MANDEVILLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 23

MANDEVILLE.

January 2S. —The weather for some days has been beautifully fine. During the day it has been intensely hot under, the full power of a midsummer sun from a cloudless sky. The hot, dry weather which was preceded by a period of nor'-westers, has. licked all the moisture out of the soil, and all vegetation is vanishing for the want of moisture. The superabundance'of top-growth is providing plenty of feed-for stock, but it is becoming terribly dry. What is really wanted is a good 24 hours' rain. The turnips are making no growth, but with the heat there is in the land and a good rainfall they would simply bound ahead. Grass Seed.—The farmers about here are occupied almost exclusively with the grass harvest at the present time. Every farmer seems to have saved grass for seeding this year. No doubt the high prices of the past few seasons are responsible. There is every prospect that the coming season will see grass seed at a more reasonable price. The high price of labour—in fact, everything in connection with saving it will prevent it being placed on the market at anything like the prices we were accustomed to some years ago. If so, the grower's share will not be very remunerative, for I am led to understand that the mill-owners have bumped up the price for dressing same tremendously. The Harvest.—The grain harvest will be here inside a fortnight—another early harvest is a certainty. The crop will not be a bulky one in this district, and will bo easily handled. Sufficient labour is in sight, and no difficulty is anticipated, although skilled labour is simply out of the question. No class realises more than the farmer the difficult times the Empire is going through, and will accept with good grace the loss of time caused by inexperienced labour, aud will, I feel, surely have plenty of patience provided, an effort is shown. Personal.—Rumour has it that our local teacher will shortly leave this district, having the offer of a much larger school. lam sure everyone who knows her will be glad if the rumour has no foundation, for she has become very, popular with every class Mothers especially are. very loud in their praises of her attention and consideration for the little children.—The Rev. A. M'Neur has accepted a call from the Winion parish, which will be a loss very hard to replace! Indeed, I believe I am safe in saying that no minister has given this district the universal satisfaction that Mr M'Neur has ■ Flax-milling— I am led to understand that Mr R. Crombie has sold the right to cut a considerable area of flax on his various properties to a local syndicate, which will give employment to local men for a considerable time at very remunerative wages.