WAITAHUNA NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5334, 24 January 1906, Page 3

WAITAHUNA NOTES.

[Own Correspondent.]

Owing to the exceedingly wet, changeable weather experienced off and on for the past two months or more the farmers have had a trying time getting the turnips sown, and some of them have not finished sowing yet. During the eight days froru the 10th to the 18th inst., when the weather was dry, mild, and warm, a large amount of land was wrought up and sown either in drills or broadcast, full advantage being taken of every working hour, and | during that time a very rapid growth was noticeable everywhere, the earlier-sown turnips springing up very rapidly and a good deal of thinning being got through. The grain crops also showea up well during the short spell of fine weather, but again we have a cold snap, with heavy rains, and the paddocks all around look cold and j sodden, and on flats, where some of our farmers expected heavy yields of grain, the crop looks yellow and stunted, particularly so on badly-drained land and hard subsoil. Graes", however, notwithstanding the cold, wet season, is abundant, but, as is well knovrn to the experienced pastoralist, the grass, owing to excess of moisture, does not possess the same feeding qualities for fattening and preparing stock for the market as pasture grown in mild, dry, warm weather. Several of our farmers are sending milk to the Lawrence creamery, and there seems to be a general tendency throughout the district towards getting a creamery established in Waitahuna. If it is gone into with any spirit there should be no difficulty whatever in the matter. One of the Greenfield settlers, who has proved dairying to be more profitable than either sheep or cropping, is prepared to guarantee 100 gallons daily during the season, and has expressed his willingness to attend any meeting called by the Farmers' Club having that object in view. Writing about a Greenfield settler reminds me of the Government grants for the Athenaeum Reserve and river road and the bridging of the Waitahuna river. I notice that Mr Oudaille, the member for the riding, has not forgotten about this most important work, as at last meeting" of the Tuapeka County Council he moved that inquiries be made regarding the, moneys voted last session of Parliament ' for the opening of the road from the Greenfield settlement to Waitahuna. It is to be hoped that no unnecessary delay will take place, as on the completion of this work depends to a large extent the success of a number of the settlers on the high end of the estate. The road when opened up, besides being of a much easier grade than the one now in use, will be fully three miles shorter and will bring the settlers within easy distance of the Waitahuna railway station. The Dunedin Farmers' Co-operative Agency's saleyards, in course of erection on the Farmers' Club's grounds, are now nearing completion, and the Company's agent, Mr Bert Thompson, informs me that the first sale is likely to come off early in February, when a large yarding of sheep and Ccittle is expected. The yards are extensive, well-planned, and within a short distance of the railway station. The trains are also most suitable. Buyers can arrive in Waitahuna by 11.15 a.m., leaving again by the 4.15 p.m. train. No doubt when the sales are firmly established they will prove a success and be a benefit to the whole district.

The Havelock and Imperial dredging companies, after spending some time after the holidays in repairing, are "now steadily at work, and in two more years, or less, will have run their course. At an average of one acre per month it does not take so very long to dredge even a 100 acre claim. The hydraulic and sluicing companies in the Waitahuna Gully — Sailors Gully Company, Thompson and party, Ferris and party, M. Quilter, and the Waitahuna Hydraulic Sluicing Company — are busily at work, with abundance of water at their command. There have been no extended holidays this summer for either of these companies for want of water, there having been a pleutiful supply all along. Unlike the dredges some of these claims will be kept going for many years to come, there being a large area of payable ground to work.