The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 256, 6 May 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1880.

■fsß prospect of relief to the South Can--1 terbury farmers, from an abundant har- '" vest, ho much -depended upon to put them right financially, have not been realised. The crope were abundant, and,, in' most eases; secured in f,nir condition. True, a ..portion of the wheat crop buffered from rust and blight, but a good deal was of lair quality. The market for this cereul has also been fair, nveraging from 3* 6d Jt:» 3s 9<l at the stations. This, with the unprecedented yield, one would think, should have put all things "right. 1 There has been, however, several drawbacks to contend with. First,-the breadth in wheat" was not so large in proportion to the crops as it used to be. A good portion of the land lately broken up had been ' cropped till it could grow wheat no longer. It wa s then cropped with oats or barley ; so much has this been the case, that never in New Zealand was there such a supply of grniri" before. This, with tha Blight demand of the .Australian Colonies, has made the crop not wort'i the reaping. Is to la 3d has been the price offered '" local markfte, with no pros ect of a laae. Prime barley, also—except at the outset of the season—has scarcely been saleable at a price thnt would pay the cost of production. Even at tiie present' moment it is hardly saleable Taking «»'l these thi'gs together, the money vaiua is f*r -short • f ex| ectation Coupled with this is Ujo fact that most of our farmers had, during the land mama, gone in for ni'>re land; and this with borrowed money. The consequence is that merohAnts and Dankers are pressing hard

for a settlement, or part of. their accounts. Evidence of this''is,'.to be found in the audience chamber of the banker, and the counting-honsd .of the merchant, where the supplicants for more time are bo often seen, with downcast'look nnd supplicating demeanour. This is no new tiling with our agriculturists.- For many years the farmers around Ciirist'.hurch had to do "penance of this sort, brought about by the land mania, which originated some 12 years ago. Many were even seld out, but those wfto could: hold on hre now comfortable, and some are independent. So wiF .■it be'with our farmers ir. South Canterbury. Thepreseht;struggleis_a bard one, ..the land recently '-bought-, (ormost of it) is Hot paid for, and' the realised returns are not I sufficient to pay off debts ; consequently, the present season is not a relieving one. Tlie; : prospect..for 'the future is not very promising.' Excepting wool,, ho produce if paying expenses; th<Mefdr<>.the tillers of the soil are hard pushed, but, witha, little forbearance on the part of their creditors, they will pull through, and realise: that perseverance wil bring i|s reward in time.

: There is, however, a need for ouilook ; Hnd scheming ; there is also nee<l for unity ff purpose in •ordepJboJ.pro'vida other (tickets for consumption of tho produce " Unity is strength"is ft true Baying. Let our'farmers""be'united in their efforts to introduce that produce in a form that wil] most - readily commend a maiket. We ? drew attention lo t)ie necessity <i converting our oats into oatmeal, and so exporting it to Engknd, when it would, in the average of years, return a-handsome profit This is one of the objects; rnemhers of tho projected Fanners' Club should turn their attention to, for the reason dint no other outlay is likely to be got for the increasing supply of oats which doubtless will go on froiri year to year. It \h usua 1 to hear the remark, " Oats wLI likely be high next year, ami it would pay to garner tbem.till then." This may lie trim, or it mny not more likely be the reverse.. The notion is founded ..on former experience"but K "time's- are ~ the

largely increasing cultivation of new land caiiaod (fo-E-jErpd and Bted Now, this is nearlyal' gone ; the increase of land. Luewly broken up, is getting less every year, whiL> the ; in.-; crease of breadth in oatß-riß likejy. to; increase. v Oats are the; ; most convenient crop to sow'do^n - grass with; theyf are .a,lso capable of being, produced where; oat?, cannot grow, und.can be put in with? less labor and at'a"later period of the" season. If any little rise takes place in the market a rush is made to'sow oats'at y aim ob| any period of the year. ...There is, moreover, opportunityifcr-increasing the quantity to any amount.(if market|to be found at paying prices. ' : This, then, is a subject whichshpuld not be lost sight-of by pur merchants and tradesmen |te well as farmers, for the reason that the pros l jperity of the one depends upon the prosperity of the other The wo«d marked has lieeo the only encouraging feature, now even that it is on the turn and miiy not be so honyarit for some time.

X war between England and any of the Continental Powers, which is not unlikely, would revolutionise tko commercial world, but would not benefit the cohuries. The only prospective benefit to our farmers is to be found in the fact that Russia is paralysed, and her agricultural' interests neglected. This will affect the price of wheat next harvest, and we believe that this cereal will be dearer in the Home Markets next season than it is this. Wheat is the only crop that can be sown, with a pros- ; pect of paying, unless exports in oattnea] be resorted to.