NOTES FROM SOUTHLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1320, 9 November 1885, Page 2

NOTES FROM SOUTHLAND.

(By a Corresponded, ) Winker is now over in Southland, but, agricultural opeiations having been delayed during the months of August and September by wet weather, farmers are still busy completing thier sowing. As a result of this lateseed-time wesball again, probably, see harvesting in progress at mid-winter. The late nor’jvesters, which were unusually atrong for this part of the country, have dried up our boggy roads and very much improved the condition of our low-lying lauds. We had very violent gales of wind here on October 29, 30, 31, and November I, and it will be Interesting to learn if Ashburton was invaded by the same stormy element on those days. These gales were the heaviest 1 have yet expert-

enoed in Southland, but, still, they were only what an Ashburton farmer would re* gard as gentle breezes. They were quite bad enough it is true for the uninsured, but I heard of no houses being unroofed, nor churches upset, nor freehold land oast upon the bosom of the ocean. There was plenty of rain here during the early spring but for some reason which it is difficult to discover, vegetation has no thriven with its accustomed vigor. Young grass sown in the autumn is less forward than usual, and the old pastures ate backward. Lambing is now over, and shearing will commence as soon as arrangements can be made with shearers with regard to price. At present shearers object to 12s 6d a

hundred offered, and it is unlikely that any of the man will take work in the sheds at that price. Personally I suould be vary sorry to see any material reduction in the rate of wages, but 1 fear a modification of present demands mast be made —not, perhaps, to the extent suggested by the leading squatters, but still some* thing substantial. A meeting of the principal fiockmasters was held some days ago to discuss the rates for shearing. Mr Gardiner, of Birchwood, was the only one of the assembled magnates who displayed ' anything like a liberal and comprehensive 1 view of the matter He suggested that i

the non-success of many of their agricultural and pastoral undertakings was not due so mqch to high wages as to extortionate charges for transit and sale. My principle is “ to live and let live,” and, as it has been very truly said, “ many bauds make light work,” 1 fail to see why every man in the land, from the bishop to the village blacksmith, or indeed, I may say, “ frorq h'oa who gits on the throne to those who go down to the mill,” should not be called upon to bear a share of the present depression. If we go in for retrenchment it should be equitably adj irttad. Lawyers, doctors, auctioneers, oankers, commission agents, civil servants, and even newspaper proprietors, (as well •i (how engaged in agriculture! work,

must put their shoulders to the wheel, and do their utmost to dispel the cloud of hard times. I cannot understand how all kinds of goods can now be carted from the Bluff to Invercargill by road, a distance of 20 miles, at a lower rate than by rail Is it due to horse work being cheapened by one half while the wages of our civil servants remain as they were in the most prosperous days of the colony, or can it be that onr railways are a huge commercial failure? Horae feed is certainly cheap, so too are food, clothing, and all other necessaries of life, and carters and ploughmen are receiving the utmost the farmers ctfh afford to ray, but, while the salaries of the civil servants remain unaffected, I must protest against the attempt to harshly reduce the wages of the working men. However, as an old colonist, I feel that out of these evil days good may come, and that, too, before many days have passed. —Since I commenced this letter, yesterday, we have had a very heavy fall of snow, completely changing the aspect of the country and, I fear, doing much harm to stock owners. The sudden change in the weather—snow lying a foot deep on the low lands and much deeper on the hills—has prevented me visiting the newly discovered gold field at Longwood I will, however, write you on the subject at the first opportunity, and in the meantime commend an excellent report appearing in the Western Star to your perusal. P.E.