ALRVRT (Smith Canterlmry.

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 39

ALRVRT (Smith Canterlmry.

February 17.—The heat continues with unabated energy to scorch and wither everything that grows on the face of the earth. There is some consolation, however, in knowing that we are in r.o worse plight than our neighbours. The drought seems triumphant over the Southern Hemisphere. Fortunate should we count ourselves in that there haa been an entire absence of firea, eithex in the fields or amongst the buildings. Crops.—All the crop has beei cut, and most of it stacked. A considerable quantity has been thieshed, and some of it has been marketed. "Wheat has been sold at 4s 3^d per bushel, and- oats At 2a 2d per bushel. The yield, in most cases, has been very much trader what has oeen expected. One very extensive grower informed me -that his wheat was the poorest crop he has ever harvested. The mill hands have not had too rosy a. i time. Some were as black as sweeps with ! *he rust ond smut -which hes played havoc ' with not a few of the yields. Sheep Bridge.—Mr J. S. Rutherford, of Mistake Station, has just taken delivery of a bridge which has been locally built to his order for the conveyance of stock across the Casque .River, on his run. The bridge is 30ft long m the central span, and the two ends are 10ft each, making a total length of 50ft. Three horses draw the bridge to its destination 50 miles away, the ends being drawn up by machinery similar to that -which ■works the elevators 1 in- a threshing mill. When the bridge is not required by the travelling stock it will remain «ut the homestead. Much ingenuity is shown in its conception and workmanship, and those who have examined it think it will come into geneial use on up-country stations where stock have often to hi kept from their proper destination through lack of facilities in crossing streams that are too high 02 too swift to attempt to ford. Rocky Gully Bridge.—The poll of ratepayers taken on the 29th ult. resulted in 10 votes being cast in favoui of the erection of tni.3 bridge, and seven against. Wka the bridge is built the whole of the main ro-ad 1 will be accessible to rehicles of all kinds even in the worst weather. Sales —The selling of land still continues. Mr Michael O'Railly. one of those who ori- J ginallv took a section near the township when "the Albury estate was acquired by th© Government, has sold to Mr Cullen, of Springfield. -Mr O'Reilly took an active part in pushing forward all the institutions which benefited the district, and he will, in *>nsequeuce, be much missed.