WAIWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 20

WAIWERA.

August I.— Rabbit poisoning is being and has been vigorously proceeded with, and with fair results. Go where you will a few stragglers can be seen, but to find a place where rabbits are very plentiful is an exception. I regret much to hear of the^ condition of the Clinton Rabbit Factory. This institution has been of great benefit to the district. Independent of giving so many hands employment it has kept the pest down to a large extent without much cost to tho farmer. lhe work of trapping witbin many miles of Clinton has been well done. Rather than let the work be discontinued would it not be well for farmers and squatters to come to the rescue of the company? Without reflecting on the past management I believe the works could be made to pay and pay well. Plough Trial.— Lately a trial of Duncan's high boarded improved plough took place at Mr Talt's Wenalbert farm, and was witnessed by a number of farmers. Though not exactly a digging plough it has skimmers (revolving) placed immediately in front of the mould boards. These little skim coulters skim the sod about an inch deep and to about 4m from the edge of the furrow. The piece thus taken out' and thrown into the bottom of the furrow allows the mould to fall flat, *o that not a particle of grass or weed is left unburied. The plough breaks the furrow, but not to such an extent as does the ordinary digging plough The workmanship and construction of this implement was much admired. It is very strong, and all wheels and other shifting parts are adjusted quickly and with the greatest ease. Any reasonable size of furrow can be draw.v and good work done. In fact Mr Fyfe (the local agent) claims the .excellent work on very large furrows as the principal advantage over most other plough. Losses of Siieei\— Several sheep owners have sustained heavy losses from inflammation this season. In nearly every case where Hocks have been affected many of the best sheep have died. 1 hough several farmers have escaped, it lias by no means been confined to any one part of the district, but here and there throughout the whole neighbourhood flocks have suffered seriously. It is strange that often neighbouring farmeis to those on w hose properties there has been great loss, feeding and treating their stock exactly tho same, have not lost a sheep. Draining.— Sovcral settlers contemplate diaining the low parts of their farms. It is held by some that while labour is so high and prices of produce and stock only very moderate, general draining will not pay, while those who have gone into it, and some to a very considerable extent, maintain that money laid out in well-planned draining is well spent. Personal observation during the last few years has satisfied me that the latter are right. Iliave seen paddocks intersected in almost every direction with ugly swamps made quite dry, and that even through an outlay of comparatively a- few pounds. Heside3 rendering the land workable, the hitherto wet parts turn out an abundant crop of everything sown. Labour is expensive, certainly— still, a man accustomed to the work can do a lot of draining in a week. Tiles are cheap enough. I would like to see plenty of our flat land drained and then dressed with lime, but until there' be a further considerable reduction in freight on this commodity this can never bo done.

Temperance. — By very many of our community the progress of the temperance question throughout N.Z. has been ■ftatched with marked interest. Reflecting on the past 20 years of colonial experience, the strides this movement has made is remarkable indeed. At the present rate of things, growing sentiment will soon compel members of Parliament and ail other persons to look this dreadful curse straight in the face and treat it as it deserves to be dealt with.