BLACKS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 942, 7 May 1880, Page 3

BLACKS.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Those of our farmers who are not engaged in putting in wheat for next year’s harvest, I notice are mostly engaged in digging and housing their potatoes and other root crops. These crops in quantity this year are much above the average, and as the price is very good, in fact too much so for the consumer— LC to L 7 per ton—the farmer has no cause to complain, taking into consideration his wheat with a ready market at 4a per bushel, oats at Is C I to 2s, barley 4s, and an almost unlimited market for straw in the shape of chaff, and the other quoted prices, the farmer must be looked upon as doing well. Topping all these again is the price of cattle, which is far and away above what has been ruling for a long time past. The price usually quoted for beef is 25s per cwt, but that price was more than reached on Monday last at Spain’s sale, when bullocks ranged from L 5 to LB, and cows about the same. Young medium draft mares were also in demand, the few offered fetching big money— L 29 and L3O each ; lighter sorts did not claim any attention. For the farm, with dwelling-house, 50 acres in all, L 4 per acre were offered but refused. It will therefore be seen, taking things all round, that confidence is felt in the district. 1 was much surprised when noting the large area of land that is now taken up in this district, and I thought had but the Railway Commissioners taken time to cast their eyes about, they would have been able to form a very different opinion of the district and its resources than they can now possibly do. On some of the farms some really substantial and handsome houses are being erected, further evidencing their worth and the confidence their proprietors have in the future of the district. In speaking of Blacks, it must bo understood to comprise Tiger Hill blocks, Spottis Hundred, Lauder blocks, and the Ida Valley; my preceding remarks have applied principally to the three former, regarding to and in the latter from what I can hear the onward inarch is quite as active. Within the past month nigh to 1001) acres have been applied for and taken up, and I shall be but little surprised to hear that every available section is taken up before long. With all—the what to my mind is general prosperity with the farming interest—there are some grumblers, but as these are of the class who would ; growl faith at being hung, I say take no notice of them. With reference

to the land laws and their administering, there are one or two just growls, and I would urge upon one and all

of all and every class, and every 'station to join in until such time that it is seen that the people are determined to have the grievances complained of, remedied. The one special growl, 1 allude to is the restriction that prevents a man from increasing his holding ; if he has once operated un der the deferred payment clauses of the Act. There are many men in this district who, when they first started farming, took up as low as 50 acre sections ; others again 100 acres and so on—for tho very simple reason that their means would not allow of them taking up larger areas. Well these men have so proved themselves good settlers that by industry and frugality they are now in a position to take up more land, but no, tho administrators of the law say, you have had yom opportunity, and as you did not then take up to the full extent, you must now suffer, and if you are not satisfied with what you have got let it be much or little, and you want more, you must go to some other country for you won’t get it here. This is virtually what is said, the consequence is, those who cannot help themselves stay and growl, while those who can, and who should be offered every inducement to stay, pack up their traps and seek pastures new. It is a fact patent to all that no man can improve his position on fifty or a hundred acres of land therefore something must be done to aid him in increasing his holding. The time could not bo more opportune th.au the present, just on the eve of Parliament ; and I would suggest that our member he called upon for his construction of the deferred payment clauses of the Act, and if he is at one wiih the district, to extort a''-promise' from him that he will not alone work for but obtain an alteration of the law accord : ngly. The interpretation put on the Act by the Waste Lands Board cannot possibly be the one the framers of the measure intended, an i it is high time the two were brought, in unison. Monday next is to be a red-letter day in the calendar of Bracks, and will celebrate tho opening of the traffic bridge across the Manuherikia. What with triumphal arches, the display of bunting, the roasting of a whole bullock, tho drinking of champagne by the elite, of beer by the hornyhanded, and the grand display of beauty and fashion, the whole to ire wound up with a grand ball, at which the devotees of Terpsichore will be able to display their figures in either the stately quadrille or tho merry waliz to their hearts’ content. Some little hitch occurred about the music, one local brass hand asking the modest sum of L‘2o for their services on the occasion, and it was thought of giving up the bail ; but wise counsel prevailed, anil it was decided to thank tho biazen instrumental gentlemen for thoir kindness, and to call into requisition all the local music so ns not to disappoint the ladies. The day’s proceedings are in the bauds of a C .mmittee well qualified for the duty, and that they will for their part bring tho whole affair to a successful termination, all who may be fortunate enough to attend may be fully assured of.