CHURCHILL.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 620, 1 April 1921, Page 5

CHURCHILL.

% 9 PROPERTY CHANGING HANDS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Quite a lai’ge number of pi'operties have changed hands in this and adjacent river districts during the past few months. The purchases made represent varying sized properties, from the small dairy farm of 50 acres to the large stock holding of 2000 aci'es. Most of the smaller areas sold represent sub-divisions of large holdings, and this feature of closer settlement is calculated to give a' great impetus to these parts in the near future. With the new Pukekawa-Churchill ' road, which is well under way, and with the various other reading projects, which give promise of becoming accomplished facts in the not distant future, the sub-division of large estates into small-sized dairying farms,, will be general. Some of the late purchasers are from various parts of thb North Island, and the South Island is also represented, while there is also a good sprinkling of returned soldiers, mostly all of whom have acquired their places through the Government.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. With the advent of new settlers in the district, the attendance at the public school has steadily increased, and the school, which, until recently, was a half-time one, is now open ■full time. The Auckland Board of Education recently authorised the painting and renovating of the building, and this work has lately been completed. Under the Department’s scheme covering the medical inspection of children, the Board’s medical officer lately visited the district, and carried out an inspection of the scholars. The school broke up, on Thursday last for the Easter vacation. Before dispersing the scholars, the headmaster, Mr Pendergrast, who is under transfer to the Whangarei district, took the opportunity of bidding them farewell. He also distributed a, tin. of sweets, presented by a local resident. At the instance of the master, three lusty cheers were given by the youngsters, for the donor. The Board has appointed Miss C. E. Armstrong to be mistress of the school. STOCK SALES. Since the completion of the new traffic ' bridge across the Waikato river, near Rangiriri, all settlements on the western side of the river have been well served in the matter of stock sales. The sales are held monthly at Rangiriri, and are conducted conjointly by the Hamilton branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, and the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co., Limited. Owing to these yards beingmade the chief buying centre by graziers from many of the interior and west coast districts, the Rangiriri sales are looked upon by settlers as being a good market, and large numbers of all classes of young and dry stock are regularly brought in from districts covering a wide circle. In common with all other parts, values at recent sales have receded considerably, but this, notwithstanding, prices obtained at Rangiriri are stated by auctioneers representatives to have compared more than favourably with prices obtained over the same period at larger centres in the Waikato.

The Farmers’ Auctioneering Co., Limited, Hamilton, has appointed Mr Lon. Wilson to be their representative in these districts, with headquarters at Rangiriri, WELCOME RAIN. A good fall of rain, which appears to have been general over districts

of the Lower Waikato, was experienced here at the beginning of last week, and this was followed locally by a very heavy thunderstorm, -later in the week. The rain was sufficient in volume to give a new lease of life to the browned up pastures on undulating lands, while it will be oef dulating lands, while it will be of material benefit to the turnip crops, which were practically at. a *standstil! on high land sowings. Following the break in the weather, team work has been resumed with a feverish activity, and grass seeding on all undulating ploughed land will now be possible.

ROAD MATTERS. Last week Mr Hawke, member for the Pukekawa Riding of the Raglan County Council, accompanied by Mr G. W. King, chief engineer to the Council, met the settlers of Churchill and Opuatia, and discussed with them matters which were brought forward at the meeting of ratepayers held recently at Churchill. An inspection of the Glen Murray-Church-ill road was made, and the engineer undertook to have substantial improvements effected at once, both on the Opuatia portion and also at the Churchill end of the road, from the Opuatia bridge westward. This work is to be carried out by the Council’s cwn staff and plant, which is now at the end of a long stretch of gradeeasement and road formation work, which has been undertaken from Pukekawa to the Glen Murray landing. It was also decided to raise the level of another portion of the road eastward from the bhidge, and for this work arrangements for the supply of labour, teams and the requisite earth for filling were made on the spot, and the job has since been commenced. Subsequent to the inspection, Messrs King and Wright (assistant engineer), accompanied by Mr Johnston (surveyor), again visited the locality for the purpose of laying out and pegging off the work. PERSONAL.

The many friends of Mr William McCutchan, son of Mr McCutchan, the well-known and popular member for the Whangape Riding of the Raglan County Council, who recently had to undergo several operations of a serious nature at Hamilton, will be pissed to learn that he is now making good progress towards recovery. News of the death of her nephew at New Plymouth was last week received by Mrs 'Chris. Jackson, of this district. Mr and Mrs Jackson left immediately, via the Main Trunk line, for the Taranaki centre, and had only arrived there when a message was received apprising Mrs Jackson of the death of her mother at Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Jackson were on the eve of leaving Churchill for the Easter holidays when the first news came to hand. Much sympathy is felt for them-in their dual bereavement.