LOWER VALLEY NEWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7061, 21 January 1902, Page 2

LOWER VALLEY NEWS.

(From our own Co-respondent)

We arc being favoured at present with a spoil of what one would term fair weather, with an occasional extremely hot day, which is enabling the farmers to get on with haymaking and harvesting, which is proceeding apace. , The earlier part of the season was of such a humid nature and v.ry favourable to dry and light soils, that the oat crop, on a whole, is a very fair average crop. Many farmers cut the oats "on the green side" for chaff, also on account of the wind, particularly on the western side of the Lake. The turnips are looking extra well, and the pastures are maintaining their verdancy more so on the low lands. Potatoes arc turning out well. Altogether I think the fanners have not any reason to be dissatisfied. Smut is showing a little in the oats, but nothing of importance.

Mr Matthews, of Waiorongomai, has just added to his already well-appointed /lock of stud rams, another splendid specimen of the Eonincy species, 2-tooth, purchased from Mr Wheeler, of Halcombo, by whom it was imported, and took second or third prize at the last Palnierston Show.

Mr Matthews has commenced to despatch his rams to their different destinations, already some six hundred have been ordered.

1 Mr E. Holt has leased fourteen acres of laud from Mr 11. Wilkinson, Lands End, and has got the timber on the ground ready to build. I hear Mr W. Hume purposes selling the Government a portion of his estate, " Tauanui." Mr A. Matthews has gone to Rotorua to try tho efficacy of tho hot springs. Mill. A. Matthews has now the management of the Waiorongomai affairs, and bids fair to follow in his father's footsteps as a skilful station, manager. Dipping is completed at Waiorongomai, and the fact of these sheep being so clean and thoroughly exempt from ticks, speaks volumes for the dip used. Mr Jim Douglas paid us a visit in uniform ere his departure for the Transvaal. His old comrades gave him a hearty send off and wished him every success and a safe return. Ho looks well, and evidently camp h fo agrees with him. He is well pleased with the treatment at the camp,