CASTLEPOINT DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 861, 1 September 1881, Page 2

CASTLEPOINT DISTRICT.

(prom OUR OWN correspondent.) After a fine dry. winter, wa are experiencing a wet spring, .fortunately, the rain though excessive in quantity, has been mild, and a fair growth of jurats is the result. The roads are now in a very Bloppy condition, and travelling is the reverae of pleasant* , Since my .last letter the Eer Mr Dukes paid hie usual visit to this distriot, holding service at Mr Cripps' homestead in the morning, and at Tonui in the after: noon, for the time of year the congregation at the latter place was largo. It must be gratifying to Mr Dukes to see so many people of almost all denominations attend hia aarricea so regularly, I am informed that the Church of England services will be resumed early in September. i It is on the/' tapis" that a ohango will take place shortly in the proprietorship of the shipping and landing service at Castlepoint. There is also a probability of freight and .charges on wool and stores being reduced to such an extent that it is doubtful if Masterton and lnueru carriers will be able to compete with profit. ' There are numerous enquiries for cattle just now, on gentleman being authorised to purchase suine 500 head for a Napier firm. Cattle—in quantity—are not procurable here, although the impression outside the district appears to be that there are any number for sale. It is reported that a great deal of scab exists among the wild sheep running on Crown Lands, in a portion of the district, several badly infected ones having been killed recently. A Crown Banger was sometime ago appointed, but what special good he is, is not quite apparent to people here. Many fondly imagined that those wild sheep alluded to, would be hia particular care, but so far, they are left to propagate scab. The vicinity of the R.M. Court, Masterton, is evidently more eongenial to the Sheep Inspector and Crown Ranger, than the scrubby rough lands adjoining Mataikuna, Pukowai, Grassendale, and other properties. If Mt Inspector Telford's proposal, (made some time since), that the Government should employ a practical man to destroy these sheep had been acted upon, it is highly probable that they would not be living to spread the disease among the flocks of sheepow i jrs, who are unfortunate enough to own property adjacent to lands on which Ihe.y are suffeied to depasture. Complaints are numerous of an unusual amount of loss among stock this season, and certainly the deaths seem above the general average, Lambing has ■ cnmmen. ced on several stations In consequence of the amount of scab in the district, it is the intention I hear, of most sheep farmers to commence shearing as early as possible.

It is reported that ferrets have worked their way fruin the Wairarapa to the coast couniry, between Waikaraka and Flat Point, two having been recently seen and killed in that neighborhood. The effort to procure subscriptions for the introduction of the natural enemies of the rabbit has found little or no favor here, the result in a pecuniary sense being nil. I understand, however, that several large landowners are making arrangements to introduce ferrets at an early dale. Ploughing appears to have been all but given up at Uiiti and Waikaraka. a quantity, however, is being done at Koliiwai, Lanstdale, Teu, and C'astlepuint Stations. The coast table lauds on the latter property ate, I notice, now being broken up. "Various rumm's have been published concerning 13r fanjuharspn leaving this neighborhood, but as the Medical Gummitiee here have received no intimation from that gentleman as to his desire to. terminate his agreement, I can scarcely imagine the reports lo lie correct.