PUERUA.

Otago Witness, Issue 953, 25 April 1889, Page 16

PUERUA.

Apbil 18.— We are having some fine, mild, genial weather at present, without the excessive heat of summer. It has been a little unsettled, but on the whole we have had fair harvest weather. The cereal crops are now nearly off the ground and stacked, and threshing is well forward. It seems to be generally considered that the crops are Bomewhat on the light side, but it does not appear probable that the returns will be much, if anything, below the average. In consequence of the long summer drought the turnip and potato crops are not first-rate ; they are' variable, some patches being considerably better than others, the early sown turnip crops ■ being apparently the best. The late rain has much improved the appearance of the pastures. The apple, crop seems to be generally a failure here this season, probably in consequence of the harsh weather of laßt spring and early summer, though a few of my own trees, well shaded, have borne well. Plums are generally a scarcity here, by reason of tbe spring frosts. • . . , Babbits.— l think the rabbits are not quite bo numerous this year,' though the diminution in their numberi is not very perceptible. In a well-settled neighbourhood like this the rabbits do not very muoh injure the crops, though they are a great plague about gardens. Some. of the settlers complain bitterly of £be small birds, and say. they are worse man the rabbits. We must, however, place to the credit assount of the birds the destruction of noxious Inieats. *< - Probably ' K< the birds wera entirely, or nearly, extirpated the, mm*. 9l insect pests would soon be felt much more than they ere at prefent. There has .lately been a considerable number of tnis about my garden^ r see they eat the apples. I have seen a few apples half eaten on the tree as if devoured by rabbits, but though I have

heard a neighbour say rabbits climb the apple trees, these apples were well out of the reaoh of rabbits, an.dj,moreoyer,saw,,a,tui busily at, work feeding. on an apple. In destroying the flax we have destroyed the honey, supply* of the.tuis, and, these birds appear, to be ricJw* attacking our fruit "by way of reprisal. They do not, however, seem* to do Very muohparm, generally, well demolishing one apple before they attack another, and I do not shoot them, and think no one else should. As the tui is a curious and beautiful bird, and not as numerous as it mcd to be, it would be a pity that it should be extirpated. , Native Gamb.— There seem to be some ' kakas coming about, at present, but I rarely gee a pigeon here now, and a few wild ducks which used to be here have cleared out since the ereotion of the saw mill.

Local Industby.— The saw mill business here has lately changed bands, Anderson Brothers having gone out of the business, which is now carried on by the other two partners in the late firm, William Hay and Graham Dawßon. The water. wheel being out of order steam was used for a while, but the wheel has been mended, and the mill is apparently in good working order. Of course water power Is more economical than steam.

Amusements.— We lately had' a concert, soiree, and dance in tbe Puerua Hall for the benefit of the Barnardo Institute, 1 at which there was a large attendance. The result was that the sum of £10 has been remitted to Dr Barnardo to help to cave from starvation and illuaage the large number of infantile waifs and strays of Loridon.