TUAPEKA MOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 22

TUAPEKA MOUTH.

June 12.— The weather of late has been very severe. It commenced on Sunday, the 4th, with a terrific gale of wind— such a storm as has not hitherto been experienced here by even the oldest inhabitant. It broke down and blew out trees by the roots, unroofed and broke down buildingp, and levelled strawstacks to the ground. In the evening it commenced to rain, which settled the wind, and then on Friday snow began to fall, and continued for 36 hours. There has not been such a fall for the last 14 years. It gave the farmers a great scare for the safety of their stock, but fortunately the snow melted away very quickly, and it is all gone now except a few drifts, which were from (sft to 7ft deep before the thaw set in. Although this storm was very sudden and severe while it lasted, it will soak the ground and make it fit for ploughing, as lea ground was previously too hard for the ploughing. Ploughing is rather behind this season, the ground having been dry and hard. The farmers have been taking advantage of the good roads, and have carted away their grain, there being very little left now, and the roads are left in good order. I notice that tha farmers are commencing to put their sheep on the turnips, which in many cases are not so good as those of last year, and will soon disappear when the stock get on them. The Punt.— This convenience, hitherto located at llankleburn, has been shifted down to the new site, and the applications for a puntman were considered at the county council's last meeting. The selection fell to an old resident, Mr W. Or. Buchan. lam of opinion that it coulft not have fallen into better hands, as Mr Buchan has been connected with work on the Molyneux for tne last 30 years He was a member of the firm M'Coll and Buchan, sawmillers and timber merchants, in the good old times of the early goldfields. I wish Mr Buchan every success, and hope he will serve the country and the public well. Farmers' UniON.-The Farmers' Union held another meeting last weeK Their two nwotiugs

lapsed during harvest and threshing, the busy time, but the members are beginning to wake up and throw off their lethargy by attending in full force. At the last meeting a letter was read from the Waitahuua Farmers' Club asking the union's co-operation in forming an executive body for the four counties of Taieri, Bruce, Clutha, and Tuapeka. It was agreed to co-operate with the Waitahuna Club, and it was thought a union of the four counties would be a benefit to the farmiDg interest.