ISOLATED WAIROA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 11

ISOLATED WAIROA.

MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR, ROADS. Mr. Alexander Sinclair, of "Inverleitli," Wairoa, in Hawke's Bay, 6ends this reP 'l.—l consider the primary schools of this district are fulfilling their part in tho training of our boys and girls for farm lifo, but there is great and urgent need for some provision being made for a wider agricultural kilowledgo being imparted through the establishment of a secondary school for this purpose. Wairoa is quite without tho advantages derived from such education. Owing to its isolation its children cannot participate in tho advantages of education offered by tho larger centres possessing secondary schools. 2.—Certainly tho farmers do not got the best returns lov their produce sold. Tho reasons for this are many. Wairoa is « port which in its present state, owing to difficulties experienced with the river bar, is very hard to work, and shipping is often at a standstill for weeks at a time. It is about equi-distaiit (al>out 80 miles) between Napier and Gisborne. Tho roads are unmetalled in great stretches, and as the place is without railway service of any kind you can easily conceive the difficulties that arise before a market is reached, and that many resources are undeveloped beciuiso of such difficulties. 3.—No. Firstly, becnuse there aro no railways tapping tho district. The East Coast Railway is only being commenced from tho Napier and Gisborne ends. Seeonly, tho roads are in a very bad state in proportion to the development of the district Miles and mile: of the main road

between Napier and Gisborno are without a vestige of metal, and it is my opinion that in a district such as this, so isolated and with such difficulties of transport, that the Government should assist tho local bodies in a greater degree to enablo thorn to provide better roads. 4.— No. From tho Napcr end the service is a fairly good one. There are two overland mails per week from tho latter place, and when the boats are running they carry mails in addition, but from tho Gisborno end tho servico is' badly arranged, and, in my opinion, requires revision. s—Yes. The district supports an A. and P. Society, and an annual show is held which is of great benefit to tho fanning community. fi.—Not up to the present juncture, but arrangements are now being made by which the sen-ices of the various officers and experts of the Department may be obtained and expert advice secured for the fanners of this district. 7.—Yes, fairly well. Although there is no local co-operative business conducted by the farmers, yet the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., has a branch and conducts a wholesale and retail business in the district. 8. Yes. Renters of farms are doing satisfactorily. 9.—No. It is most difficult to secure sufficient farm labour to work many of tho farms and stations, and for this reason development of the district is much retarded. 10.—Yes. Up to £2 per week and found is given to the average farm labourer, and his environments are healthy and all that could be desired as far as I can judge. 11.—The proper roading and providing of all reasonable means of access in order that the farmer might enjoy an assured way of getting to and from the business centres is, in my opinion, the greatest need of this district. This district i 9 without communication by rail, and its roads are in a very backward state of development, and considering the isolation of tho place I oonsider greater aid should be rendered by the Government in providing settlers in such a district with a sufficient compensation in tho way of good roads.