Ida Valley.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 365, 7 May 1903, Page 5

Ida Valley.

(From our own Oorresondent.) WEATHER. A fine drizzling rain has been falling this last twenty-four hours, which will do a lot of good, although late. CROPS. The main bulk of the crops are in stack, but there are still a few paddocks of stooks yet. As a rule, the crops have been very good, considering the dry weather in the early part of the season. It seems to me that the season is getting later yearly, as it used to be a rare thing for any crops to be out later St Patrick's Day. The M'Adie Bros.' threshing mill has made a start, and .is likely to have the Valley to itself. There are some fair crops of turnips, and stock are in good condition. Ida Valley farmers have had a very successful three or four years of it, as is evidenced by the many substantial homesteads, and improvements effected in that time. RABBITS. There is a great bustle in the rabbit industry just now, the roads having quite a busy appearance with the many waggons and other traps conveying them to the railway station. There are two rabbit buyers here—Black and Co. and Tonkin and 00. I hear that the latter firm are getting far and away the most rabbits. The price in the Valley ie 5d per pair. STOCK. One of the largest stock sales ever held up here took place at Bough Ridge lately. There were about 17,000 sheep, resides numerous cattle and horses, and everything in the way of sheep that could stand on its legs, both old and young, brought big prices. A good many small mobs also have been railed direct to Burnside: It is most surprising Where all the fat stock I comes from round about Ida VaHey, as a very large number of fat sheep go to Burnside yearly. SCHOOL HATTERS. A meeting of the householders was held to receive the report of the retiring School Committee, and elect a new one. I understand there were only five in attendance, and as a result the old committee keep their seats. There is ■ very little interest takeu in school affairs, and it is a difficult matter to raise a committee at all. THE RAILWAY. The line is now nearing completion on the Poolburn side of the I ill. There is.only one cutting, I believe, to finish, and one of the tunnels. The piers for the viaduct are finished, and a substantial piece of work they are Between 60 and 70 men were shifted from here to the Ophir side of the hill last week. It has been a real boon to the business people and settlers of the district, some of the settlers having as many as 4 and 5 horses at work. Horses are being discharged as the various cuttings are finished. There is now on'y the erection of the viaduct, the finishing of the tunnel, and the remaining cutting to do, when, I presume, the raits will be laid. The coach from Alexandra to Ida Valley as a rule is crowded with passengers.