Carnarvon.

Manawatu Herald, 12 February 1895, Page 3

Carnarvon.

(from our own correspondent.) THE WEATHER aince my last has been peculiar. Fint the heat was oppressive with a dull atmosphere— even the moon at night, up till she was nearly full, gave no light. Then came the windy Thursday which has done so much damage all over the colony, but happily the scene has changed and we have had copious falls of rain which has changed the appearance of the country from its brown barren looks to the richest verdancy very pleasing to every eye. A casual observer passing through the country and seeing all its varied beauties must think that we are the most happy and contented of mortals, but we are not, for one chief reason, because we cannot make money. We have no rich Coolgardie mine to fall back on and must solely depend on our products which have fallen so low as to be unpayable. SHEEP AND CATTLE especially store sheep and cattle have receded to a very low figure and it is only freezers that can be quitted to any advantage. I saw a splended cut of 700 fat lambs— the very best it is said that ever left the district— leaving the Carnarvon Estate along with a mob of fat wethers last week. These were bought by Mr Williams and I was told that these sales were necessary to make room for the 6000 increase of lambs now weaned. It appears, however, that the energetic Manager of this property, Mr Langdon, does not intend to let feed go to waste nor to miss a chanoe of making money for his Coy., as I was told he has just purchased 1000— nearly fat — wethers, which in a month or so will give a profit of probably 100 per cent as freezers. 1 also noticed a fine mob of full mouthed ewes leaving this place and bought by Mr Wilson of Moutoa. TIME FOR THE HALF-HOLIDAY towns seems to be a question hard to settle, but you will think that it cannot interest country workers, yet it does interest them mightily and they look on the Enactment, which . has* brought about this agitation, as the most one sided measure ever passed by any legislative body. Do country workers want a half-holiday once a week less than workers in towns? Certainly not. But in towns the several classes of workers on account of their proximity can present a united phalanx to bring their grievances before members of Parliament, whereas country workers are scattered far and wide and cannot unite to make their wants known and so are placed at a disadvantage. From early Monday till late on Saturday it is work, work, and many single men living all over the country in huts have to do their own cooking and washing and the greater part of these they have to do on Sundays. Any measure short of one to entitle every wage earner in the Colony to a half-holiday once a week can only be regarded by any intelligent community as most nnfair and one sided, but the question is a big one and means the employment of more labour, which in itself would be a blessing. We hope that you may take up this matter and deal with it in some of your able leading articles. OUR CHURCH last Sunday was only middlingly filled on account of the rain but the Rev. Mr Doull was in his best mood and very impressively and ably dealt with his subject. February 9th, 1895.