WAIWERA

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 39

WAIWERA

September 11.—We have been getting a good deal of rain lately, delaying all farm work As yet comparatively little sowing has been done on account of the weather.. ■ At present, however, the prospect looks a little better, and should it keep fine for a few weeks a. larg-er area, than usual wilj, ■ i think, be put in of both oats and wheat.. . There are now a good many lambs to he ' seen on various farms, and I have heard ' already ol good percentages. Of course it will be some time yet before an average • [of the district can be ascertained. Grass ! is coming away well, fortunately for those ' who have several early lambs. Personal.— I understand the Rev. Mr Williams is slowly improving from his severe illness lam sure all who know the rev. penfcleman will be pleased indeed to know this. He has the sincere sympathy of the whole district. At a Distance.—A good deal of interest has been taken here lately in the siyin^s ' and doings of some of our leading * vten ( at Home and abroad. With all the v«>ry overdrawn and flowery accounts that go Home from here there are also some of ' the other type, and perhaps equally true. Writing to a friend in the Old Land s« mo time ago mention was made of the distreat at Home and of the bread fund 'ihe reply just to hand was that there wa? certainly some bad cases. The said friend added that things must be very bad in some parts |ft "—'-•"^ as they hod

Just been reading that there were families feho were starving, and thai their clothes •were made out of sugar bags. How does dhis look in a Home paper by the side of the Dreadnought offer. Now, Sir, added to this struggling farmers getting their taxes trebled in two years makes a very varied picture. Mentioning our iniquitous taxation to a gentleman from England he said jsuch would never be tolerated in any other country. A rise from £6 to £16 in two years was monstrous — a disinterested opinion ! On looking over the report of the last meeting of the Clutha Council I notice the Clinton Riding contracts were eaid to be completed on the Clinton-Owaka road. If these reports are being printed for the benefit of those concerned I should say it would be much better understood if some place in the riding was mentioned where the work was being done, say, opposite Mr M'Lachlin's, or near Albert's Cap, as the case might be, seeing that Owaka has nothing whatever to do with the Clinton Riding. As all reporte from the county are becoming more and more important and much greater interest is taken in them than there used to be the simplest and straightest form of report will be the best. Perhaps our councillors may see something in this to the advantage of all.