WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4063, 30 July 1884, Page 3

WOODVILLE.

[l- ROM OUB OAVN COEBESI'ONDENT.] The political storm that has been raging during the last four weeks has left behind it now that it is over, such a tranquil and all-pervading calm, that I actually could not "-ather together sufficient items of neAvs to make up my usual letter last .week. You must accept this "no news" as good news, and it is the only excuse I can offer. Convalescence is reported, I am glad to hear, in the sufferers from the recent accident in the Gorge, and there now- seems every reason to hope that nothing more serious than severe shakings will result from

it. Tho bridge over the .Manawatu river at the Upper Ferry is not being pushed on very fast now, the winter rains making it impossible to do so. The system now adopted for sinking the concrete foundations for the piers is : that of a huge iron box beingsunk down, n, high pressure of air being maintained inside of it, thus keeping the water from rising, something like tho principle of the diving-bell. Four men work inside at a time in shifts of four hours each gang, and thus tbe gradual sinking is attained. As soon as tho required depth has been reached cement will be laid, and the foundations will then be complete. This plan was, I believe, the only one in which, those engaged in the work had any confidence, from the commencement, and it seems that the various other methods Avhich have been tried, and proved unsuccessful, were adopted through force of circumstances. However, it is satisfactory to see the right plan adopted, even if it comes last on the list! The only aggravating . thing is that if it could havo been done this Avay at first the bridge might have been by this time very near completion. I have not heard what success tbe application for money for the Lower Ferry bridge met . with, and it is probably too soon to expect any result until the iicav Parliament meets. But with two members "to work fpr it, like Messrs Macarthur and Smith, there is every reason to hope for a satisfactory issue. This bridge should be of even.-more value to the Woodville settlers 'thai; that at fhe Upper Ferry. I believe 'that fully' £300 a year is paid by Woodville for the use of the Lower Ferry at the present time. Talk about indirect taxation, I think this might be called a very direct tax upon.all,the necessaries of life. All out articles "come via Palmerston, from flour clowii to a box of pins. In fact lam rather surprised at the Woodville settlers, myself amongst, them, who have been so vociferous in their demands on the subjects of land and some other things of general as much as local. importance, and have overlooked sucli'a huge stumbling block, to our prosperity as this heavy'tax upon the articles of our everyday, consumption;' Charity should begin strictly at home, and I am afraid we have been, guilty, of neglectiug_ our own interest's in the height of our anxiety to attend to those of the public- at large. We must place it in the hands of the _ Settler s Association, and I am sure it willm future receive the attention it demands. ; . Talking of" that body, andl always find myself alluding to it, I am-proud to say that it was lately, most highly, eulogised by a public'man in an adjoining county. Be described it as a useful and energeib; body, and one that Avns much required in a district like ours, and foretold the day whenit would have achieved many good results. We have been chaffed about the RAveeping manner in which tho Association deals AA'ith everything under the sun of local interest, but looking at if as others see it is apparently the most satisfactory point of vieAv to take of it. Some pooplo say that out of' every, five settlers hero three belong to a local body of somo sort, and the other tAvo at once form themselves into an association to look after the first three. This is some•what near the truth, but so long as the regies are good what it ? ■

Somo neAV settlers have come amongst us of late, and will prove desirable acquisitions to the settlement, being chiefly men of a little capital. " Another of the original settlers has sold out, and two or three more are, I believe, contemplating similar action. Let it not be thought that these meu are leaving the Bush, however, for they are not. The prices realized by them have by _no means.been such as would give the impression that the the sales were forced. On the contrary, money has been made in each case, and will be laid out in the purchase of large blocks of bush land. The real truth is that forty or fifty acres will not support a family, and this is chiefly why owners are parting. Aud yet the all-wise and inconvincible Waste Lands Board will persist in putting small blocks of land in the market, and thus enticing unpractical men to purchase thereon, only to find out eventually what our settlers are finding out today, that farms of that size are totally incapable of supporting a family. When is this all-important matter going to receive proper attention, and when is tbe Bush, that vast field of settlement, going to have its affairs managed in a style that will produce more favorable results ?