CAVE (South Canterbury).

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 39

CAVE (South Canterbury).

February 22—1 see that Mt S. Roberts takes exception in a letter which appeared in the Otago Witness of February 12 to my repcrt about the crops on his farm, which appeared on January 8. I saw the crop referred to 'n my .note from the rpati, and I based my note, on what I saw. Since Mr Robsrts's letter has appeared I went up on tho ground, and 1 find that my conclusion was an erroneous one, and, as Mr Robert* says, it is * fairish looking crop. I regret now that I did not examine the field closer. I had seen meat of the other crops along tha roadside, and, as it *ras getting late, I did not take th*e time necessary to go up the terrace. I oan assure Mr Roberta that I had no wish to give him oi any other settler offence. For 33 lorg years I have dona all I cou!d for the advancement and weTbeing of the district, and there has l>»n no animus to anyone in any note that I have> written to the Otago Witness during my- connection with it as correspondent. If I make an error I franWy own up to it. I can safely say that in all my actions, publicly aa<* privately, I have been actuated by the TlesiTtto get the district closely settled, well rcad?c\ provided with a «yoed school, a- postal delivery to every settler, and all gates removed off -the leads where the land was clcsely settled. In some of my actions I have had to pay a lone hand, and I think I can claim that my record is not a bad ore fcr one who has always had the welfare of the district at heart. With this explanation and my assurance that I thought I was only recording what I deemed to b& facts, I trust Mr Roberts will be- satisfied.

Stock Sale —The stock sale at the Cay« on February 7 was a giefit success. There was a good attendance of the public, and fat lamb buyers we^re present in large numbers. The yards were well filled with stock of gocd qualiiv, and the prices realised for fat lambs were the best yet obtained -thi3 season in Scuth Canterbury— namely, 16s 6d. Prior to the commencement of the sule, Mr G. Finch provided su excellent luncheon, U which all pieseut were invited 1 free of charge. Messrs T. Smith (chairman of the Saleyarda Company), G. Winter. M'lnness, and Limbriok g«ve short congratulatory spe-eehes, to which the sale-men for the auctioneering firms respo ided About 5000 sheep ar.tl lambs were yarded, also some horse", cattle, nnd sund-ries The on.} criticise I heard i 3 that the yards, or some of them, are toy larse, with not enoush saleyards for lots oi 50 to IOC sheep T> .« want, will be seen, to in the near future The sale all round was a gocd one. The following sa.'es were made —Fat lambs. Us -Id, 15s Cd. 15a 7<l, 15s 9d. and lGs 6d ; other sheep from 123 6d to 18s Id; stcie lambs, lls to 13a Id. The Cave settleis may well be pleased with then saleyards. which has resulted in bringing a niaik,et to their door. The Drought.— The weather is very dry. On tun 13th of Febiuary last ye»r the rain came on Imt (his year io ram worth speaking of haa fallen foi a lovg t ; me. The turnip crops are showing the effects of the dry time. The diamond back moth is among the turnips this year again, and the cabbage plant louse (Aphis brassicoe) is on the swede turnips, and is doing a lot of damage,, to them. It did not put in an appearance last year in this locality, but it is m full force this year. It is to be hoped rain will scon coma to relieve the farmers or the outlook for stock during the winter will be poor. The crop* of oats that had been threshed ont havt turned out well, some of them yielding 54 bushels to the acre, and some 59 bushels pei acre. One. lpt of about ICO acres threshed 80 bushels. The crop, however, "is variable, and some others will not thresh out dt bushels per acre.