BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 878, 14 February 1879, Page 3

BLACKS.

—o—- ■ Harvesting has now fairly commenced in • this district, and should the present favour* ' able weather continue a more bountiful harvest could not be desired. As can only bo • expected some of the oat crops are light, • whilst others again are extremely good ; but • taking them throughout, all in all, they are beyond the average, and consumers may reasonably expect that the high rates that ; have ruled for the past two years will not he maintained. This, however, will be no 1 loss to the growers, as at a reduced rate the quantity consumed will be greater than when prices ranged to famine rates as ’ five shillings, and in some instances six i shillings per bushel retail, may fair'y be styled famine rates. I particularly noticed where the crops were good —not alone was the straw good but the ears weie well filled, I and the gram fine and plump. To the moat casual observer it is plainly to be seen, however, that the system of farming pur* ■ sued is of a very rough and ready style, not alone is the ground prepared n ughly, but very little care has been bestowed on the seed, consequently those results obtained by the exercise of care in every 1 ranch cannot be expected. Vet, taking all things into consideration, that the distiict is but young, that the most of the ground is new, \ and that tbe farmers have had all their work to do in fencing, building, aud tha thousand and one other things necessary in opening up new country the results are favourable, and highly creditable to our yeomen population. The election of a flour mill in tbe district has had its good effects, as is apparent in the wheat crops. In Ida Valley there are some fields of wheat that w ill favourably compare with any in the Province—this may be saying a great deal, but none who have seen them will accuse me of overstating it-- they are exceptionally good, more especially those sown in 'ho autumn. It was smt gen. rally known that autumn is tbe proper season for sowing wheat in this district, but this year’s experience will doubtless be followed largely in the future. WhiM speaking of wheat and referring to the flour mill I must, perforce say a word or two of the mill, and nocessarily of the spirited proprietor Mr J. C. Jones. The mill is built on the Spottis Creek, by the side of the road, and close to the bridge on the main Dunedin and Clyde road ; the outer walls are composed entirely of a beautifu’ Hue stone, lime pointed, with #n iron i oof ; it has three floors above t e sunsce, and an under one, in which the motive power—a Letfel’s turbine wheel—is fixed ; this is propelled by water conducted , to it by a race, which takes its rise from the Spottis Cieek, about a mile and a half above the mill. The supply of water is a p'entiful one, ami as the race courses j lb: on hj the freehold, secured by Mr Jones I adj ining the mill, it can be utilized for irj rigatiug as well ns driving the wheel. Tbe I machinery comprises two pairs of siones, I besides smutter and drescer, and the other necessary appliances for cleaning the grain, the whole of the best and newest description end splendidly rilled up. In fact, the who'e of the establishment, whether viewed from without or within, is highly creditable and points to the architect and genera! giiperviser of the whole work, viz., the owner Mr Jones, as being a master of his business. With the exception of Mr Naylor, on Spottis Hundred, and the Messrs M‘lntosh, of Ida Valley, who have M'Goriuick’s leapers and binders, the whole of the farmers have Reid and Gray’s n-upci s, the which do good wo !;, but >‘or speed, clean cutting, and finished work M ‘Cormick's machine decidedly bears off the palm. The only objection to the latter is the binding wire ; but I think the dav is not far distant when that will he sot over. Mr Jones is geUing into the district a steam tun -.her. This will be a great convenience to the farmer.