TUAPEKA WEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 25

TUAPEKA WEST.

June 30. -'We are getting fine weather, which is very beneficial for the farmers, who are getting ; on well with their work, though ploughing is not 1 so much advanced as we might expect considering j the fine weather we have had. The late harvest ■ of course entailed lateness for other work in rota- ) tion, however. On account of the harvest being i so late, wheat did not harden in thestook aa it ', would have dove had it been early ; consequently j it had to lie in the stacks to mature. It threshed j out very well, and there were some very good yields —from 30 to 40 bußhels per acre. With the fine weather we have had and the consequent , good roads, it is nearly all, both wheat and oats, carted to market now. Fair prices hare been obtained this season, which has encouraged farmers to commence ploughing up a lot of lea paddocks. By appearances there will be a large area sown in wheat this coming spring. Wheat at from 3s to 3s 6d per bushel is looked on with favour after the late year's very low prices. Land Sales. — The better prices in grain and wool have caused quite a boom in land these last few weeks. Farms that have been in the market for some time have been 'snapped up, and all available unoccupied sections are either purchased or leased for grazing purposes. Bunny. —Rabbit-poisoning is going on just now, and I hear in most cases they are taking the poison well This is a good thing, as they are rery numerous this season, and it is to be hoped that all will do their best to destroy the pest from now up to the end of September, as the skins will repay for killing them. Anyone neglecting to destroy them now need not look for any peace during the summer.

Turnips.— The turnip crops have turned out satisfactorily this season, and with the fine dry weather sheep are doing welt on them. Mr M'Roberts has a remarkably fine crop sown broadcast, without any artifical manure. The ground had a crop of wheat on the virgin sail, and the a this crop of turnips, which are literally covering the ground, and are from the size of a basin to the size of the bottom of a bucket. Entertainment.— The R*v. Mr J. Jory gave a magic lantern entertainment in the school house on Friday evening, to a good audience. The views shown were scenery of Fiji. Mr Jory has been labouring in Fiji as a missionary for a considerable time, and knowing the habits and customs of the natives he made the nntortainmenb very interesting by his explanatory remarks. The proceeds of the entertainment were in aid of the organ fund,