UNKNOWN

Dunstan Times, Issue 411, 4 March 1870, Page 3

UNKNOWN

(FROM OUR OWN OORR3S|PONI>I-NT. Qcijenstovn, March 1. ‘ I The late warm weather, winch so pro voked us and parched upalnioiteverythiug green, is now succoedtrt by cole winds ’and rain, and the face of the country seems to partake of quite a wintry like appearance. The snow is gradually accumulating upon the tops of the high ranges, and sharp touches of hoar frost are preva’ef|t in exposed situations, in many places it has attacked the potatoe crops,’the gri ?n tops Of which have been severely scorched. It is now ascertained beyond a doubt that the harvest is by no means an abundant one. The threshing machines toil nn-lis-putable tales of short crops, and except where the sowings wore made early: the yield is considerably below the eslimate. The fierce hit weather of a month jnast appears to have withered up the grain in the ear, which instead of being plum; jfc nd rounded is very much shrivelled. 'V.th respect, to wheat, 1 il.iuk the fact of :lit re being a short crop is rather an atvai tape than otherwise, we were decided’y pnVu- I dug more than wo could use ourselves oi ; S. lul away, so there is the probability tl:.:i'; the shortness in the yield will be made up I in price. It is the intention of a greet many of our farmers to lay down their pad • docks in grass and clover, and pay attention to the rearing of stock and dairying than growing crops of cereals. Of barley, there has been very little grown, there being no demand for this description of grain. In oats, the area sown was not so large as in former years, while the yield per acre is very much less. Potatoes and other root crops are not much in excess of local requirements, an < there is a considerable number of pigs in the hands of the fur tiers.

The crossing place of the Shotover is in an exceedingly dangerous state, in fa'ot it never was so bad before, especially for heavy traffic. A waggon laden with flour was stuck in the river on Saturday last, and had it not'boon for the powerful aid < f one of Mr. Aldrich’s double purchase crab winches used in that gentleman’s pile driving apparatus, 1 should have had a very serious loss to chronicle. It j will bo six weeks before the bridge is available for traffic, so we must content ourselves for that short time.

A very old and respected resident in this district has just gone the way of “ all esh, ” Mr. David Weaver who died at Cromwell on the 22nd instant, was interred in the cemetery .here on Frida}'last, his remains were followed to the grave by a large muster of the citizens, and by a procession of the brethren of the Masonic Order of the “ Lake*, Lodge of Ophir” of which Lodge the deceased was Past Worshipful Master, 1 see in the papers that the punts at the Nevis and Morven Ferries are to he sold by auction on the loth inst. It is to be hoped that, should they pass into other hands, the rates will he somewhat lowered, the present charges being extortionate in the extreme. I may say that, unless" this is the case, a company is to he started in Queenstown, who will place punts of their own on the river, and will carry the traffic, even at a loss. This step is deemed necessary to protect the interests of the district In mining matters there is not much to report, new discoveries being absolutely nil. The terraces on the Shotover still keep up their name for rich yields, and some of the tunnelling claims are paying fabulous dividends. The Nugget reef is to be worked by a joint-stock company, and machinery is to he placed upon the ground at once. From what I hear ( the specula' tion promises to turn out an exceedingly remunerative one.

A very narrow escape from fire occurred on the farm of Mr. E. Pritchard on Thursday last. While Mr. Cope’s machine was engaged threshing a Stack of oats a quantity of straw passed from the drum in flames, which were, however, quickly extinguished by those present. It is thought that some of the workmen must have dropped matches

on tlio stack, which becoming attached to one of the sheaves, took lire as tho straw passed round the drum. Visitors who have returned from witnessing your races speak highly of the handsome manher in which they were entertains iat Clyde. As to the meeting itself, that is universally considered as most excellent.