IJIXDG*.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 35

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April 23.— The fine weather experienced last week in this district ha«j enabled several small farmers to nuke some progies* with the cutting and stocking ot theit °rain crop in various parts of the district. The reaper and binder machine has been working in the. fields late anil eaily mowing the crops down, and now all that is required is a spell of fine weather to enable the farmers to secure their crops in good condition. It 13 manifest that the Hindon farmers are a long-suffering community, for in 11 con&cieuce they have been heavily handicapped during the current season with many trials and troubles of an adverse nature. Owing to the advanced period of the season, the ingathering of the harvest is still outstanding.^ The Mill Ttoad — The Mill road, connecting with the West Taieri road to Moegiel for wheeled traffic, to and from this district, is said la be unsafe even for light traps to travel up or down owing to the deep ruts or channels to be crossed along the fenced-ia line of road to Outram. It is high time thai the attention of the road engineer (Mr B. B. Couston) was called to the matter under notice, with a view to having wtne -repairs effected to this section of -the traffic load prior

.to the advent of winter. Our newly-elected xasmber for the Hindon division of the Deep Stream Riding. in the Taieri County Council does not travel by the Mill road., as his property lies in close, proximity to the Ma<ungatua road. Aa Mr Docherty's attention is son called to the state of the road, I trust be trill attend to the matter under notice. The -Rabbit Trade. — The crusade against tbe bunny tribe is being vigorously prosecuted at ixresent'in this district by several bands of Wrappers, and the rabbit carts convey the carcases to the Hindon Railway Station for freezing pnrposea later on. Tbe price paid at present for full-grown rabbits by "the agents is -fixed at 4Jd per pair; but the trappers state iKat this is not -enough, and are agitating for a higher rate per pair. The trappeTs occasionally experience a very rough time of it during their rambles over the tussock country in quest of bunny. Many of them work long hours, burning their midnight oil to enable them to make a good tally for the rabbit cart to lift the next morning. The bunny invasion has given employment to a large mimber of men and boys, while large sums of money are annually paid over to the country storekeepers,- etc.