TUAPEKA WEST.

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

TUAPEKA WEST.

• Apbil 23.— The harvest is pretty nearly all finished, and the' crops stacked in good condition. Taking the weather on the whole It has been~ pretty good, although at the commencement of the season it was very boiutexous, shaking some of the early ripe grain and laying a lot of the balf-ripe oats, which did not rise again. The threshing m'HJalare busy working while there is daylight, and sometimes taking advantage of the moon and working all night a c i well. I hear the yield is a fair average per aore, but not up to the usual yield for bulk of the straw.- The samples are very bright and clean, but. not asplumpas in former years, on account of the dry weather during the latter part of the summer, which ripened the grain* too quickly. I saw one paddock threshed which J hear yielded 40 bushels per acre. I also saw it when in the stook, and* judging by, previous years I Bhould have thought it would yield from 70 to 80 bushels per acre. A. 40-bushel crop at 2s 8d per bushel, however, and the bags paid'for.'is better than the farmers have been getting for several years past. When on the bag question f may, say that I think this district can take a little credlt.for breaking down one of the most unjust rules that was ever imposed on any community. The farmers here are determined to stand' to the resolution that they, have made $o get the' bags paid for separately, from the grain. " Every farmer present at the meeting signed lan agreement to that affect. . I am glad to see that the outcome of the bag meeting is that the.farmert have formed themselves into a union, to watch their interests politically, and 'socially in the future. - ; , Farmers' Meetings.— There have been ,two meetings held already, and by the manner in which those interested have gone about the business. I think some good will be derived from' them. At the last meeting the railway tariff was brought up and discussed. But as the meeting was not in possession of (the new tariff the subject was postponed until next meeting in order that inquiries might, be made re, freight on grain and stock, which has been exqessi ye hitherto. The Rabbit Ace was freely diicussed, Borne members condemning, it altogether ; bub the majority thought it necessary, and that it was working .very well under Inspector Miles and his assistant, who are keeping the , settlers at , work des-, troying the rabbits and not bringing anyone to court. After a long discussion a motion was carried, to the effect that the union petition the Assembly at its next sitting, asking that in all cases tried the magistrate should have the discretionary power to decide the cases on the evidence given. Among other business done the secretary was instructed to call meetings at Tuapeka Mouth, Tuapeka Flat, and Evans! Flat, and two delegates from this meeting for eactuplace volunteered to attend and endeavour to. induce all the farmers in each .place to join the union. At the next meeting'steps will be taken to extend the union throughout the Tuapeka county. I hope other counties will follow suit until it extends all over.New Ztaland. It ia a well-known fact that there bas not been any body in the whole colony that' has worked so disunitedly as the farmers, which fact has been taken advantage of in many ways besides the grain bag question. For inotance, last sitting of Parliament, when there wai a revision of the Customs tariff, almost every alteration put more taxation on the farmers— and why P— because there was no combination to protest against it. If it had been on the merchants or the middlemen we should have seen a row from one end of New Zealand to the other, as they have rings and societies to protect themselves. I think it is time the farmers arose themselves, and' stand determined together when they are required to do so. ' ' '