TUAPEKA WEST.

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

TUAPEKA WEST.

Augtst I.— The weather of late has been cxtitmeJy rough and wintry. During the last month it has been a continuation of Lost, snow, and rain; and last, but not least, we have had a real blizzard, which commenced on Saturday and continued until midnight on .Sundry, leaving drifts ot snow m some places iuUy 6ft deep. The wind was so strong and the snow lo fine' that it drifted through sheds and other buildings. To-night it is freezing hard, which wni keep the snow on the ground for a considerable time, and will make the ploughing late, as very little has been done yet, on account ol the wetness of the land. Threshing was brought to a full stop a fortnight ago, the ground becoming so soft that it was almost impossible to 3hift from one stack to the other. V/ith the pre&eiiu state of the grain market it is better in the stack than m the bags.

Rabbits. — Habbit poisoning has been carried on during the last two weeks, but I do not hear of many skins being got yet. The rabbits are taking the poison, but the theory is that they have been disturbed so much of bte with the trapping thst they come oxit at night and tat the poisoned bait and go into the holes and die there. I hear that Inspector Ernpson is to be transfered from here to Timaru. He has been very energetic in his duties since he has been amongst us, and the general opinion is that ho has been too dictatorial. In dealing with a Britisher you can coax him, but when you commence to bounce him he will show light. An inspector's duty is to tell the settlers to destroy the rabbits, not to dictate to them in what form they shall do it. After '20 years' experience, in the case of most of th n settlers, they do not need to be told which is the most effectual way to poison. Such a course is like teaching one's grandmother how to buck eggs.

Ball. — The bachelors held their annual ball on Friday last. The, attendance was not so large as in former years, on account of similar p.tti actions in the neighbouring districts.

Wire Ncttixg. — Cainei-on Bros, are about to erect, two miles of netting on the boundary ot their farm adjoining the bush reserve. It is rather hard on land-owners whose properties nd]om Government lands having to fence and eieet netting and bear the whole expense.

night shivering inside or outside the buildin-/.

Caari-ioi: -Cii-couiniy friends still blow their liumpot sibout tlie delay in getting their f>,oocls ii;i liom the Lawrence railway station. O.ie gentleman offered the unparallolled price of something like £-i os a ton, Lawrence to Clyde, the distneae being about 80 mi!e3, the .season midwinter, the ro t ds diabolical, price of holies and feed high — phenomenally high,— mcuo especially about Alexandra and Clyde, where they cannot grow horse feed or anything of that kind. "Why. at this time of the year ue cannot get coal delivered at Blue Spur, dist,\n_o two and a-half nile", undei Gs a ton, and to Waipori, 16 miles, about 30s, and other distances in propoition; so that thero is not much wonder at the waggoners not ru^hinjj after lli^ Clyde lo'iduig at the price uuuied When the bu<-ine-35 people at thn Du.ist.\n lj;>d to pay XI2J to x]so per ton lo • • oiiVij.incp of their jjood-: they managed !o < ■•»■ t'«ui'. tlirough all Ji'^ht, and "o they coil.i ut v- i! I hey wanted to. but t])-'"i the}' r^u'il n, ), nvke t i scanof^Oi'!, ol out Lawciice ii'" ol rtui»\<n and use it jh a ieve- t i I n,, llw Ci;i, j Central

AcGUrfi 1 - >.'!.'■> io.v I},; si M>; u>t imi Thursday one! FudeP -i-A b' ti'h-ik-ii '.).'.■' "lUv'Jiri, and on Satimlay .; i ir,vO «t .irL'v r ■-! of the d«iy, choij 'inj.; i, 'i ing Ini* :,•> 1 ! V m.iU", which, on Wun r !\i I'O.mi"-:, !u. i '.i. "o 'i (lepth of six inches in iV> tinvin.ii !•••< the heaviest c\)>eucn.c 1 >• sr.i,^ \\,i:= r r-ing fc'unday li- toiilinu'^i o sno»\ i' v. >.i -. t v 7v 7 and in the (\f-.nrg hi.,'> <Mi..i« (,i ( » . , ,„ . ,mg .> initial ''law, w'iu'i ivj3 k<;.'.i < i!i < \ "•'. by a slight Lost. To-c!.'y there. ;<. -till h. Mi.hrg of at least fi^e niche?, which is slowly melting away. 'J ho <{L'fi Ire. gone v,) .i little, but the weather btill looks unsettled

DiUTn —Mr John Joytc, au old resident, died in the hospital on .Saturday, and was followed to the cemetciy by a number of friends yesterday. This has been a severe year for the old people.