PUERUA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 25

PUERUA.

July 20— Th* weather during Jhe winrcr lii-s been changeable — a good deai oi lam, soiuc snow, and considerable fro&t. At picsent it seems to promise drier weather.

Thb Chops.— The return & cf tlie on I crcp after threshing appear to be rather on the ,-h*, tfido, and the turnips, though there iu»\e been a few good p.-.'che-. hero mil there, are j foi the most piil no' iirst-vato. The Letter price tor onts poems to have tempted tne farmers to prepare for an iucieasc of crop lor tho ensuing season. Ploughing, for which the weather is just now more favourable, is going on vigorously. I Rabbit Pest.— Babbits are much 'ess mi- ! nierous in tins neighbourhood than they have been for several years. I ascribe this m g;eat measure to the high prices given for labbit'J for freezing, which has had the result of producing a large amount of trapping. "Followed now by efficient poisoning with phephorised oats, the plague should receive a check, though there will piobably be yet a good supply of rabbits when the blooding bogni", which it is ,iust about to do It would be -i bad job it the exportation oi rnbbits slculcl be checked tlnough want of care in the pack- ; ing of them on board ship. The trappeis should be veiy careful not to let the carcases •ret fly-blown. !

Roads.— The Pucnia Vnlley main road, 01 that portion of it over which there is most traffic, is not yet in a quite satisfactory conch- t tion. A few chains yet unmetallecl are very

heavy, with some very deep ruts draigeiovts for light vehicles, especially at night. It is to be hoped the county council will have funds sufficient to complete the small portion of the road which now requires met.'ihuj,. JS'kw Ciicrch. — The erection of a fiae new church on the site of the old church lias jii^i been completed here. The new church presents a fine appearance from the outsid", while the inside has boon completed in excellent style, all m red pine, polished and varnished, with some fretwork. It is lofty and <ommothous, having 188 sittings. There are five glass chandeliers suspended from the loof. Behind the pulpit there is a good-sized loom for a vestry or vestibule, and suitable for a Sundry school or other purpose. The new church i, certainly a credit to the enterprise and dcvot.onal spirit of the settlers, and it is s.u.t'l-vf irtoiy that there is no debt o>i :t, all the o;u,ensc having been p.ud v>. Air ,7. L. Salraoud, of Du.iedin, was the <>•>.• > "■ ', Mr John A^ne.v the biuider, ithl -ir .'•; i" >M , of Balciutna, the pointer. Tin'-. uc\ fii'vii \a s.ua to bo the best country c v .!i .. i -<iA Wide.