NOTES FROM SOUTHLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1553, 9 May 1887, Page 2

NOTES FROM SOUTHLAND

♦ The farmers are dow busy threshing out their grain, and with reference to the yield and the weather daring last harvest, everyone aeemß satisfied. JVhat they complain of la the miserably low price now (ff ring for oats and grass seed, both of which are extensively grown here, and those of oar farmers who have not as yet gone m for mixed farming, bat depend entirely on their bit of crop, will I am afraid In too many instances find it hard to poll through. This part of the country also seems to be overstocked with cattle, sheep and bo 898, and as a result beef ia to be bought, retail, at leas than 2d per pound and mutton for Id, while dairy cattle have fallen m price considerably. Ia ray last letter I stated that the price given for milk by our several dairy factories wai foarpanoe per gallon, bat not finding a ready market for their oheese, I understand the prioe has been lowered to twopence halfpenny, with tha exception of one or two Companies who are paying threepence, Moat of the shareholders m these Companies are composed of dairymen, and consequently the reduction was was agreed to without a murmur. - I understand, however, that the Aparima Dairy Factory Company, whloh ia situated near Riverton, ia now contributing a small part of a shipment to India, from the varloui dairy factories Jan.'Sonthland, with a view to tmfc the market there, and ahould thiß undertaking prove successful the Dairy Faotory business In New Zealand would again be;;carried on with renewed enorgy. Mining m the Longwood eeema to have had a cheote for a while ah anyrate. Oar Prutpectlng Aeeoclatlon whloh was formed some time ago with such blast of trumpetß, are heard of no more, and the diamond i drill ao kindly lent them by ■Government has a'ter boring 55 feet, been hang up And many of the Riverton and Orepuki people call thh taet'ng the Loagwood. Religion m and about Riverton seems to be m a very low state, and notwithstanding . the fact that man has been created a religoua animal as well as the place being m a poaition to keep going II hotelp, it la uevertheleaa a fact that two of her ministers have roantly been atirved out, leaving only tbe Rev Mr Wallis, late of your town, and the captain of the Salvation Army (female), who have made a vow, that bo locg aa there are wild cattle m the Longwcod forest and cookies on the beach they will stick faithfully to their respective flecks. Last week I took a stroll round the deferred payment settlera at Far Bush and Yellow Bluff, and to give you an idea how farming pays here I could not do better than rep&at the words of a settler who commenced there oome three years ago, he having oome here from Winslow and was, I believe, best known there aa 41 Harry, the butcher," or " the guard," He m t*ie course of conversation, pointed out to me the uncultivated portion of hla section, remarking that had it all been left ia that stcte he would then have leaa oauae to lament hia loss of hard earned money. Mr Bell, another settler from Winalow, gave similar accounts of this locality but so far as I oould gather I believe these two Aabat toniasa to be as well off aa their neighbors. The Otautarj Flour Mills, formerly owned by Mr H. Moffit have now fallen into the hands of Mr William Saundera, a gentleman well-known m your diatrlot, who has scoured a large quantity of wheat which will enable him to keep the mill goiog night and day for several months to come, and as there is a never-failing , supply of water power the expenses must be comparatively etnal', Since Mr Saandera has oommenoed operations here the idea hitherto prevailing that good floor could not be made ia tjje Western distriot without a mixture from the Lakes or some other pait north of Inveroargill has entlrelyjvaniabedj and the bakers who are supplied with this Otautau made flour pronounce it to be equal if not superior to any other brand ia Nsw Zealand, and ever since Mr Saundera has done oar gristing my wife haa no. difficulty m making good bread. Otautau, ps I Bald m a former communication, Is like moat plaoes In Southland noted for its many hotels. Juat fancy a small pace lik i thiß having four hotels apparently doing remarkably well, while there is not a person la the locality poßeaaed with courage eaough to start a takery. The amount of bread consumed here ia considerable and it is brought by train from Invercargill and sold for 7d a 41b loaf. This ia surely carrying coal to Newcastle with a veugrunce. Ia conclusion I will venture to say that there is a capital opening here for a baker, but he moat be a good hand, otherwise the Inveroargill bakers would run him off. Should your town be over-stocked with chemists and druggie a I oould safely recommend them to visit Riverton where there ia a good opening for one. Southland, May 2nd, 1887.

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