WAIMEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 23

WAIMEA.

April 5. —Dtxring the last month we have had! umsettled weather. Frequently we have a few beautiful days, and harvesting goes on apace, and then we have a period of showers, compelling a "go slow" policy. There was a slight fall of snow on the hills last week, and on two nights severe frosts, but now the hills are apparently clear, and the weather has subsequently become warmer.

Stock. —Although the -weather has been suitable for the growth of graaa, feed aeems to have fallen away very much. Some grass* paddocks appear very bare, and turnip crops are not showing the progress they should. This condition of affairs has had its reflection in the store stock market, a. terrible depression has fallen on it, and there are sellers at the vory low prices offered. The winter is expected to be a hard one for those who have stock and no turnips. There are three general causes for the partial failure of the turnip crop—first, the weather was unfavourable ; secondly, tho influenza epidemic, and,

thirdly, the terribly-reduced man-power on the farms through the operations of the Military Service Act. We have to take the weather as it comes, but for the last two causes there ia a general growl at authorities.

Harvest Operations. —Harvesting is general, and, as I said before, protracted, considering all there is to harvest. The crops are, on the whole, a good average, but the area- is very small. This was at one time one of the big portions of Southland, and here at least there will be scarcely enough oats to provide the district's own requirements in seed and horse feed. The Government statistics, I don't think, can be very accurate this year, as they asked what acreage people intended to put in, and many farmers I know found that neither in oats nor turnips were they able to fulfil their own intentions.

Accidents.—Quite a distressing accident occurred to Mrs A. M'Kay, Green Hill, Wendon, who was driving out to the harvest field, when the horse ran away and threw Mrs M'Kay and her child, aged three months, out of the trap. Mrs M'Kay received severe bruises, and the child's injuries proved fatal a few days later. Much sympathy is felt for the- bereaved parents, who have already through the war suffer.xl many bereavements.—Several local residents have been seriously ill of late, but latest reports show that all are on the mend. Mr J. M'Cubbin has been very ill at his residence in Riversdale. Mr Joseph Smail has been in Gore undergoing a severe operation. Mr Patrick Murray had the misfortune to break his leg, and is not yet able to move about.. A son of M P. Lither, who received a very severe kick from a horse some time ago, is now happily recovering quickly.