Awaroa.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 333, 18 October 1907, Page 3

Awaroa.

(from our own corrfsp ndrnt.) The contiououi rains of the cast two montbti bas been vpry disastrous to the farmers, all w rk being at a standstill, consequently ail crops will be very fate this season. A good many small patches of potatoes have been planted, but in many cases the seed has rotted in the ground, owing to so much wet weather, aud will have to be replanted. Some of the oldest natives tell me that this has been the wettest spring for over 40 years Still they predict we are going to have a dry summer. Lei us nil hope so. There is a lot of bush coming down in the valley, and surrounding district, and unless "8 get a fine summer it will mean a big less to the settlers, as a bad burn means being put back for two years or more. There is a great scarcity of bushmen this season, and some of the best men are getting as much as £2 per week and fuund, and I heard of one man being offered that price but refused, saying he expected more. I don’t think he was looking for graft. If labour keeps so high, it will be almost impossible for th 3 bu ; h Bettier to get bis bushduwn.as at anything like a f%ir price per acre, the contractor cannot pay such wages and make his contract pay. I km w <f Several settlers who have had great difficulty in getting their bush felled this season, and several others who would have felled larger areas if good bu -hmen could be proem ed. The grass is coming away nicely and if we could only get a few days sun n- w and again it would be hard to kep down. There is a great flush of grass in the spring and requires careful stocking, if not it will get away on the settler, and a lot of feed will thus be wasted The stock generally are looking well considering the trying time they are having with Vet weather. Ewes and lambs are suffering most, and in some 'cases there are a good many deaths. The sheltered valleys and limestone rocks are a great help to to the ewes lambing, the ground being dry and warm, and it is surprising how much rough weather the lambs will stand if they only get a few hours sun and warmth at fiat. This would be one of the finest sheep countries in New Zealand if we had a less rainfall. The roads and (racks aie almost imparsablo and nothing can be done a' present to improve them. It is to be hoped our County Council and Gov ernment Engine r will get as much work done as possible early in the fimmer and give tha roads a chance to consolidate before next winter sets in. If not, with the increasing traffic every year it will be impossible tn get through.