"ROADS, ROADS, ROADS."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 4

"ROADS, ROADS, ROADS."

AND SOMETHING ABOUT RATES. From Mr. M. R. Murphy, of Ngamatapouri, thirty-five miles out from Waitotara, comes this letter:— 1. —If riding to and from school in all weathers is farm training, yes, as it is

making them liaTdj, but otherwise they receive 110 instruction. 2—We have 110 farmers in this district; we have not as yet reached that stage of elegance and luxury. AVo are simply farm-makers, and as suoli wo gvt as good as can bo expected, .3..—Yes, all liar myself. And' after living hero seven years without a. road I am advised by tho paternal Government that I must mako it myself, in spito of tho fact that I ■ am already contributing my share towards tho interest 011 .£4OOO, which wo liavo boa-rowed for the construction of roads and bridges—and from which tho Whakihawaka settlers will derive direct benefit and will not pay a penny 1 i—Yes. Tlio postal service is satisfac-, tory, although when the Whakihawaka Block is settled it will requiro extension, and it is hoped that it will be r done before next winter for the convenience of settlers on and around that block. s.—Yes, undoubtedly thoso who tako the trouble to attend them derivo great benefit from tile shows; also, those who do not, ns all competition tends to. keep up the standard of excellence. Another thing, peoplo who stick at home and do not go and see what other peoplo are producing are apt to think that thoy .Lave nothing to learn, and consequently stagnate, but even they benefit to a certain extent, because breeders of stud sheep must keep up to the standard of tho keenest flockmaster, as he is the 0110 from whom they get the, prices that pay. Tho sluggard drops in for tho culls, and probably prides himself on having got his rams at two or three pounds ciieaper than Ms neighbours, and says thai they aro pretty near as good, but 110 isrgets that his neighbour's rams will produce stock that will clip from two to four pounds more wool than his, that 110 will rear a greater percentage of hoggets, and also when they are sold will realise from three to seven shillings more per head. Tako three pounds of first-class Romney wool over a flock of two thousand sheep, and it means ! at the present time .£3OO a year. G.—Yes. The Department of Agriculture is of benefit, but, as I mentioned before, we are only farm-makers, and wo havo not as yet been able to practise what wo have learnt; but it will bo of use to us in tho future. 7.—There is practically no organisation here. B.—Renters of farms hero aro doing quite bs well as any of tho freeholders. 9 and 10.—The labour supply is quite satisfactory, and conditions on the farms are generally satisfactory. 11.—For'tho Government- to supply a cheap and efficient aeroplane service, so that one can get to town, to tho theatre or pictures once a week and back in tiino for work in tlio morning. But apart from that, iriiicih I don't think we will seo for ten 'years yet, there is tho Rangitatau Road, which should bo linked up with tho Nmunatapouri Road at Kaimannka, and should bo pushed on by tho Government as soon, as possible, so that tho back settlers can have easy access by level roads, instead of liaving to climb a hill about 2000 feet high. In fact, Toads, roads, roads, improved grades, and roads again 1