LOWER WHAREAMA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 311, 8 November 1879, Page 2

LOWER WHAREAMA.

[from OUR OWN correspondent],

Nov. sth. During the last week, with the exception of Friday and Saturday, when showers occurred, the weather has been fine, and favorable for shearing, which is now being carried on generally throughout the district. The shearers employed are being paid at the rate of 17s 6d per hundred sheop. They are in many cases very slow hands, most of them being only learners. This may be attributed to the low rate of wages ruling here, fast hands preferring to travel and get the advantage of higher wages.

Lambs have now been docked on almost all the stations, and from information received, the increase will, I understand, bear favorable comparison with other parts of the country, being from ?5 to 80 per cent,

In my last lotter I mentioned the probable arrival of some stud rams for Langdale station. These have now been landed in Wellington, and from all

accounts aro splendid animals, having been selected from the well-known flock of Messrs Murray, South Austral'a, Eabbits are becoming more numerous in this locality, and I am glad to hear of some of the settlers taking steps to poison them. Hawks are doing some little towards their destruction, appearing to have a decidqd preference for young ones. Mr Beetham, with his usual forethought 1 ., Iks asked the Government if it is their intention to take any steps re the manufactory of phosphorous in the Colony for rabbit | destroying. The manufacture of this article should not be very expensive, considering the amount of raw material in the country. It appears to be the opinion of most practical persons that poisoning is the true way to keep down the plaguo of rodents. Should this idea prove correct, it will be a great assistance to landowners, if they can procure phosphorous in quantity at a reasonable price. The oat crops here do not look particularly well, and should the present weathor continue, there is a likelihood of them being light, The grass crops, however, are most luxuriant, the proverbial " oldinhabitant," never having seen anything to equal them. Ploughing operations have all but ceased here, in consequence ofjjthe ground becoming dry and hard, a large acreage has been turned up in this district, especially lower down the coast at Uriti, the greater portion of which is in crop. Some land lately broken up, is, I understand, to be sown with turnip during the present month, If turnip growing proves a success, it is highly probable that a boilingdown establishment would pay in this neighborhood.

Lately Tenui has presented a rather more business appearance than usual, from a number of tennis hauling wool, passing through en route to Castle Point. Messrs Kenrick and Co.'s horse wagon has succeeded in taking from 14 to 1G bales to Castle Point. This must bo a disappointment to several prophetic croakers who foretold all manner of mishaps if this journey was attempted, It is to be hoped that there will soon be nine horse teams on this road, and that the bullocks will be relegated to their proper sphere, the butchers' shamblei.

There is a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed here that some steps are not being taken re the Mungapakeha road. Last summer a coach travelled through this district, but, I fear, owing to this road being in such a bad state, it will be some months before we are able to have this benefit again. Several persons are of opinion that a comparatively small amount of money, judiciously expended, would now suffice to make this road passable for a coach.