SOUTHLAND.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2131, 5 March 1870, Page 2

SOUTHLAND.

[from our own correspondent.] Since my last letter to you tilings have been so awfully dull that really I don’t know how to begin the present one. The principal ingredients of our daily life during the last month or so down here have been mud and moisture —the latter in the very tangible form of endless rain. It rains now enough to drown in a few hours anything but an amphibious country. The pa, tural result has, of course, followed such saddening influences. People feel dispirited and downhearted, shrink within themselves, suspend their work, and think of only one thing—the possibility of selling out and quitting a Province which scarcely - comes within the category of the “habitable parts’ of the earth.” The poor farmers are especially crestfallen, erstwhile they were up in their stirrups at the prospect of a full harvest, bursting barns, and plethoric pockets.

Now, alas ! many of their brightest hopes have dissolved in reeking vapor at the moment of their realisation, been washed out literally by perpetually descending torrents, and .blown to the four winds of heaven by successive gales. Much good grain, the result of much severe toil, is, although ripe for the sickle, lying rotting where it grew, and some which was successfully cut still stands sprouting in the stock. I have heard more than one fanner declare they will never try wheat again, nor oats either, except for private use. Root crops also suffer, the potatoes especially being largely affected by what is commonly known as “the disease.” What we want here in the way of cultivation is some description of crop which may be grown, matured, and garnered independent of the weather, or which would even be benefited by plenty of moisture. Such, happily, appears to exist in our midst, and what is of equal, if not of greater importance, it promises to pay better than cereals without their attendant risk in a climate so capricious as this. I allude to the native flax, to which many, I might almost say all of our farmers are turning a considerable portion of their attention. Observation of the plant in its wild state shows that it grows most luxuriantly in situations where it has ample water, and yet drainage enough to prevent stagnation, and as a few open ditches would impart these favoriHP., conditions to almost any section of land here, the probability is that the jthorminm ten ax will speedily drive from the field all competitors. As a slight compensation for the loss of fhuch corn and many tubers, * the pleasure of looking upon \ and cattle «£ne, condition,for* althoiighnve have had; too mudjxofiboihjvrad and rain, the atmosphere, with the' exception of A day or two, has continued remarkably mild, producing a fine growth upon all grasses and clove Vs. Leaving rustic subjects, 1 might say a few words upon industrial and commercial enterprise, did either visibly exist at the present moment, unfortunately both are just now dormant. The fact is that commercial circles are as sensitive to “ atmospheric disturb- . ances ” as the mercurial tube itself, and just now energy is below zero. The principal occupation of our shopkeepers and merchants lately has been to stand at their doors and frown upon the unpropitious elements, varied by an occasional interchange of constitutional grumbling, when two or more of them happen to get within hail of each other, or when a stray customer happens to look in. Several of the flax mills have kept whirring away pretty constantly, but others, built on low sites for the benefit of water, have been for weeks in a chronic state of “drowned out.” Great confidence, however, is still entertained of the result of the manufacture, and before long we will be able to ship large quantities of excellent fibre —indeed there is already a talk of freighting a vessel from the Bluff with flax alone. Of the Longwood diggings little can be said. The great ground-sluicing and water race company have suspended operations in toto, and them and planlj are in the market for sale. ’The' cause of this lamentably retrogressive proceeding is not on, but from misuudelstandings amongst the directors. The Orepuki diggers have fairly assumed the characteristics of a “settled population.” There has been neither augmentation nor diminution of their numbers to any perceptible extent for some time. They have not burst into a “jeweller’s shop,” as your folks are said to have done at Cromwell; but they are working away steadily, making regularly good wages, which is perhaps, on the whole, better. The “ solid mass of gold ” business is in reserve for those who have the pluck to develop the Longwood Ranges—a work well begun by the conftgny above alluded to, and which some of Dunedin reefers would do well to come down and complete. Our annual races datne off last week. By good luck the .weather-was fine'during the two days they lasted, and the course was in capital order. The concourse of spectators was, however, rather limited, although nearly everybody in town shut up and went. The accident of a day or two’s sunshine was, however, too valuable to country-people to be thrown away for mere pleasure; consequently few of them joined in the sport. The best horses on the ground—Lady Ellen, Young Nelly Grey (both Pollock’s), and Banjo (Howell’s) —belonged to our own province, although hailing from the border next your’s. The running in several of the events was really good, and the stakes only secured by genuine racing. The whole proceedings, indeed, were remarkably free flora those jockey tricks which so frequently spoil good sport and disgust the contributing public. A little mare from your side of the Mataura (Beeswing) looked remarkably like a winner when she stripped, although a trifle too fat. .She ran game, but could not hold the pace with her leggier companions. The Maiden Plate, won by Duchess, and the Hurdle Stakes, taken by Hewitt’s Fire Eater, were the only prizes taken across the border; and now, I believe, several of our winners have gone over to try their luck at your district meetings. I hope they may fetch away some of your spare nuggets. Politically there is nothing stirring, not even the officials, who are rarely indeed to be seen, at home orr abroad. The people sit still in suspense as to jirobable future, and Fumra pkesentibut; umjor. The Government! .if fjbqh tkere still be, hides away abon£ jipce&es of the offices and makes no sign. Againyand again have complaints, been, uttered of Wstlessuess, their uselessness, &o , but,hitherto., no answer has been vouchsafed. How this state of things is to last heaven r^H v knows ; but certainly King Log has reigned long enough, and it would lie a positive relief now to have a change of any kind, even if it was a little tyrannical. The idea of reunion to Otago lost much of its horror to many of its opponents, who would now regard the speedy consthnmation of the fact as a positive blowing, provided Otago would at once supply US with a littf&'reAdy money, and free us of the incubus of kn impotdul Government. , '