SILVERSTREAM.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14043, 29 October 1909, Page 5

SILVERSTREAM.

(From our-own. Correspoh'clent.) After a. long, spell, of .excellent weather—m fact one might almost' say a. memorably gratifying Spriug—a pronounced return to wintry conditions set in, ■ instead of, tlie, naturally looked for summer, Friday,,,night being even more inclement tlmii. any'nigliu experienced throughout ilic whole; ,of winter proper., , luis,. though not materially troubling tho paddock Hocks, will have an ill effect, on the Mis, where lambing is unfortuhatey,, general. Fortunately : . , tlie ' ewes are in splcndid./cojiditjpu,. ncvertL(less ; several inches of' snow 'must Have a "very unsatisfactory result, the more, regrettable since the prospects ( of remunerative prices for this class of lainb, hi duo time, does not promise too wejl. However, since the ''glorious uncertainty' ' so often- crops up too gloomy a .view should not be taken., "Who prophesied a 30 per cent.'rise in the value of wool . a few months ago This,,question ;s not-suggesting that such a fqrtunato circumstance is likely to eventuato with the sheep market, but . possibilities are possibilities, -and so.is a gratifying -rise in the London .values, of frozen meat and ' lamb. . And ; this , beiug more of a pastoral than an agricultural district, natural-, increase- :in our flocks plays a not inconsiderable part.' . ~... . .. ■■ :-.:..<■ ■_.<-; Some little cropping is.resorted to, and at present .the .fields .are., looking first rate. Teams are stifl.lnisy withthe cultivation for root crops * Outside of field operations our only local industry is Mr ; Halstead's,. wool scouring works, where- something, approaching 2000 bales of .wool,;lire pub through,in a season —witb,..;yery gratifying results, since' wool scoured.; hcr« practically .topped, the. market at tlio London s'ales tho last' few, 'seasons. ,Mt Halstead is preparing for an, even hi creased business tins season,,though;in consequence of the. prospects of excellent prices prevailing at .the.-.'local sajes it i's possible that several whp,.: ; !U;o the. most dependent on, the; market fortius clin will take the proverbial, "bird in the hand" and realise locally rather than bid for the distant V two. in the bush "—London market. , Nevertheless the natural sequence to , building up so successful a business is.to look forward to its ; expansion, which truly means preparing for the' duo reward of ability and painstaking .industry. :