THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3431, 19 February 1874, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Riverton.— Will it be believed that the people of Riverton are asked to pay the burse hire of the Governor ? We confess we could not credit the statement when -we heard it made, but subsequent enquiry proved it to be correct. We wonder what manner of men his Excellency imagines reside in this district ? He first treats us with contempt, snubs us, rejects our proff< red hospitality, “aits upon” our well-meant demonstration of loyalty, and thou coolly asks us to pay L 6 5s for the four horses that carried him away ! What next ’—The following telegram was forwarded by the Superintendent to Mr T. Daniel, M.P.C. :Is there any suitable building at Riverton for immigration depot that couldj be purchased at a moderate sum ?” The following w,.s the reply sent :—“ Not a house empty, nor one suitable.”—House accommodation s as scarce in Riverton at present as at the Auckland Islands, There is not a building <>f any description suitable for a dwelling procurable for money 7, love, or any other consideration. Through the scarcity of accomdation many are being put to great straits; and no doubt that scarcity militates against the progress of the place. —By the last Californian mail, Mr T. Daniel, immigration officer, despatched nominations for thirty souls—all from the country districts and relatives of the nominators. A number of gentlemen resident in the district have abo sent to their friends in the Home country for agricultural laborers.- Harvesting wid be general in the Western District in the early part of the week. It was kept back by the very rainy weather. A curious fact regarding the crops is that in the oats and barley fully one-third has whitened and hardened, but the grain is nothing like full size, and will go off in the tailings. A great deal of the crops, on account of the unfavorable weather, will not pay the cost of harvesting.— ‘ Star. ’ Riverton.— Harvesting is now quite general in the Limestone Plains district. The crops are really excellent, but labor is exceedingly scarce, notwithstanding the high rate of wages prevailing—namely, 10s per day with keep. It. the One Tree Point district it is expected that the crops, principally oats, will fall to the sickle during the present week. In fact, it may be said that reaping is now quite general, that labor is extremely scarce, and wages proportionately high, throughout the entire district of .Southland.—The Commissioners for the classification of land in the Southland district resume their labors on ednesday next, and we are informed that they expect to be in a position to furnish their completed report in about a month from that date.— 4 Times.’