PUERUA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 21

PUERUA.

August 10.— Just about the first of this month spring seemed to arrive quite suddenly. There seemed to be a sort of change in the atmospheremild, genial weather, buds swelling, birds commencing to sing, and a few bees appearing. During the past winter we had a good deal of rain and a good deal of frost — nearly 40 nights of frost, but intermittent, not consecutive for more than a few nights. There was very little snow on the lower land. It has not been a bad winter for farming operations, and the dry weather we are having at present is very suitable for getting in the seed betimes. I think the early sown crops generally succeed best. The new grass is appearing in warm nooks and corners. Rabbits.— Great execution has been done upon bunny by the poisoning of the last few months, and I see at present hardly a rabbit about. Messrs Miller and Gray have made a good clearance of the rabbits off their ground. Mr Miller tells me there are a great many wild cats about. These cats do good service in the destruction of young rabbits. Small Birds.— Some of the farmers seem to be apprehensive of the small birds doing mischief. I do not know whether poisoning_ has been general, but some of the poisoned grain does not seem to be very effective. One of my neighbours had a small bag of strychnine-poisoned grain — from Auckland, I think. His wife put some of it in a saucer to kill rats. Some children got to it and ate it up, and did not seem a bit the worse for it.

Roads.— The Puerua Valley road— especially that portion of it between the saw mill and the church, over which there is much traffic— is at present in a frightful state and quite unfit for use, there being large holes in it — Very dangerous for vehicles. Such roads are a disgrace to the colony, and do not say much for Government management and supervision. Government should either itself provide suitable main roads, or see that county councils have funds for the purpose. The riding is, I understand, already very much in debt, and it is absurd to suppose that rating a few settlers in outlying districts will provide money enough to metal main roads.