POMAHAKA DOWNS.

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

POMAHAKA DOWNS.

September 11.-Spring has now started although August is eupposed to be the first month of spring, yet I think I may Bay that last Saturday was the first day ot ■ spring. There is now a ibout 1 the morning air which is quite deljcioue— bo different from the dull, heavy, muggy atmosphere to which we have been co long accustomed. Last Tuesday, however, a change to rain came on. and nothing has ! been done on the land till yesterday. This ' is a splend-Id spring morning, and the birds | are singing most melodiously. I hope J they wfll not be all poisoned, for their sweet chirpings lend variety to the scene. This is just such a morning as would Buit one on a holiday to rice early, go for a ride or drive, and fhen drop in for breakfast. Oh, wouldn^t the ham and eggs, the baps and scones, "ifoappear! The Farm.—All will now be busy getting the seed in for another season. Tne grass is springing beautifully; winter-sown oats are cocking up their ears; sheep have still plenty of turnips; and lambs are coming pretty plentifully. Speaking of early lambs, Mr D. M'Gregor had a gocd many out and tailed three weeks ago. I notice at sake that sheep are very slow of sale. In fact, the auctioneere seem quite worn out describing the many points of merit which each' pen contains. Although prices are down to what they we-ro, yet they are very fair, and we will go on breeding and taking what we can get. StiJl, it is porseible that a good deal more grain will this year be put in, especially wheat. Yet the sheep in the whole Dominion will be noß° the less, and must be fed somehow. Sale.—Last Tuesday week Mr Herriott's sale took place. The day did not look inviting, but it cleared up in the afterneon. There was a large turnout of farmers, but bklding was dull. Then last Monday several of Mr Herriott's neighbours, with their wives, paid a surprise visit. He and> his son John were away building a house on the dairy farm which they have taken at Waitabi, but Mrs Herriott, her daughter, and son George were preseat. The barn was cleared, and a good deal of da-ncimg took glace, and at an interval Mr Watt presented Mrs Herriotfc with a purse of sovereigns as showing the kindly feelings of the neighbours to Mt Herriott ynd his eon George, who have helped 7n_ cases of need with sick horses. Entertainments.—Down in Wairuna jon Prfday a week ago a successful concert took place in the school. There was a

good turnout. The object was to raise Dome money to defray the expenses of fencing in connection with the new schoolhouse. I see the committee has already got a good picket fence up On that same evening the bachelors of the Downs had a dance in Mr Erskine's barn, and all went with a swing. I hear there is some word of getting up a benedicts' ball. Roads.—l hope to see the clay roads get on their summer clothes soon, and we shall be very grateful for * little more metal. I