TABLE HILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 35

TABLE HILL.

June 4.—Wo had a good fall of rain last Saturday afternoon and on Sunday evening. The mornings arc foggy, and sharp frosts on several nights. The skylarks can be board singing away every sunny day. I hoard the screech of _ a little owl about my house the other night. Illness.—We have had our share of sickness lately—mostly in the way of colds and influenza,—and we have not boon free from accidents. While unharnessing her horse from the gig Miss Monfries was knocked down through the horse moving forward, and the wheel of the trap went over an ankle, necessitating a stay in bed for a few clays. . Progress.—A new traction thrashing and chaffing plant has come to Milton. The owner is Mr Graham, from Gore way. Tie came up to Table Hill in good time, but did not go as far as Messrs Norman and Perry’s respective farms, fearing that he would not bo able to got out on the main road to Milton. There arc a few cuttings that are declared too soft and slippery for winter time. . Second-hand Implements.— Twice recently one of the Witness writers advised the farmers to sell all the old useless machinery about the place, as the farmer would he better with a few pounds in pocket than letting the old implements He about rustla «■ away. A few pennies would be nearer th o mark, judging by the prices I have Been these things ’go at during my time

of six years down here. A few items might be quoted to make my memory clear. The framework of a big R. and G. digger plough went for 1?; a one-furrow sulky plough, ready to go to work with, went for another Is; a grubber harrow, which is square and pulls from one corner, brought about 4s, the original price being £6; a Massey binder, with a good_ pole and nearly new canvas, did not elicit a bid; a pair of very good xlray wheels, requiring tyring and a few minor repairs, were sold for Is; while old-fashioned wooden furniture brought very_ little more than firewood prices. The price of scrap iron is 2s per cwt delivered at the Dunedin Railway Station, and railage would take the gilt off. A binder that has cut about 100 acres will go for £ls, while if it has cut 200 or 300 acres it may go as low as £5. Anyone starting a new farm is quite safe in going to a displonishing sale, even if it is 100 miles away, and buy all his requirements thtfre. The imported grain drills frequently bring within £lo or £l2 of their original value, but the oldfashioned ones are not so much soughtafter. I saw one go for £l, and another one about £5.

Changes. —We lately lost some of oiu’ population. The lease of Mr Rod. Shaw’s farm having expired, ho bought a home at Waitahuna, and with Mrs Siliaw and family shifted there. The neighbours assembled at their late home, and spent the usual pleasant evening. Mr Richard Thomson, of Circle Hill, lately sold his farm and bought a small dairy farm at Owaka. His displonishing sale was held last Monday, and very good prices were realised. The prices for the horses showed a distinctly upward tendency. In the evening the neighbours gathered in the schoolhouse to bid him farewell, and a very pleasant evening was spent. Dancing was carried on with much vigour, and items were given at interals. Mr John Hagen, on behalf of those present, expressed regret at losing Mr and Mrs Thomson, and presented Mr Thomson with a handsome travelling rug and Mrs Thomson with a well-lined lady’s handbag. Mr Thomson briefly returned thanks. Messrs Robert Flett and Shanks supplied the danco music on tho accordeon, and Misses Perry and Sutherland acted as accompanists on the organ. Songs wore sung by Mr John Hagen, Mr Shanks, and Miss Perry, while Mr L. H. Perry gave a recitation.” Mr Richard Norman had the floor a couple of times with colonial anecdotes, travel, and North Island dairy farming items, and had a good time, keeping the gathering in a simmer of merriment. After a fine lot of refreshments, the gathering broke up at a reasonably early hour. Harvest.—Tho harvest in this and surrounding districts hao been, a long and protracted ' one, lasting, for at least three months.. There were so many cloudy days that in some cases the crops scarcely grew for a month.