PUKEURI NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10498, 5 July 1910, Page 6

PUKEURI NOTES.

(From Our 6wn°Correspondent.) -.' . After a long-spell of remarkably fine weather we are ;at last having a real taste, of winter; but although it will : ma'ke : outdoor work rather .'"miserable!' th.e rain we are having will do a great deal of good, because, after the very dry season we have '--just experienced, the subsoil will need a thorough soaking in order that it may carry enough moisture for the crops when they reach the stage of vigorous growth. In this district the early-sown wheat crops are looking very.well, and bir all sides the' farmers: are pleased with the,, ■braird even although the sparrows have pillled. up some of the hcwly-sproute#. grain,' Unfortunately for the poor sparrows their inroads, on.the. farmers'"crops are mor,e..apparent than the. good they do, and so, they aye and persecuted race. We must ! not, hpwever, forget that although they, at certain seasons of the; year, do a -certain amount of harm,:, at fathers they do a great deal of good, Sparrows must live. They feed their young'on insects, arid, at this season of the -year they consume countless seeds...6f weeds which the farmers can well. dp. without. On .the ,Vhole, although the sparrows are '.troublesome, the farmers manage to getalong:, very comfortably; but no one knows what would; be the result-if there were iiP'birds.tp counteract the tremendous increase of insect and weed -pests which are, alas, too'numerous, . The sudden change,; in the weather has brought with/ it ah; epidemic of ;colds and influenza, but I am pleased to say that those who have been affected have either recovered or.are on. the fair way towards jrecpyery., '■''[ ... Death lias been': busy' in our midst. Just last w'eek there passed away in the Oainaru Hospital Mr Thomas Barry, %lib -for many yeafs was ganger on the Papakaio length. Jit is not much more than a month ago that- Mr Barry retired on'superannuation,' and his'BUtU den removal from our midst, so shortly rafter his retirement, has cast quite a gloom oyer the district. Of a .genial manner lie was: much respected "by all arid :we extend to Mrs Barry in, her sad bereavement heartfelt. : sympathy. .-. _.',,,:..„•; . c ~;;■/ , ' I, airi very sorry, tb,say "that Mr • Thomas Hartley, one of the oldest •dents of the district, confined, to his bed. A mail of most, industrious habits, Mr Hartley's life has been a very busy one. He.,topk_a .pleasure 'in Work arid "iii doing that work/ well, and his well-kept orchard is a standing, testimony of what can be done by! one ,ni.an > r;eveh after.hehas long since pass't'edj/his. three score ;years, and' ten.. We wish Mr Hartley a speedy recovery', and hope that he may again- be able: to'mbv.e about with . his. characteristic \ activity,.