FARMING PROSPECTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2104, 1 February 1908, Page 2

FARMING PROSPECTS.

THE DRY SPELL

CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY

in rievr of the long-continued dry spell in the town and country districts, a reporter made inquiries : a to tlie actual position of affairs and the outlook in general. The first person seen was a stock agent, who stated that at the stock sale on Thursday, things were very slack in the sheep line, there being a drop of about 3s per head, owing to the lack of rain and the consequent shortage of feed. Last year there was plenty of water in the country creeks, but- this year they arc almost dry, and along the coast some have dried -up entirely, and not a speck of grass is to be seen along the roads, and thero is absolutely no water about. It is stated that coming down the coast route the drovers are having a rather bad time keeping the sheep out- of the salt water. If the dry spell continues, it will be very hard on the farmers who had burnt their bush and sown grass-seed, as without the rain they would not have any turnips for their lambs. It requires three < r four days’ steady rain to do any good now. A slight shower fell, but a great deal is needed before any appreciable improvement takes place, and if it does not come soon the position will be serious indeed. Good stock is in rather -a -bad condition, unci without a decided downpour within tlie next few weeks, some of them at least- will die. Big mobs of sheep are at present on the road to Opotiki, en route to Cambridge, and some of them are leaving on account of tbo dry weather here. An auctioneer spoko in -a similar strain. If the dry weather keeps up, 'lie said-, down go the p-rices for stock, but if rain comes, tas present indications point,• there will be an immediate rise in prices, as a lot- of the farmers -are not .filled up- yet. If there is no rain within about a month, the position will be serious for sheepfariuers and graziers. They are short of -water -all round the flats, but there is splendid feed in the Motu, where there have been occasional showers. A man in that district said yesterday that ho was right enough for six weeks, but )f there was no rain after that-, he would have to quit his stock at a sacrifice. A -lot of sheep -are going to the Auckland district, where they find a better market-. Our informant understands that things are fairly dry in the Whakatan© and Opotiki districts. He heard yesterdav morning that a tremendous lot bf sheep were going there now. Very small offerings have been coming forward at the sales for some time, as own ms ■ire hanging on as Jong as they i.-js-sibly call, in hope of rain, and not wishing to sell at a heavy' loss. He did not- think that the condition of affairs would have a- great effect on the townspeople, although limy would bo affected to some extent. Another person said that at the saleynrds on Thursday sheep could not be sold; they were at a very lo v value on account of tho dry weather, and the position will soon become serious, for the stock can ifrlier be bought nor sold. An auctioneer was seen just us a few raindrops came pattering down. “Yon don’t call that a- shower, do Von ?” lie tasked. “We want three or four days’ solid. Things,” lie continued, ' “arc at a standstill in tlie auctioneering lino, an-d > the stock agents -are doing _ nothing, waiting for rain, before business can move for them. The outlook is beginning to become serious, especially in rlie country near tlie sea. Further bark, tlangaroa is looking very well, and the same may be said of as far down as Wairoa. Feed is abundant, a d there is plenty of water in the creeks. There was a. heavy shower at Id-angaroa yesterday, and more seem c-d p rob able. Intermittent showers fell also at Wha-tututu on Tliursdiy. Sheep wore perfectly unsaleable at the salcyards oil Thursday, and .infilling like their market value was realised. 1 can tell you,” continued the auctioneer, “that creeks lever known to be dry before are dry ibis year.’’ He also had something to sa.v about the water supply. He complained of tho ehaiige'ableiieos of the pressure, for the otlier night he was unable to wash a buggy, and yet, said lie, they are talking’ about passing it. They will want a- bigger pressure than that before passing it. A drought would not affect the townspeople so much; the farmer.", would be the only people feeling it, and mostly those on the flats. With regard to harvesting, the dry weather has been a boon, -and prolnby such shearing and harvesting jyeatlier has not _ occurred previously, and wool, which was not in until -May last year, is all in now. Practically all the shearing is done and the wool is in. As to grass-seed-, the bulk of it has been cut without a shower. This is a phenomenal state of tilings here. Local chaff is as good as the Canterbury article, and the grass-seed is in splendid condi- j tjou,