The Manawatu Standard. PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1883. SIRANGERS IN OUR MIDST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 111, 18 April 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. PUBLISHED DAILY. Suivant la verite. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1883. SIRANGERS IN OUR MIDST.

— «- : It is not to be wondered at that there has been an exodus of farmers from South Australia to the more fertile and promising . islands of New Zealand. Recently a deputation of South Australian farmers came to- the Jtyrth Island to spy out the land, with the re* suit that a number of agriculturists from that locality have located themselves m Waikato, where tbeir prospects are more, encouraging. The bad harvests and uncertain climate has driven the South Australian farmers to despair, and the depression that has I resulted is perceptible m every direction. According to the Register's estimate : the average wheat-yield for the colony i i* set down at 4 bushels 321 bs, or a j "trifle 'over 4^ bushels. In the old dis- ! tricts, within a radius qi..3.0/tp. : 5.0 miles ; of Adelaide, the crops werel e ;vjßryjjood,'\ i ranging from 8 to 25 bushels per acre ; but m the northerjitlireas the want ot i rain and the prevalence ""of" hot winds m | September destroyed the young crops. ! In some districts not one farmer m ten put a machine into his paddocks ; m others the crops- yielded only 7lbor 81b to the acre. In Victoria, although the season has not been a goo one, tho j*verage ihasv not been; less than nine bushels. The last season m South Australia has bpen the worst of three m succession, and the farming population m the northern areas has been reduced almost to despair;;. Let us hope that \ m the step they have taken m emigrating to Kew Zealand, they will find things equal to their anticipations, and will prove energetic and enterprising colonists m the lnnd of thpir adoption.