FORDELL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10159, 1 December 1910, Page 3

FORDELL

(Special to the A;.".)

In this and adjacent di.-.tncts November lias passed with a considerable amount of showery and moist weather. Perhaps at the present time 110 "irt of the Dominion presents such a luxuriant growth ot pasturage as a large area of country in the Wanganui district. The Wangaehu, Mangawhero and Mangamahoe valleys being striking wmples of the wealth oi' grass covering hill, dale, and iiat country. Crops are also looking well, and promise rich returns at harvest time. Potatoes are showing a vigorous growth, but there are indications of blight in some, instances, some settlers as a preventive, arc spraying heavily, and it is said with good results. The township of Fordell now presents a busy appearance on account of the wool traffic which centres there, and the railway officials are having a busy time, it clips are being hurried fonv;:rd in time for shipment to catch the January London sales. It is almost needless to state that shearing is in full suing, but the amount of wet weather has retarded operations very much, and some trouble has eventuated between employer and employee over that perpetual and much vexed qustion, "wet sheep." At the Okirae shed on more than one occasion this month the hands have declined to shear sheep asertiiig that they were too damp, though those in charge of the shed thought otherwise, and considered the wool in a fit condition to Matters, however, came to a ►climax on Friday and Saturday last, and relations became strained, .-when three members of the gang declined to shear, with the result that they left the station. The remainder of the gang, however, proceeded with the work on Saturday. Rumours are afloat as to the intervention of the Shearers' Union and legal ingsThe wool clips in the district referred to above, are reported to be in excellent condition, well-grown, and generally superior to those of last season. Hoggets have done particularly well during the past winter, the death-rate being low, while the lambing has proved satisfactory. The Wangaehu river lias been in moderate flood during the past week. This river, which takes its rise in the volcanic zone of Huapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro has the peculiarity of its waters being impregnated with sulphur and other mineral substances, and at certain season's of the year, generally at this time, so much so, that trout, eels, and other fish are poisoned by the excessive amount of the chemicals which the M ater contains. This was notably the case last week when numbers of the fish succumbed. The river presented a most turbid and forbidding appearance as the dark, brown sulphur-laden waters rushed onward to the sea. The opinion of some of the settlers and the Maoris is that they have never previously seen the river in such a discoloured condition, or so heavily charged with sulphur. Though fish are killed, it does not appear to have any ill effects on them so far cs their edible condition is concerned, as the Maoris make use of them for food.