A DESERTED VILLAGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 796, 20 April 1910, Page 8

A DESERTED VILLAGE.

IN THE SHEEP COUNTRY. '.Population around Weber is reported by a correspondent of' the Dannevirke ,/ ''Evening News" to lie' decreasing, and . the place is becoming, ho says, simply one great sheep walk. The township of ■ .Herbcrtvilie, oiit oil the coast/by Capo Turnagain, reminds this writer of Goldsmith's description of his "Deserted Yil- . lage." On all sides there are empty •houses- and- shops'.long- since vacated, . with broken windows. At one time Her- , liertville' was rather a busy place. When the surrounding country was clothed, in bush'there was plenty of employment, and money was plentiful, but the bush has all.been felled and vanished, and'tho men have had to move elsewhere in search of employment. The sheepfarmers round tho district have got : all their places into grass and can sit down now , and watch the wool grow, requiring very little labour except at shearing time. All round Weber there is no cultivation of any kind. With the exception of a few turnips for sheep, settlers do not even grow their own potatoes or chaff. It is all carted out from Dannevirke. The nearer you got to tl)e coast the better tho land is.

'. As showing the suitableness of tho simoon for red clover,'it may bo mentioned that Mr. J. Winter, of Swnnnanoa, l ln s secured tho good yield of 21 bags off 6even acres.