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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 316, 27 April 1878, Page 4

Mr 11. Milner, of Longboach (says the Lyttelton Times of April Ist), has been fortunate in having one of the finest crops of oats grown in the county of Ashburton this year. From 284 acres of a swampy nature, virgin soil, ploughed only once in August and September and sown in October, Mr Milner lias realised a total of 1,640 bushels, or a fraction over 59 bushels per acre. In some places, the yield was over 1,000 bushels per aero, and the whole crop had suffered by shaking from strong winds to the extent of. three or four bushels per .acre. The oats were of the short Tartarian kind. Considering the dryness of the season, the yield is a most remarkably good one. The Wairarapa Register says “ The progress this district has made of late appears truly wonderful t® those who have taken the trouble to watch it. Twelve years ago the various townships did not deserve the name, Masterton, now the foremost, being hist of all. Thu first public house ’was then being built, and a solitary accommodation house sufficed for the wants of travellers, while one small store supplied the settlers with those necessaries which they could not produce. Now thoie are four largo hotels, about twenty boardinghouses, and fully double that number of stores and shops. With few exceptions all the old buildings have disappeared and large and imposing ones have taken their places. The main thoroughfare in all the townships no longer consists of a narrow strip of metal Hanked by ruts and gravelpits, but is as level and smooth as any street in the capital of the colony. Only the worst portions of the road to Wellington were then formed, and travellers had to pick their way as best they could throngli the mud and stones of the plains. As for tlio Forty-mile Bush, if anyone over travelled through it, the exploit was looked upon as something approaching the foolhardy. Now there is'a good metal road and a bi-Weckiy coach to Palmerston, while the choicest localities have been taken up for settlement.” At the time of the last triennal census the population was about four thousand, the increase having been something over thirty per cent. The census just taken gives in rough numbers eight thousand, or about fifty per cent. There are now 106 inmates in the Wellington Lunatic Asylum, and the result is that the place is fearfully overcrowded. The Hawke’s Bay Herald , referring to the continuance - of drought in those parts, says—“ A run of, dry seasons, while for’ many reasons greatly to be regretted, would produce one result that most of us would hail with satisfaction. It would most effectively promote the transfer of capital and land from pastoral to agricultural uses.” The Chronicle says ;—The corner of St. Hill Street and Tanpo Quay, Wanganui, which has been vacant since the destruction by lire of Eeveli’s-bakery some years ago, is now the site of very handsome premises erected for Messrs H.L. Nicholas and Co., Messrs Wymond’s erstwhile representatives and successors in busines. The shop will be open in a few days. The building is two-storey, the ground floor having an elevation of 12 feet, and the upper of 10 feet. There are approaches both from the Quay and St. Hill Street. Tire two fronts have ample light, 24 large sheets of glass, each a window in itself, measuring 3ft 4in by 4ft Sin, giving a cheerful aspect to the interior and affording abundant natural illumination. Tbe front shop measures 41 x 31 feet, and will he furnished with two fixed counters, respectively 18 arid 11 feet long. Our contemporary enters into detail and concludes that the new shop is in every respect handsome, substantial, and convenient, appropriately lilling up an unsightly gap which previously existed. Ax unsophisticated Now England commercial traveller, on reading the sign “ General Merchandise on a store, walked in and asked if he could see the General.