A SERIOUS SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9037, 2 March 1908, Page 5

A SERIOUS SITUATION.

THE DROUGHT'S IMPENDING PERILS.

STOCK IN A BAD WAY,

LOCAL WATER SUPPLY THREATENED.

According to the best authorities the crucial time has arrived for farmers in this district as regards the drought. The topic of shrivelled pastures and low-priced stock seems almost worn threadbare, but there still remains something to be said of the acute stage which has now been reached.

A local stock buyer had no hesitation in stating to an Age reporter on Saturday that in many cases the farmer could hold out less than a fortnight longer with his stock under present weather conditions. Most pastures were absolutely as bare as boards, and it was pitiful to see the poor animals hunting round for food. Along the Waingawa river bed the paddocks on either side abut into the stream in places and where they do not sheep and stock generally know the place is a watercourse, and on Friday and Saturday last several farmers were out hunting along the river for stock which had broken through the fences in search of water. Almost all the animals 30 in number—had wandered down to the confluence of the river with the Ruainahanga, and a good many will probably never be picked up again, as they have disappeared down the banks of the latter river, or wandered elsewhere. There were sheep to be seen on Saturday, according to a settler who lives on the banks of the Ruamahanga, with all descriptions of brands and earmarks. There were also horses and cattle of every colour and breed. It is almost unnecessary to reiterate that stock are being fairly flung away, and sheep are selling at as low as three shillings a head. From this it must not be inferred that butchers are reaping a harvest, as butchers' animals arc very few and far between. The opinion of a retired butcher who keeps in touch with the markets and kindred matters is that before the price of meat comes down in Masterton it must go up higher—rather a pessimistic prediction to the long-jufTering householder who latterly has had visions of a fall in. prices consequent ou the low price of stock generally.

The serious nature of the shortage of water in the Waingawa is causing grave concern to those farmers whose properties benefit by the Upper Plain irrigation scheme. The race usually has an average daily quantity of a million gallons passing along its course, but in the opinion of several settlers it is only a question of days when the race will find the river desert it, and this will mean a serious outlook for farmers along its route.

Several days ago it was notified that the ranger of theTaratahi water scheme was contemplating cutting down the races for several hcurs per day. Just now most of thes" invaluable rivulets have a good volume, but they, too, will suffer severely unless rain falls soon.

The Mayor (Mr J. M. Ccradine) remarked to a representative of this paper yesterday that it only needed probably a month more of the present weather, and even the latest improvement at the headworks will count for nought, as cutting a race into a river which does not iiow will be of little service to the Borough. Seldom have the roads in the district suffered so severely as they have this summer. The macadam of the main country roads has been the pride of the Wairarapa hitherto, but now the roads are cut out of recognition, and vehicular traffic is by no means pleasant at a time when it should be the reverse.

The position of local dairymen is certainly unique, as they are now sending to Carterton for milk to supply Masterton customers. This is without question the first year they have had experience of this kind. It is not improbable that the Opaki flaxuiill (Messrs Roff and Thompson's) will have to close down unless the Waipipi creek, from which the mill draws its supply, increases in volume.