SOUTHLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2900, 16 February 1893, Page 2

SOUTHLAND.

(VKOM OUR OWN COBREBK>NMSNT.) | Harvesting haa now commenced, and ihe weai her is lovely. Tha oat crop on , the ridges shows signs of having guff-red from the long spell of dry weather late in the spring, but on reclaimed swamp? I and river fluls che yield will be above the , average. 'The quantity ot wheat is small as usual, and there is supposed to be ; more or less of it injured by the frosts at | the new year. The grass seei crop, which was sown in good order, was not a Vbry good one, but notwithstanding all that, we don't expect a gre»t rise in the price of seed, owing to the merchant* being da\\ of it from last year. Potatoes are likely to be scarce next spring. Those who made a living by growing them have none in this year, and what was planted are mostly spiled by the frost. The fruit crop is very pveliy, owin? to i the late frost »t soring time—no plums nor cherries to *>p*ak of. The turnip crop wherever you go is looking splendid, and : I suppose there is more in this year than ever. This is a good* thing, as nearly : everyone is fully stocked with sheep, so i much so thafc there is a scarcity of feed just now ; but this will be got over as soon as the harvest is in, and now the freeeing works have started the country will be relieved somewhat. Although I live not bo far away from the new goldfield (Wils m's river) you in Ashburton may know about as much of it as I do. However, 1 may say that there are several of my neighbours there holding claims on the line of reef, who all assure me that the reef is right; and, judging from the fact that there are five publicans! licenses granted for the place, it inclines one to believe there is something there worth looking after. Settlement on the land is still going on here at a great rate, and people are still mad after land. A great deal of freehold land is also changing hands at a good price, up to £8 an acre. The Gladfield estate, 15,000 acres, has nearly all been sold in small farms at from £3 10s per acre to £6. The Ringway Estate, 6000 acres, belonging to Sir John Roberts and Co., which adjoins the Gladtiuld, is now for sale, which will readily be taken up at from £4 to £9 an acre. 1 don't hear much of the coming election ; but I suppose that old Mack will be opposed for Wallace again by the Doctor and Mr flursr. It is also aatd that Mr VV. Saunders (son of Mr Alfred Saunders) and Mr Allen Carmichael, as well as Mr J. 0. Ellice, are going to stand, but I don't think it is like'y Mr Carmichael will oppose Mr Mackintosh', who is his father-in-law. At the time of writing it is raining heavtiu hard, the very thing that was wanted for the pastures. The small birds have dowe more harm this year than ever. February 13.