South of Dunedin, the Taieri plain has suffered most severely. Between Otokia and Titri, the country is one lake, dotted with homesteads entirely surrounded by water; nor does there seem to be any immediate prospect of getting rid of the flood water. The whole of this portion of the plain is lost for the season. Further south, the Tokomairiro farmers complain that there has been little chance to sow crops owing to the soakage of the ground, and those who missed their chance when the weather was more settled are anxiously waiting for a opportunity to sow. At present, a large area of that plain remains without seed, although the ground has been prepared to receive it. Indeed, quite a number of farmers have had to cultivate their land twice. Comparatively little wheat will be grown south of Dunedin this season, as it is now too late to sow it, and the prepared ground will have to be put to some other purpose. It is even getting late to sow oats; and if the weather does not quickly change for the better, the indications are that a goodly portion of the farmers' labour in preliminary preparation will be useless. Grass is growing luxuriantly, although complaints are made that owing to excessive moisture, there is not much substance in it. The hilly country from which the surplus water runs off, never looked better, and this is an ideal season for this class of land. Another complaint is that the wet ground had a tendency to develop footrot in the sheep, and this is showing in at least a few of the flocks, with the likelihood of spreading. Lambing, which is now almost finished, is reported to be well up to the average. The farmer is usually regarded as a ``proverbial growler'', but this season he certainly has just grounds for complaining, even though he may be receiving abnormal prices for this products. If the weather prevents him from growing produce, however, it matters little to him what prices are ruling.
Fitzsimmons dead
Bob Fitzsimmons, the ex-champion heavyweight pugilist of the world, who had been dangerously ill at Chicago, is dead. Fitzsimmons, who was born in Cornwall in 1862, came out to New Zealand in early youth, and was engaged as a blacksmith south of Timaru. Whilst there he encountered four members of a team of boxers touring with the veteran Jem Mace, and then took to the prize ring. In Australia he rapidly improved as a boxer, and, having gained the top of the tree there, went to San Francisco, where he won the middle-weight championship, defeating Jack Dempsey and Peter Maher for the title. Aspiring to the world's championship, he met heavy-weight stars successfully, and finally, though up to the final round he had the worst of the encounter, knocked Jim Corbett out and won the world's championship, but two years later was defeated by Jeffries, a man very considerably over his height and weight. After touring on the music hall stage, Fitzsimmons essayed a return to the ring, but gave away too much in years to Bill Lang, and was beaten. Fitzsimmons has been described as the best man of his weight who ever stepped into the ring. He was twice married.
Birds-nesters deputation
At the Awatere County Council meeting the members were taken by surprise by a troup of boys marching in as a deputation asking for a rise in the price to be given for birds' eggs. On the chairman questioning the spokesman for reasons why they required the higher price (says the Marlborough Express), he replied that the extra cost of living and dearness of clothes warranted it, omitting to say whether they or their parents had to find the ``needful''. However, the youngsters had the satisfaction of obtaining an extra half-penny per dozen for eggs. .- ODT, 24.10.1917.
