POMAHAKA DOWNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 39

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

I August 23. — There has been very little to write about lately from this settlement. It might be called fehe dead season. Certainly the weather has not been at all ■cload- Xjisi Tuesclay the wind blew from the south-west witn icy coldness, and as 1 night set in the ground was white with snow. It seemed jo have fallen pretty steadiily all night for there were inches of ( it next morning, and on this day those who were to have 3heep in at Thursday's 6ale had to draft their stock. The snow was melting ak day, and there were some fierce sleet showers. This was a most disagreeable day, and Jie following day (Thursday) was not much better. It was anything but a day to expose sheep for sal©. However, there were nearly 2000 sheep in, and the afternoon turned out better. To show tho fall ir the price of sheep there were hoggets so!d that day, mixed sexes, at 11s 4d, which would have brought -a pound' per head two years ago. But then both wool and lamb were gelling at high figures, whereas now there :s: s a glut of aneat in the Home market. These high prices attracted mutton and lamb from other countries, and constrquently there >s an- cversupply. Certainly this last winter many in the Old Country have not been able to purchase so much meat as they would have done had trade been brisker. New Zealand lamb. I think, etill holds the first position, and we must not lose the trade, but be prepared to "Ulce lower prices. The Airship.— Another matter which has had our attentiot was the airship. Hearing a peculiar noise one "morning whilst at breakfast, I rushed out, thinking it was the airship settling on the roof of my ho.w. bat it was only a hawk paying attention to my breed of_fowls. Again, one evening after dark, I 6aw a great round light jure like the head-light of an engine. It 'seemed to me to be* in the direction of Greenfield, co I ran for Mary and all the youngsters to come out and see the airihip. "Bosh," said Mary; "it's only a straw stack on fire,,'* After that I said no mora about airships. Farm Work. — Work on the farm has been afc a sort of a standstill for the last !c\v days owing to the "wei. but yesterday a strong wind Whs Wowing from the southwest, and th-s ground dried like magic. As soon as we can get the ground worked up the drill will once more be at worft sowing the seeds for a goideji- harvest. 1 believe there are two or three young lambs on the Downs already, but lambing will not be general till the uri'ti'&le or September. The grass is getting green, and there ought to be a lair bite for tne sheep when the turnips are finished. In some places I see a lot of turnips yet. ,The fine winter has made them spin out muoh batter, but there is little or no chance of selling turnips now. Changes. — As to the changes that !hav« been taking pluce on the Downs, I ifiay say that Mr rteijriott has secured a email dairy farm at Waitati. He will liave a vary big sale her© soon— l think next Wednesday week. His son George is remaining in this district. Although he never passed as a veterinarian, yet he has a very good knowledge of horses and tlieir ailments, and many a time has he attended to *ick horses amongst his neighbours* Then Mr Haug"h, who sold out of his section to Mr Herbeit, has taken Mr Peter Murray's farm, part freehold and part leasehold, at the Clinton ond of the Downs,. Mr Murray has retired ■from fanning, and is now proprietor of tho Prince of Wafes Hotel in Clinton. There is no doubt but that his genial manners will get him ho«tc of callers