Ashurst

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 76, 17 December 1889, Page 2

Ashurst

(fbom otjb own oobebspondbnt.) Ashurst is growing rather rapidly. "Within the past few months,, each storekeeper has had to enlarge his shop ; a second public hall had to be built; an extra blacksmith established himself ) now another new store is in course of erection, and the people themselves feel an increase of importance They have tried for a Town Board or a Borough, and it is a pity they cannot ' get either ; but patience and • further growth is what they need and the Borough will come in due course. Some of the settlers up the river on the Foxton Block seem anxious .for a separate Boad Board, but it appears premature to hope or try forthatl The possible income from the proposed new road district might pay a clerk if. he would, take., a small salary ; but what they would do for funds to make roads with is a problem tha^ -; would puzzle the keenest aspirants for"*} Koad Board honors to solve. If the Pohangina Ward of the Kiwitea District, and ward No 6 of the Manchester were to join and take in the proposed new road district there would be a better chance of something being done, but,. query-r-Wonld. No 6 separate from the Manchester District, make Ashurst. its centre, and by its roads up the river bring traffic and trade to Ashurst instead- of letting, it go to * Feilding ? • In going from Ashurst upthePohangina I notice the roads in very good condition at present ; but the gravel on the road'through the bush- above the mill, is not thick enough, a great deal of mud is nirxed with it and a little rain: and. some heavy traffic would make a bad road of it again. The fire which passed through Mr Warne's felled bush has done considerable damage, a few places are burnt off clean * but most of the ground is only cleared of leaves, and some years must elapse before the land will be irt as good order as it would be in one season, after a good burn. The Kiwitea Board have begun- the metalling of the road from the Manchester boundary, and thV contractors are making good headway with it. -The metal i is very coarse but it is being broken carefully and promises- to make a good road. . The grasa had begun., to dry .up owing - to the long; spell of dry, hot weather, but the few showers that fell some few days; back freshened it up again and the heavy Tain of the past week will give it a renewed spring. , Shearing is in full swing,, two or three have about finished their flocks, others are in the thjck of it. Some wool is coming down from several miles up the river, the rain, however, has put a stop to shearing operations for a few 'day's just now. As to returns, the percentage oflambs ap.pears above the average ofclate years and they look well. The sheep- are shearingwell and with improved prices for wool,' farmers are very hopeful for the future. -The gardens- are looking well. Fruit, shows plentifully.. A slight frost a fewmornings past checked some potatoes a. little but did not do any extensive damage Bees are becoming quite* an institution, "and the rattle of tins is a daily occurrence as swarm after swarm is taken' and safely hived. I notice several new buildings by the= . side of the road. Mr Gardner has built a. neat little cottage on his farm. Mr Hunt-, has also had one erected. The Pohangina school, originally built by the settlers is replaced by a comfortable looking building built by the Edecation Board and: nearly finished. I see, too, that tendersare invited for a teachers residence. The settlers are asking the Kiwitea. Board to metal a short piece of the road below the school, and it is to be hoped they will obtain their request, for in winter the piece spoken of is~ a perfect bog for a few chains. ' • ,