stop to shearing operations, and the majority of farmers have not so far commenced with their various flocks. The crops arc looking fairly well, but there is a certain unevenness apparent. Mr Woodward has an exceptionally good crop of oats adjacent to the railway. The dairy factories have also

suffered to a certain extent from tiro changed climatic conditions, the daily supply being about 650 gallons at present. Show Successes. —At the Invercargill i show Mr Horne, of Clover Grange, obI tained live firsts and six second prizes in | tat stock and light horse classes. At, the ! annual show sal© of fat stock Mr Horne’s la-mbs realised from 15s 2d to 17e- —-a convincing proof of the stock-raising potentialities of the district. Schools.—The Morton Mains schools hold their annual break-up on Friday, 22nd. It is the intention of the Siding committee to award books to the pupils, but the committee of the Morton Mains South School has decided to use the money usually set aside for this purpose as the nucleus of a school library fund This, in my opinion, is a very sensible idea, and one that should commend itself to other committees. Farm Labour. —Work is plentiful in this district, but workers cannot be obtained. In conversation with a farmer the other da.v I was informed that one farmer is willing to pay 30s a week to'a good ploughman, but those to whom the work is offered have no apparent desire to leave the pavements of the city, preferring to eke out a precarious existence in the town to working a team of horses in the country. I Elect ions,—ln this district litlle surprise I is expressed at the results of the polling, i it being generally understood that the Reform party would gain considerable support. Mr Anderson is popular in this portion of the Mataura electorate, and it would require a very good man to supplant him. i