PAHIATUA & ITS POSSIBILITIES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2196, 8 July 1914, Page 13

PAHIATUA & ITS POSSIBILITIES

=,o=3 Fertile Ekek Gotaafcry to !b# Op«a@l Up " : '^i^

MEW ZEALAND, -with its leagues of prosperous countryside, is one of the great inounments to the spirit of the-British race. Its colonisation is a romance, and not tho least interesting of tlio incidents in it was tlio making of Pahiattm. It is a wonderful thing to drive through tlio miles of closely-settled country surrounding tho town of Pahiatua —perhaps tlio most closely ecttlcd in tlio Dominion — and to reflect that a littlo ovor thirty years agcthe whole district was an impenetrable forest without n habitation in it. To-day over theso same stretches of rural land the. s'moko is risinj; irom nearly eight hundred farm houses, and in tho midst of it stands a thriving , township wilh a population of 1500. Practically every acre of tho 193,000 acres in tlio county way hewn out of the solid and heavily timbered bush, and tho settlers may bo said, in the most literal sense of the word, to havo carved out their homesteads. Most of them aro doing very comfortably for themselves to-day, but in many eases it was a stiff struggle in the early day;?, unci on one occasion eaventcqu years ago disaster stared tho district in tho face. It was then that tho groat bush fires of ISD7 swept for miles across country, and many a sottler, after vainly fighting the flames for days, saw everything ho possessed destroyed before his oyes. nrd counted himself lucky to have got his family away without loss of life, I'ut thoso dayaaro long past, and all this last week tho peoplo of Pahiatua havo

Tie six sections cut up, and which now form tie. borough, wero those originally selected by Messrs. Mann anil partner; Mr. V."Wakenian; Mr. Taylor (two sections), afterwards sold to Mr. \V. AY. M'Cardlo aud Messrs;, f-edcoio liros.; Dr. Morrison, felled by Mr. J. Hughes and taken over by him; and Mr. Charles Avery, sold to Mr. J. Corbett, Mastcrtou. Tho visitor to Pahiatua who merely passes along the railway or tho main road sees little of the possibilities of tlio district. He does not realise that tlio valley of the Mangatainoka, along which he travels from' Ekclahuna almost to is but one of a number of big valleys lying approximately parallel with one another. To the west is the Mangahao Ilivcr and its tributaries, with wide fertilo flats running for miles towards tho heart of tho rangw, and to tho east the valley of the Tirumea, and beyond that again mile after mile of first-class sheep country, reaching right out t<> the coast. Speaking generally, it may bo said that between Paliiatua and the main range through the island lies tho dairying country, while between the town and tho coast aro the sheep farming areas, with sizable patches of dairying land scattered through them and factories dotted hero and there. Tho coastal lands comprise the Akitio County which has its centre at I'ongaroa, and is now linked up with Pahiatua by an up-to-date metor and coach service. During tho'summer months the motors havo been running right out to Pongaroa,

Dominion. Visit tho Pahiatua district, their shrewd views on things in general, mix with tho small farmers, listen to tasto their generous hospitality, watch their prido in their holdings, and their keenness to improve them, and you will begin to realise what a sturdy and prosperous yeomanry means to a country. It is tlio great human reservoir, on which the towns draw heavily for their brains and their vitality, and without which they could not exist. A Modal School. And when you havo seen the men who aro bearing tho burden of today tnko a look at tho citizens of tomorrow in tho schools. You will find them a healthy and promising lot of youngsters, and in Pahiatua itself you will be amazed at what has been achieved in the town school. One's general impression of a public school ground is of a place worn bare of grass, or very nearly so, with a shed in one corner, and a generally forlorn and unattractive appearance. Most people would consider it a ridiculous proposal to attempt to surround a public school attended by about three hundred children of all ages with grounds resembling thoso of a private mansion. The idea at once conjures up visions of broken shrubs, trampled gardens, .and tracks in all directions over such grass as is able to exist at all. Hut in Pahiatua tho impossible has been achieved. Tho school is beautifully situated on a terraco over-

Flourishing Dairying Industry. \ Kicli fr.cceedinß \\i.'s figures tell ihn story ot a healtn; , development in the dairvinn indnsln in thn I'ahiatus di-tiiit Inn JJalioiidi T),nrj Com- j p.>iij's butior laoion ,it- Komtii is die i i<l the target in Nr'n .Zealand, and iU ' l,\o great tlimns <iic capable ot turn-1 inn wul tons ol bmt'-r oaoli churn- I inj; The- daily output isoni this fac-1 tory ni l last smnmci '\as no , li " l tin n t:>r-(' ton-, of l:ii(>, uholpsnmo , buiter, th.i f nt tlic l'lilmersto.i 'Ai.itTi Mum i..nn within hall .i point of vin-] iiiiij; llic ilui.upionsliip "t the Dominion, i "I'll" f'ictor.i is under the cliargo of Mr j 1). Kelly, jintl liiia a upi-to-d.ite plint. llu> tlino srpaiitors can deal with n.Mih I'ODO k.-I.oiis oi milk per liout, thi'ie is ,i om fastcuriMiig and cooling p ant. n I'ercuL-h I irre/rr, .md a tlniouMi onuipr.i"nt for ' milk-tc.trn.;, etc. The jvihit for ilu fiicton is Irom a 10 liO rt -p-]Mi\\er horizontal Wood 's for t'rin?, but is RiTluailv hecon.mr moro, c\pilis'i'> to procure", nnrl supplies nov, j n t AIIOOP per annum Ues des the Konini factory, lhf» Uvllinrc T>iirv I Compiin luis another factrrv -it Ball.inco The output from this factory List -e.ison was 13fi tmi , :, while Konini prodmed iio t<iii r . 1"io iwo seasons | vomparal as 'Jiiticr.— I I 1012-13 1013-11 i Toms Toita. li.illanco Co 's !",r----torj's butter cuinut 528 spls p l

and Huknnui bears further ev'd«nce to | tho steady expansion ot tlio countiv trado. Tlio figures for the hndwi; j items in stock and wro) . cro jLccutlj j ' compiled by tho J'jhiiitiu "Ilcr.ild," ' ' and tho values workinl out. '11k so show ' ' that tho total value of wool, «hci>p, j 1 cattle, calves, and pig* ior tho 1013-11 i < season amounted to L-i'll.W- , , as | against £177,102 for the I'JI'.MS «.wm, j ' beinu an increase ot £ J 3,i;nl. The do- | ' tails aro shown in the appended table. , 10x3-11. 1012-1J ! Wool lOi'i.L'S 1!!()/)% '' ,Shei«|, 103,01,) li.Olfi , Cattlo 0,3 Kt . 3,UK> I Calves '2.'M 3201 I'iijs B,iu; s,oj; j ] Totals 1>20.832 KMOJ | Big Export of Sheep and Wool. | Thero was a rennrka'ble increase dur- ' injr tlio season in the number o> sheep I railed from tho district. 'Iho tot. 1 lor ! tho threo railway stnuo-is hi tho ucich- j bourbood was 122,'Jj1, ni 53,102 in ex- ' cess of last season, Tlie imi.ato i'i i this ,vcar's i returns i c part l> duu to tho i fact that in consequence of tho hutch- ' cr's strike in tho eaily part of last jeer ' a larj;o mimbnr of fat sheep jure not sent forward till sonic ve n ks I,'tcr th.>n I usual, and after the 101*2-1913 depait-i mental returns had been compiled. I Movertholoss, the s'-asoa has been a j most favourable one for sheep-fa. :neis, i and exceptionally high prices n.v. o ruled i

\ trict -Ail l as (.te.-dl'.y expand. Air. E<i- : I die's firm hao been dcseriLcd u some lei.jjth, .is it is typicr.l of wl.ui. is being dt.no bj l'aliintiin'tt entorprising settlers Dairjinn lar.d ii , tlu> county now selU 1 at from ilO to JCoO, find iins meica^cd i by 100 per •■out. 'I'irinß the last tor. J je.irs S" , enl ucII-I'iohp stuck-brocd-cri aio lo Ik; foi'iid i:i tho d'str'ct and incK.de Mr. W. Mitchell, of Kn-imw..: I rud Mr. J. Hcv'utc, of Manyamairc , , I ■ \il o'e i'.om:ic\s have a B'dv> reputation. ■Mi. \V E. C. IMee't- Limolp Hock is ' 'd lie loiind .u A lakur:, and in sti'a i i.ittle the.e are Mi. ljijlis'a Holstoins I aL Jl.in t ;at,,inoka Somo Local Industries. the industries of the district the North Island ISreworj Conipar/s jbnvnrj, whence (ernes tl.o well-Kiio'Mi "Tui" licer, must r.ct br torgotUn 'Jhi> >\as e.stabhslied twent. \par? .ino h\ Mr at tho bite l ot a spring of tlio clearest n«vr 1 Mnnpataimika Some jear? hack >t "as I taken ovei b\ Meesra Cowan who 1-aro i preath e\tonded tho Tiorks and Irougiit tho plant iii>tn-ditc. In the Ir.st \ea; iho turao\or nas C 730, whereas 'as* \e.ir it had pronn to £20,000 Tho slocl- carried in tb'i latt' month v.is 27G ha^slicid , : New plant is in I ruifqp of installation, ai.d ny N'ovemI her the brewrr* will ha\o a coi.iplete "'; pinnt Othei local indi.stnc aro Messrs, Dean Hros.' fellmorpeij, Messrs.

whish sinking f ands were established. Tho ntcablo value is £233,360. Tho borough was established in 1892, tho first Mayor being Mr. Jot) Vile Tho present Major is Mr. J. D. C Cr'avo, and tho members of t.'io council are: Messrs C ft. .Clifton, D P. Davidson, T. F He-.vat. v\ Mekalick, J. W. Mills, ■T. II Richardson, 0 A Vile, F. H. V.,icent. and J. D. Wikoii Mr. G. C, Sillier is 'loun Clerk, and Mr. S. Pal ker overseor. Progressive Association's Work, The residents of Pahiatua bau- al- J w i»ys slion-K t!ii> keenest ; ntcrest in the I mi'iroveirert ol tho town und tho adruiic.'iner.t of t!,c district. Soipo t«o ' years ago a Progressive. Association was formed, and set iisolf to tho tnsl: of moving things along generally It is, ■lup to itie cytorpiisc of t!:e association that this 'article ]ia-> tten written, aii.l alreiidv Pahiatua has much to thank it for It has, lor instance, bce:i iristrumental in 'just about donblii.R the jiumj her of subscribers to t!>o telephone ex- | change by assisting in the formation of gtoups of oet'thrs tc join in oil party hues lir.kcd up with the tGW'i ex'jluiMge. A '".iniival was organised and held Irst ucek for the purpose of raising money to purchase tne last reT.pinfog'-block of bush ji.st outside the borcigh fs a j scenic rcs n no. It ; -was duo At the association tliat thn railway ofation and stock yards wera improved .onLatterly ; t nas interested itself ,p ■induoi'n r ; tho

beeli bestirring ithomsclves, not to (jet bush down, but to koep it up, and secure tho last twolvo of bush land war tho borough as a permaucut scenic reserve. • A Fertile County. * Pahiatua is probably tho most closely subdivided county in tho Dominion, and great as tho production of the land is today, it will increase rapidly during the next few years as the fiolds aro gradually stumped and ploughed. Tho county has a special interest to Now Zealandere, as it wa3 one of tho homos of closer settlement. Tho Pahiatua. Village Settlement, near what is now tho township of Mangatainoka, was tho first village settlement in tho colony, and the liallanco Special Settlement, sonio miles distant, marked also tho beginning of an important now experiment. Curiously enough Pahiatua itself was originally a privato township, and began as a Cinderella among tho surrounding Stato settlements. But it proved a lusty infant, and soon becamo tiio market town of tho district. Tho growtli of tho borough is duo to the fact that it is not only in tho centro of tho wido and fertile valley of tho Mangatainoka, but it is at tho junction of the roads leading lo tho Mangahao Valley, on tho ■west, and to tho Tirumea. Valley and tho Pougaroa and Akitio districts on tho coast. The opening up of tho Pahiatua Block was largely duo to tho activity of-'.Mr. W. W. M'Ardlo. (now tho lion. W. W. M'Ardle), who brought tho matter bofore tho Government of tho day repeatedly. . The. block was surveyed by Mr. Percy C. Frasi in 1879 and 1880, and on February 8, 1881, tho sections were offered at auction at Masterton. Of tho whole block of 30,000 acres, only thrco sections were left unsold, no it will bo soon that the public had a lively appreciation of tlu possibilities of the district even in those davs. The first selector was Mr. W. Wakeman. tho first person to build a liouso in what was afterwards tho town was a Mr. Taylor, and tho first person to fnll bush was Mr. John Hughes. When tho sale took jilaco a sum of money belonging to Mr. A. J. Ralfonr t formerly Prime Minister of Great Britain, was lying in tho colony for investment, and Mr. Balfour's attorneys purchased for him a block of GOOO acres just to tho south of tho present township and fronting, the main road. A smaller area win also bought through tho Public Trustee for Admiral Field. Thcso two blocks have constituted the only big estates in tho county. That of Mr. Halfour has been considerably reduced by tho sale of sections from time to time, and now comprises between 3000 and 4000 acres. Just to tho north of the borough, and immediately adjoining it, lies tho Wellington City endowment of ]pOO acres. This was grunted to thn city at the time of thn abolition of the provinces in 1875, and is now an effectivo ohstacb to the expansion of tho borough to the north. Agitations have been carried on from time to time for tho re-iimption by the Got ermnont of the Un'fniir estate to (he south, but so fnr without result. Littlo Government Aid. The town of l'aliiatua was formed by Iho subdivision of tix of tho original sections fronting the main road. The main ro.id, it should bo oxjilaiinxl, was originally laid out with a width of throe chains right tlirony,h the block, as it was intended lo accommodate both road sii'l railway. The county subsequently obtained power to dispose of tho extra width of road on either side, but tho portion through the borough was retained, and is Pahiatua's principal reserve. About four acres have been laid out in four squares, and planted much to the enhancement of the town. An acre at. either end is still available for planting, and will be laid out as time goes on. The borough has had next to nothing from the Government in the past in the way of endowments and reserve*, and it is*urged that tin . State should consequently give more than ordinarily liberal assistance to tho efforts of the townspeople to acquire grounds for public purposes and othcnviie develop tho district.

forty miles distant, but in tho winter the stato of tho road makes it impossible to tako tho motors further than Makuri, twenty miles out, the remainder of tho distance being covered by coach. Grants for the improvement of tho ro.id have, been promised repeatedly, but so far have not been available. A Cood Road Needed. A first-class road to l'ongaroa, suitable for heavy motor traffic, would givo an immense impetus to tho wholo district. With modern road construction tho possibilities of the motor for tho development ,of tho country • are enormous. What New Zealand needs to-day above all things is dclinito data as to the cost and maintenance of motor roads. This can only bo determined by experiment and\ it is only reasonable that tho Government should give tho counties a lead in tho matter. The building of a motor road from Pahiatua to l'ongaroa would, it is contended, not only bo of tho greatest service to the district and amply repay its cost, but would be an invaluable object lesson for the whole of the Dominion. Elsewhere some account will bo found of Pahiatua's project for a railway to Pongaroa. Tho general feeling in the district seems to bo that if the Government decides to tap tho Pongaroa district by the Masterton-Waipukuran loop lino instead of by a branch from Patiiatua, it should at least give con-

looking tho town, and the five ncros surrounding it are a Joy lo behold. Five .years ago tho land was covered with stumps, but tho enthusiasm of Mr. J. Thomas, tho headmaster, and tho support of the townspeople, who soon showed a characteristic interest in tho enterprise, have given Pahiatua a school that is unique in tho province. It has becomo a tradition with tho scholars to preservo their school grounds and buildings. A more impressive demonstration of tho extent to which public spirit and an appreciation of beautiful surroundings can be developed in a heterogeneous assemblage of some hundreds of children it would bo difficult to find. That instinctive resuest for tho righte of others which Mr. Thomas and his assistants have instilled in tho children of l'ahiatua should count for something in tho fiitnro of the district. Some xlay, as better means of communication arc gradually established, it will be possible to build up big schools under the charge of such men as these, and incidentally give them more adequate recognition of the invaluable- services they are rendering to tho State. A Loading Stock Centra. Now that the reader lms gained some slight idea of the spirit of the place and tho sort of people and country he in amongst, he will be interested to hear what l'ahiatua is turning out annually ill tho way of butter, wool, fat stock, and so forth. First of all, the town is

throughout. Kstimated at a'l. n-.Tags of 17s. per licad, th« totrl vrluo of the IL'L'.L'M sheep wasiKM.'Jl';) The ,imii. ber forwarded fiom tho ('ilfeieiii Jl.itiona was as follows.:— Piiliiatuu , 113,(iT) MaiiKatninoka '!,050 llukamii 4,31:0 Total VJ'J.'JM Thu bulk ol the slu'ep luilcd aivay went to tlio freezer. ..The quantity ol wool sent awry l.ai not quite up to the ;mcviohs jeai. It comprised, biiuc\pr, "t!ie <mo total oi 0433 bales, includiii|> uU79 fiini }"n!n.itua. 572 from Maugntainokn, end ls'J from llukamii. Asscislil :u Lib ,)er bale, the. wool dip to tlio Tshiatua trict (luriiis the 1913-14 season an worth at least As th" sbttjKrowers of the district arc constantly improving tik-ir flocks—chieliy Jtoniuej mid Lincoln —and 113.1 American 111111kets aro opening up, t!:e prospects Iro generally considered to -be- \'oiy bu^lit During tho 1913-11 season "S9l ncatl of cattle were railed hom this disim-i, tho number liom the robpc(h\u >.lations being as follows — I'ahiatun , 7.V> Mangalainokn 'V.' Hukaiiui 101 Total 691 Estimated at JCG rx'r the .ij;i;rfgato value of tlie 891 Mentioned \\n*, £•5316. The 1912-1? season's nulm-

Increase for scrsor., 53 tons, or 10 I>C" OC'll. I'iVitvr is nlwi bouiß r.ir.m'fjcturcd .it Mnni'.at.iiiioli.i in ilio Urul.e's -Bay Djin Coin]..in,\. !>ut a laigu portion of iho cre.'m is leceiiod Loin tho Woodwllc disluct. (,'te.im is a , so sciit out ol the disti ct I'almrrston North and Maslcrtcn A competent r.iitbontv "-timatos tho qtruni.it> ot bu'tcr inado in tho district ijori fonrco- other than iliotp tnpi cd liy the JJnlhnce Dairy 'A.np.iiij :it about 1C!) tons, por aiinuin. 'i'hco bio li\p cli'T.v factories ai work in the l'nliHiun distinct", and tliosu fchov siim'.aily encouraging incier.Hs in their output. The /inures for tlio two last se.i. ons coit.j\iro a's under.— ]01 IMS 101 Ml. I'-jii s. lons Urxdilr 1!M '.'!>7 MatuaUmoU.i 17CJ 195 "'ararua iO'J ll'. , Kai a.u hi r <i Man,;ci van. '- S5 Totn' for district i>ls fC3 limcnsc for scuSun, 191 tons, or 3 1 1)01 CC-Ilt. \i ciirront prices tlif «a]ue of the butter production loi t'ic ser.'on f>lll bo ;>t't at aliout £"1.000. and o f t!;o cheese, at tIj.OOO lisuni.-ting tho value oi the butter liy-|)iodiicts at 20 per f-pnt , and thoio fiom choese at 10 per ce.it., .• furiher 1 1 1,000 lias to br £cW«d Tins bi ings the value ct the oairun" production for 'lie district 'luring tho past 3ci£o!i op to £130,000, a irry resiicctatjlo total. "With the Milup nf the sheop, vool, r.nd cattle railed nnni, as epi out nbn\e, it "\ill bo seen tint tho prand total of the prrdutiioii, «iih fie chir , - ins added, in:i.s into oio, £350 00(1 ptr aniiiin.. Ae there aro ■".bout 3000 rcaidcnt-s—mon, noinen, mil children — !n tlio rum' diotr.cts o c tlio coiintr•."cclmlinu tho to\\n of I'alnttiia tin's •vorks oji rt about CIW vot head per nnniim, or. say ioCfr per fi.wil} _ in .iddiilon, tbno to he tiKen inlo ron side rat 1011 tne value of tlie rlir>. <lo drucn oik of tre ilnfrlrt, and cf winch no tecord ; s obtainable. Pr.3sib!Mtlss of tlio Fiitim. In a fcv. jea's" time tho protiiiction of the count!\ «ill 1)0 i:itre?syl h\ tlie ii'mni'il nl I lip 'I<mJ iitiibei still Ijing'about i:io,st nf Mie sections I'roir. HTOids K pt on flifTciL-.it fa.ms, it is a leason.iMe limn; tr s,a\ 'hat when tlio stiiTiipiii!: and ldrii'iiiii 'up air completed tlin p[O'!i.ciinn of 'he tomiU v ill s'lov i' <;ion"th of f'llh one huiulied per cent One settlor v.lio Ins kept sjste.natia r<Torih is Vi \ feddie of Ui • Xα:i;'..ili'io .1 ml lie stales that _ ; n Ins own ci>c sliinuiiiii; iris cnablre' him. to mrr.-v p tlio nrcdin-tiicno's of his l:>nd liv fiillv '.'OO |.n cnit. Or ad-nnrab]}-ncpt t.'rm of 111 r.crcs he now cirries*sp\en horse.. '22 nnlkeis, I.'! \c?,rlmcjs, and 1(10 sbe.v, hw IrsiJei '.1 tin.- , n'chaid and «;ird?n t ttlylc a piece of r Hiimp in one roiner line >et to ho (Iniiicd. '''lirouprli tho sULime"- he nas nble to era-o -o cov °, on CI nrrev and 1.1 rddihm r."ii in the 'liapglit hors.es if to tne sr.nie icp(l f'om tinu to time i!"lorp llie- plnce was dumped and jilniiKhril it eairied about <i.io coh to tt'iee acres Si. , . Eddie is well I'.no'vn ,11 n. breeder of Jo":p\s Mid soni > excellent .Terse.- stork is tc be seen gramc nn Ins ])r.stnres. li w u s iie :\\i3 oniiPtl tint f.i.iu.is -lid 'OM (iiiiiinv .Kil;e main othei faru In* winter !e"cl \ a 9 put down '(.me innntli' !i te this M'or to tli.> d»la\ in fari.i work (.inse'l li\ tli. , iilseti-" of viiiiijipr member , ! (jI tin- f.Mi lU in Vu.i|m»tfli, lii Ipipjr to prosiMw i.kl.t 'iii(l ci I pioduce iiwh> dilriin; Ih • Mnl.e 'i'li ■ -up.lis tli.it I (>i- ~i,l ill .it (In , Jimp. 1 Mii't sbow :i vi'rv |icilll'\ ijiow'li. iiiiiiiihi; iii "urn. f is. s Li .1 -ipoi! JOIIi . 01 liieie•iLiints \s V.i Kldie points i nf tlip 'ii'il" j.'irti'in of I'if I'.ib'.itui ibstiid «as poiiih <r..r--nd mill infii'uis. 1 ,111.1 ii'.Mirt.ihlo iMi\tuies ,i,i'| I 1 r !>e-l ns-ill < Miiii'il Iμ i'l'l inif'l mini lII' Mini- lie MiiiK'cnlh <]< 11 nf tnnl-M fill pl'i'izl. .I" ll'd < lII*•mik i(, linn; i)iish'"l .-"iiraa •■» Uic 11101" wul« , on 1 )l'» f,iriTi»'j, and a) L iti wo;tf_sscj tAo ptadu |, itlcu cl taa 6?.-.

Stoker's sa.sh .ind door factory, Messrs. i'.iucke v s roacii factorj, and tbc "\erkp Hheie Mr. 0. I , Da'-i.-lsor. manufactures In celebrated iiiilk-iiCRIiP". Messrs. Jljucl.u and Co.'s to.ich wo.ki, w'uch v< r<* established in .lf-03, rir hoiiser! in a i:uil('in» 13L J K. by Cfl r t , ami r.io equipped jvjth a plant cauable ol bi'ilduijj; anytliinf; from «ravt" to ir.otor bodies. I'oujr for the planing macliines, e;\w benches, etc., is j.ro* ided an 8 h.p. <ra.s engine it is thanks to -Mr. Davidson, of I'aliiatu.i, tiir.t t!.e old <lisp<it«!> bedairy 1.-ctories and s-ippliers a.s lo )h<> ai:ioi-ni ol skin milk due to oicl: ina.i ha;o lieeli -puJcd. Hit automatic machine liio, s*opned ,i!l that in the '100 f.actoru';. in the Doiiuiiloi*. in wlne'i it is 'iisti.!led. Now, lihrii milk come*, into ;■ facton the niiiiiat;ot lies only to take tf.e weight actu.illv leceivetl fro.n a supplier, send tlip milk down Muoiigh the separator, and then lix tlu< c'amp on tie se.ile ot the Davidson weigher against tho iiiiinbor ot pollens received. The nnehnip dopi the rest, and weighs out nmoniatiVallv the exact qiiantilv' ol mill:, deducting or.e jiouud ui'i of each, Ral'on fur tin , orcrm dniv.n of. AVhcii the prescribed imount has bcon (!rnMn ofi the liiachino stop , !, and .'an onlj bo started bj tho rnsnagu. Ecrcugh Enterprises. Th" borouf,h ei.torpriscs incl.ide tho installation of water end .septic-tank

Gorcrnmcit'to Jbuild a neiv ;»ost office in a iiiorc central position,, find :t if -also norkiug for tho of t!ic :o;.d fijm tho railway smtimi, tho iWde'iii,g of tho snigl. , brHnes o:i it., ma tlio siiortf iri.iß 01 the bridge across the Mangatainoka. The chief works wilier :!io 'lesirps to seo p u ' i'l hand are. honcwr. tho completion and Improvement of the 'principal mad" in the Lae!;-( , t miitr\ distiicts. As the loca* remnrke' l the other <Kv, the mute cf the main r'tfad out to tlic coast is rnuiked by stranded Toarlirs ana other lo'iiclb-.. It in contended by the association ie is time such roKditions ivcro Gilded in a district with 'lie possibilities of. tho j'aliiah'a-Akitio counti The ttld-n----iiiK anJ improvernnnt o' tbo'rna'ii road to M.'ikuri is batllj nerled, and the County Coiitifit li'is on .iiiMumo/al)!" n'c•'.'isloii- hid tho meiifs of the \wnk bcfoie the of the d?y. A Much-Needed RoarJ. Tno .short misiiiii 'inks or. other ro.«k have to be put i 1 to joi'i -j|i bis :norc-o_r-l»s-isolated distrid->. O'M of the.s? is what is Known a.s the M-.kSirn-Coor.o.vr Road. Sis; ip.il(.s of bridle track lice needs to be uijpncd i.ut t"> a di ij roaH to provide direct nofcts fron l'a--I'iatua'to tiiv- Ri-inn Sun lifocK and llangator> Valley It is i"TdrTi'tnofl that th< of tins wmK .viii slioitiv bo out in liantl b\ lhe Rovcrnincpt. Tho road, v.ben onr.inlolcd «ill r.ot only be cxtiemely \:>.ir.aulc lor settlement-i

nection between that centre and l'ongaro:i by a modern road. llio town.spooplc and settlers of l'aliiatua arc working together with a will for th(! advancement of their district in every possible way. They have, done a ijrea't- deal for themselves 1111aidrd, but there are certain matters in vhich they feel they have a light to the assistance of the State, and it is the object of this article to direct attention to some of the more pressing of these, while at tho same time giving tli<> general reader an idea of ihe fertility and resources i.f the district. The most valuable product of I'ahiatu.i is, of course, the human product. If the prosperity of New Zealand depend:- on ihc farmer, as we nil know it tine. , *, well, there is more of him here to tho square milo than probably auy.whore clw in the

one of the biggest stock centres in tlio Dominion—it claims to bo the third Impost—ami the number of cuttle put through tlic yards each Tuesday is remarkable. There are throe firms of stock auctioneers represented in tliu town. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., tin , NVw Zealand Win and Mercantile Agency Co., 1.1 d., and Messrs. Abraham and Williiiins, litd. All three linns soil each week, and in addition sales are held of pigs, poultry, etc., on Saturdays at Crowe's auction mart. The number of sheep and cattle yarded during tin: twelve months ending June, IDI4, was ns follows:— Sheep IF-yl™ Cattle '.'7,1)0a Tho UaGic through the tbreo railway it&tiouc of PahiatUß, MaDgtUuioka,

totalled 620; tho IOIS-M one thus representing an increase oi "Go head Calves numbering 2,jSt, valued at £1 per bead, were also truckcl from the thici stations. A valuable sourc? oi income m the dairy farmer, and a b\-pu»dnct mmh i» demand i<; the pig. J'ahiatua pinker , " have a reputation for evcUi nci, and (according to tho louil papcO (lir* in »t hams mid bacon ai. l Ilinii , \ huh come from the disluct. l-'oi (lie VH.V II period 1"iI0 pigs w<*rp ipili"! Imiii I'nliintun,' (i/7 fiom M.ingat uiuiLi .liiil l'.'7li tnmi lluknnui. tln> ttU.-.l briug ;i. v ill-J. Valued at <4T 8- pel Inn I, il» return t.i ill.. m-Ulpi, -v.is mill In addition to tl»> slock i.iilnl t«-j\ niHiiv bundled shrep and citiV of which there n no record obUuiabK are driven to uelßbbburiag juttictt.

diiiinc R<> services o:. wliirh .1 sum of | i'lii.OOU was CNponiUul bbc ago. (Jas is supplied by a private company, ami tlif cuuiici! is now liming a rppo-t IHtnnu I 011 an electric lighting sMicio A -.uniming bath, (i'Jft by 10ft.. \ins limit uit'i tlic ai'istance of tiio Corona\lull sub.-nh tl'ree ..ours rgo. Thoro is 1 In. -.tatiun liiJ I.' of ten nioni-lii-i-, diii>"of wliO'ii sleep's at tno iir» slntion 'i'li" borough liai a libra , _\ ami "itli a Ht-li nvsurloil colI mm ion of 2"ii1l! b00 , * , ! A lpcreation ii'vhr ol II.; .iries was I>mi!>!it '.v tin , oouiiri! ton \?ar« b.ick, pud tliorc is .1 Diiuiii'i 'Hi an isliiml in tho river, the" p.nt of uhicli li.i< bo":i t-v.-pt ■i'\ ,i\ nv «uccp>-nr (looc'f, only four j ,n >rs oitl ol ipii irniMiiins- Tlip total mH«bicnn?is of the hcrciyl, i f £•?! 50(1, 'rhich rvill Iμ, roductd bj £4000 in four ;e»» bv tbo gu'-flUjag of lo«» ioi;

club, ■'vlnci- is one cf the oldest in Netr Zealand, ho'd= meets rogiiHrly throu{;hout the reason Tne Pahiatiu Kaciif; (Mul. which owns a <;ood course a tnilo Oi so our of ton a, lest 'ts tctalisator jhTiint when the r.acins; Ccnmission tlie niimlwr of win" lavs three jci , s ago It h..d previously purchased ". I'lork of f> > acres, ard >ai't out a siIl; of £4000 oil tlio lacecourse Tic ivo(lpy wci't'ji" was .1 Lop':lar one. and r.as tlio centre tor .. tiidi* distuct, ineludinj; the i\liolo of the .Witio. VToo'hill l has •loeii to,retain four irring P"i aiiiniiii, ai.d then tiirre is I'ot'iaif; until i«r lcithed. tinin oi. tlio ;n,\ttcr hivo hmi maUi -, 'to the Go\erumen' from tirro to time, and v>l! piobabl;- Ijo ron'inucd v.-itli PaLiatu.i's usual persisteiiW Fovs? for t're Futi:ro In pist jijis Paliuiii.i lias stifiiuoiislj lor the tfo\clopii.cn t of tho «atei-pp«cr rmiiii 15 to waste in the Ypl-.m_Goice. liie <listri( t, which is fiilh nii\e to tie ot naterponrr, -'s tlic of tho •wjrk -it I.aKt! Colcriduo v.ltli l.itciest. In a icpjri on th> s Mal-mi ttliome, Mr. 1 J .■• IJ.'. '-a'd '>op'd a^o: — '•l!i"re is a lall of about in about two .rid 1 1-mi.irtri -niles 111 tho Mnkun Oerp;', starting from the ford hi ,,, )*." the to'\'i-i)ip. Tlio natcr oould b° taken from the river r. little belctr tho j'ord. 'Hi" area of *hc river Iv.mii -ibf>.-( ;his poiiit, is about 3S square miles With s. small sufßcient

purpoiei, but will r r c ule a ciiculnr loutc rf sixtj- miles through some <-t tin* finest Mrcncrj iii tlio North Island. A I'ahiauia readout \>ho knows tin. Wind ti.or<v:jMy say , ; the onK thi.ij; lie F.iis see'i k to ouch the Mskiiro is the icvnny dovi the Tairjhrakau id inland Tor.iiiaki fho h° r S<? i'ocpci llun the Tar.LaraLau, and ti:e ior.d line ram at a befght of about six cliainv aljovi' ilio str".uii. to wliirh the liilhuM t'opo-, at ar angle of spxeiity d^ifes Another Cap to b3 Eritlgetl. The sft-ond 'o.nl Aaiitctl is ili« mmplttini or t!ic sivru'io f;ap on the 3'uKctoi I!«,ul. This is .mother important, ■ norV which «mll pne shoit to •. lai^i , mur.bfi of tcttbrs on ih" Alfred-ton-W'-'hcr Ro«il, and in the unst district Thrte ii"titio-i& hive boor put in fos thia V>M at diiTerent times, ajd it

?; fs;eatSa-V\S.i : .:■■; ;.Wr# , V^*ir}?>ir :^:.!(l:::raci!iivrnni;^; SjK ::; i: r '>;»*!s.ifii> .■■W^.^ftjs^ ; aft.i\^ifc , ; : jMi}Ei: I-; ;; W)" .Wieinp^srfriieJAiin;!■^stfc^ijicV'tiiJvc^ , <■■' : .&# i<! ?M ;4l>A jviCinlJHte-' «; -rftb^fit' •- t ; :/C?mlfpn^fxyg"a;;siri^li;p^ir:EcJieas;: , ;:^^^: t^?^tt : 'iS;■l)uiltiP■■■■ ; i«:i■■: ;

1% understood that the long-deferred hepo? of tl'o'eettlors iro about to bo realised at last Tlw, road iviil , pass Mi. Moored Puketoi Station, and'7.ill serve country capable of supporting a , 'joiisiderp.blo - , . Stock Rcuto to Shannon. ' ! F'Jially it is contended that a stock , ] road across t:i6 ranges to Shannon , would bo a useful undertaking. A gap of fiv<> miles,as the crow fiies.now 'separates Oio road<> on the eastern and western s des of tho main range,"and if tho ' intoneinr.g country vero .cleared sitfii- ■ ciently to enal lo ttock to he driven , tliro;itih, journeys of many miles by roundabout routes would bo saved. •The sa'ldlc tc be cro, c -scd' if* only 1000 feet in loiKht. ~ ' . ; - ' Tho ofiicors of tho Progressive Association, wiiir l . lias bw" oerthig itself " - so actively for t'io distric', arc: Mr. E. llancke. president; Mr H: M'Sherry, ' . iec-prcsi'ioat, an<l tlie coniniitteo cor.sists of Jlorsrs. P. Tulloch) 3. t). "Wilson, V. Thoi'npscn. E. B. H:iro, G. A. Y:lc, L K. I*. Banger, and W." 'WaKenian. ' Attractions for Visitors, ' - As 3 i.o'.idav resort tho country around P.iliiatua is not v.-it'tiout its and tho trrut-tishlng in the, Makun \ I?ivnr has orouglit many vlsilotj: to the ('istrirt. Tho srenen - on .tho Mikuri '. Go r Ro-M.ika ; ro Gorge', shortly io be' opened np'by'tlia new 'oad,, will bo rell - ,worth sreiiig. It tho'town itself there are good tennis and bo\\lin- dubs, and also tvo social clubs.- The local hunt