OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 550, 23 February 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

♦ — : — (From the Daily times, Feb. 21.) The spread of Cape weed in the vicinity of Dunedin is becoming a serious evil. Dairymen complain that it is fast taking the place of grass in their paddocks. We learn from Mr Andrew Buchanan, gardener, of Maitland street, that tbis is a common weed in Scotland, but as it flowers late in the season there is no time for it to take a great hold, as the seedlings are usually killed by frost. "Its proper name is Long-rooted Cat's Ear (Hypocfioeris radicatus). Mr Buchanan lately counted sixty seeds in a ripe pod, and there

were sixty flowers — making 3600 seeds from a single plant— -of the kind carried long distances by the wind. We believe the name of Cape weed was given to it in Australia. It is only of lata years that it has become a great nuisance in Otago. Speaking of protection to farmers, the Daily Times says : — lf anything would justify the adoption of protective duties, it is the fact that our farmers are not now obtaining paying prices, and that if some change does not soon take place, a large amount of land may be expected to go out of cultivation. The colony would not have suffered had the House of Representatives agreed to the Ministerial motion of last session for the imposition of a moderate duty on breadstuffs, as long as the price remained below a certain minimum. Events seem to shew that such a measure is becoming necessary. It would tend to give confidence to the farmers, and to establish & certain fair average below which priceß would not be likely to go; while, by encouraging the farmers to grow largely, it would prevent high rates from being imposed on consumers. Our settlers have now to contend with such a duty in Victoria, without any corresponding protection from elsewhere. The survey party proceeding to the new" settlement at Martin's Bay wiil leave to-day by the p.s. Charles Edward, au arrangement having been made by the Government with her owners, by which she is under ordera to call there and land the party. The party consists of two surveyors, with a proper staff of assistants. It is intended that they shall stay some months, their instructions being not merely to lay out the township but also to survey the land for some distance up the valley of the Hollyford River. They will take with them a wooden house, 20ft long and 12ft wide, which will form the head quarters of the expedition. In connection with this subject, we may mention tbat a meeting of persons contemplating proceeding to Martin's Bay was held at Oamaru on Tuesday last. At this meeting, according to the local paper, it was resolved, if tbe necessary funds could be raised, to send some person with the survey party to report as to the nature of the land, &c., at the site of the proposed settlement. Our crop returns are not yet sufficiently complete to enable us to form an exact estimate of the acreage sown in each crop ; but wa are sufficiently informed to enable us to put the probable yield of wheat at considerably less than last year. The acreage sown i_ probably not larger, if so large ; and the re* turns are not likely to exceed an average of 25 bushels to the acre. Although in the Clutha district, and at Waikouaiti and Palmerston, the crop is good, tho deficiency in other districts will more than counterbalance any increase in these. Barley, on the other hand, will be largely in excess, probably at least double last year's acreage, and with a fair average yield ; but many samples will be greatly affected in colour by the rainy harvest weather. Of oats we shall hare to export a large quantity ; aud we fear pricea ;must rule very low, as Victoria is not likely to take anything like the quantity which it required last year. Root crops— including potatoes— are likely to be in abundant supply; and the dampness of tbe season will-give a plentiful show of grass pasture. From the Cromwell Argus we take the following account of the late rich finds in the Aurora Company's claim at Beodigo Gully:— On Thursday, the 10th inst., a portion of the reef was struck which far exceeds in richnesa anything yet discovered in - the province. Specimens of quartz from this new lode have been brought into Cromwell by several persons during the last three or four days, some of which are believed to contain as much weight of gold as of quartz. . These were in the possession of Mr W. Grindley, of Clyde, and every fragment showed a very large proportion of gold. The stone is very soft, and crumbles away on being handled. We are informed that some very much richer specimens were brought down on Monday by Mr J. D. Feraud, of Clyde, and whioh are described as by far the richest yet seen in Cromwell. A quantity of very excellent - - Btone has been taken from the claim during the past few days, and deposited in the paddock ready for crushing. An accident which has caused a temporary stoppage of work at the battery occurred ou Saturday, one of the cog-wheels having been broken. The damage is to be temporarily repaired without ..? delay, and the fractured wheel will shortly '.' be replaced by a new one. The Guardian gives the following as the latest information j, on the subject :— " Mr Grindley, of Clyde, ; arrived in Cromwell mid-day yesterday, from the Bendigo, and exhibited a piece of stona which he assures us was taken out from the lode by. his own hands. To say that the stone is fully one-half gold is doing it nothing more than justice. It is rather more of a light brown colour than that exhibited by Mr Feraud on Monday afternoon. Mr Grindley states that the break down in the machine had been so far repaired that the stamps were expected to be ready for work iv the afternoon. A later report to hand than that brought in by Mr Grindley, states tbat two loads of the rich stone have been taken out and deposited in the paddock. From that^ we infer that the one lead has been traced'^ running along the trench towards the other. V