THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3331, 23 October 1873, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

ITpjper Taiehi, Pastoral affairs at this period of the year take the precedence off all other matters in this locality. The lambing is now fast drawing to a close on several of the stations, and shearing is announced to commence in the early part of next month. I regret to say that I do not anticipate a very high rate of percentage of lambs to report, owing to the severe weather experienced during the early part of the season. However, the lambing flocks have not suffered so badly, and, I think, will not fall very short of the annual rate. Of course, these remarks apply to The high price that has ruled for all descriptions of New Zealand wool during the past few years in the Home market has been instrumental in bringing about the introduction of a very bad system of management of the flocks generally, especially in this neighborhood. When wool was almost a drug in the London market the flockowners paid greater attention to their flocks in the growth of wool. Inferior fleeced sheep were drafted out periodically, and disposed of at any price. Had this admirable syst-.m of culling been continued for a few days longer, the danger would have been averted which now threatens to damage the credit of New Zealand wools. It is patpnf tp the eyes of any experienced person that if things arc allowed to go on unchecked in thp manner they have been for the last few years, the clay is looming in the distance when New Zealand wool will have lost its prestige in the eyss of the manufacturers. Quality is entirely disregarded—quantity is now the order of the day. The runs arc overstocked. Mongrels are allowed to graze side by side with superior fleeced sheep, without fear of interruption. The present sea»son will teach the flockowners a lesson. One instance of the great mistake of overstocking was experienced this season. Owing to the late spring the flocks suffered very much from want of feed in several parts of the district. In conclusion, I have only to remark that should a depression occur again in the wool market, the same as we experienced a few years ago, I hazard a prediction that New Zealand woolgrowera will feel the shock to a greater extent than any of the Australian producers. Weeds of sheep are allowed to roam at leisure instead of being drafted and cleared off the station.—The shearers and flockowners have not yet settled their little misunderstanding with regard to the shearing rates for the ensuing clip. A strike is talked of. The amalgamation system has brought about an entire change of programme, which, in my opinion, will only have a very short run before it is abandoned in despair. — Waikouaiti Herald. Maeuewhenua. - Warden Robinson held a Court here on the 14th instant. Among the applications disposed of was that of Messrs Borton and M’Master for an agricultural lease adjoining the township and close to a large area of auriferous land. The Mining Association took active steps in opposing this application from the first, as the granting of it would seriously affect the whole community.—Mr David Farquharson, on behalf of the Association, called on several witnesses, who clearly proved the ground on both sides of the spur within the application to bo highly auriferous; in fact it was from prospects obtained on the same leading spur which induced the present race proprietors to fiompletfi their races to the river so speedily, and wbiqh has cost thousands of pounds, and years of labor, to surmount, The Warden held the application over until next court day, for further evidence, at the same time intimating to the applicants that he could give them little hopes of it being granted.—The wet weather lately has been very favorable for sluicing operations, and some of the claims, thoroughly opened out, promise a good washing up ; one claim in particular, I have from very good authority, is yielding L 5 per week per man in the boxes, several chains from the face of the claim. The large races recently finished are improving very fast as they silt up and become tighter. The Golden Hill Company have just completed a large dam, which is very centrally situated, and holds a tine supply of water. The Mosquito Company purpose constructing two very large dams, which will cover ■ over teii acres of ground, at an average 'depth of twenty - 'fret wb6fi fiqiy^le^d, 1 'b'l|b'h X ffedeVstand tan pc done at a comparatively small out lay, by sluicing the body of the dam wall from the sides of the hilj. an idea which some of the pew arrives have given us, and i\\ my opinion a good one, When one of them is finished it will quickly add to our population, as there is any quantity of good ground about. This will give good returns to the shareholders, independent of the race letting out the water by the eight hour system, besides giving larger quantities when required.—Business is very brisk here at present, especially with the publicans, which, from my experience on the diggings, is by no means a bad sign. Several lots of gold have been sent to Oamaru lately, chiefly obtained from tail-boxes, by some, and sold to meet current demands ; and when those parties who have had their claims fairly opened out wash up, I am confident it will prove there are high wages to ko made by those who chouse to be steady and industrious.-—The railway lino to Harris’s, at the Macrcwhenua River, Waitaki, is being pushed on rapidly, as there are few obstacles to contend with in the formation of it, the country being very level; in all probability it will be the fiist line completed in the Northern district. The Oninaru folks will then be able to visit us a little oftener, as in our opinion they are entitled to do. Surely the Boating Company, and also the timber merchants, must ere this be realising the fact that we are doing them some good, and which 1 am confident ere long will help the district at large. —jiArrailgtimeuta are being puterud intu for 0)4 construction of the Otekaike Knee, and when the line of race is properly levelled and the party formed, the work will be commenced after the shearing. We would then like to hear of the Hon, Robert Compbull offering a handsome reward for say the first fiOOounces extracted from any portion of his late purchase.— Norik Otago Times. In Yankton county, North Carolina, lately, John Halcomb shot bis wife dead and thou killed himself.’ Jealousy was the cause. ' Mr John 'S. Rheus, F.S.A., lias discovered, at Wilmington, Sussex, a huge representation of a man carved out ! ,f tllP chalk °h the side of a liilj, so" as to appear upright at a distance. The figure is 240 feet high, and in the attitude of the Colossus of Rhodes, with an immense staff in each hand, and is apparently the effigy of a deity presiding over commercial transactions. It i» close in the neighborhood of Caesar’s landing place, and if fenced round would form ah arena ex&cfly answering to the ancient British deity of sacrifice mentioned by both Ciesar'ana Stabo, and in' Which it' is supposed lulman victims were enclosed and burnt.