SHEFFIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6063, 29 December 1897, Page 2

SHEFFIELD.

[From Our Correspondent.] he rain which commenced on Sunday afternoon and continued through a large portion of the night, came at a most acceptable lime, and will help to fill and bring along the green grain crops now well out in ear, as well as the later crops. The locality has no doubt been well favoured with showers all through the spring, and if it had not been that usually they were followed by the drying rinds, which minimised the good effects of the rain, I think the crops would have been very good. More rape has been put in this season than before, and it has come along very nicely, in favourable contrast with that lower* down on "the plains, but is now starting to flower. The rain on Anniversay Day helped the turnip crop along, though it is looking rather thin. Singular to relate, althongli during the last week the days have been very hot, they have been followed on three nights in succession with, sharp frosts, which cut into the gardens rather severely. The cutting of the oat ei-op in isolated places has already commenced, Christmas Eve .-was kept up in old-time custom, by the Oddfellows' band, which^ under the charge of the bandmaster, Mr Pole, drove around the district, and -played suitable music at the residences of the various settlers • which entailed on the bandsmen not only n. long night's work, but carried them well on towards the time for the Christmas dinner. The band's attentions were thoroughly well appreciated, aud the players were most hospitably receivod by those who were waited upon. I regret to say that influenza is very much in evidence in the district.