TUAPEKA WEST

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 31

TUAPEKA WEST

April 3. — Harvest is in <full swing — in fact, pretty well advanced. On some farms a good portion of the crop 3 h&ve been led In and stacked. The weather has been fairly good — calm, with a few showers, which have delayed work somewhat, but we have escaped the deluge and floods that our neighbours have been getting nearer the sea coast. During the days that vain was falling in other districts we were getting a dark clouded sky, with a cold easterly wind, and occasionally drizzly showeM. We have escaped the usual nor"-we stern winds this season, which some seasons shake the lipe gTain. This year's grain has been reaped ■with not a grain lost by the wind. A few patches were, however, laid down by the heavy Tain iri« January. It wasfearsd with those rain* that rust would be troublesome this season, liut this was not so, as there is no appearance of it, only very slightly in odd patches, so the grain is well filled and" plump, and has the appearance at present of being well saved. The Sparrows. — The small birds have not been so destructive this year. One farmer had a paddock of oats which ripened very car'y. and it was expected that the small birds would flock there in hundreds ; to thr surprise of everyone, however, you could only nee from 20 to 50 in the paddock at a time. I don't know whether they have been killed or have gone to other districts. Perhaps they are staying in the towns, which most of the farmers say are the only places they get peace to breed in. I think the town boards irhould work in conjunction with the* country settlers to destroy them. Poisoned grain could bs laid about the towns v/ith Jess danger than in ths country, as there are fewer poultry t-o suffer by careless laying. Roads. — Our roads are being overhauled by the grader, thanks to our energetic county chairman. I saw him taking a drive through the district a few days ago seeing to our wants which were pretty big with regard to roadmaking after the heavy rain in the eaTly pnTt cf summer, so he has sent the grader to put the Toads in repair before winter, which has not always been the custem in former years.

Bunny. — Rabbit-trapping has started again, but I hear the prices are very low this season --viz., 4d a pair. I think the buyers are standing in their own light by offering so low a "orice, as the trappers will not work and exert 'themselves at that rate. Now skins are a good r.rice, so the farmers will lay poison early :n the season and pick up the skina with their own hands, and thus the export of rabbits will be small unless better prices -are offered.