Ashurst Notes

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 26, 18 August 1892, Page 2

Ashurst Notes

-♦ [from our own correspondent.] I baye receiyed word from the deputatation sent by the meeting at Pohangina on Saturday last to see the finish of the separation question, that Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., in whose charge the petition is, has been successful in obtaining the Governor's consent. It has now become law. Notice has been sent out to appoint a Returning Officer for the election of wardens. The new district will be divided into five wards. Roughly speaking the new Road Board will contain about 300,000 acres of country. With our town as the outlet, the Road Board offices should be at Ashurst. We have a bank and offices ready for the members. Mr Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, was in our neighborhood last week. Mr D. McKenzie, from Pohangina, interviewed him and stated that settlers had a great difficulty in getting to their sections— had to ford the river so many times. He suggested a road through the Government totara reserve, which would save five fords. Going through Government land I expect they intend to do it with Government money. The thing was spoken of at the meeting, and objections were stated pretty freely against our loan money going up there. The settlers wished to commence where the last formation ends through the Awahou, and so work upwards. The fashionable fair of Ashurst are wearing what appears, to one not acquainted with the technical names of the various portions of the dress, to be a castellated elongation of the body, just for all the world like the turrets of an ancient castle. We, all of us, knowing something of the language of chess think there may also be a language in this, that the lady would accept of a knight to defend the castle. A meeting of the parishioners was held in St. Mary's Church on Friday for the purpose of receiving the balanco-sheet up to the date of meeting, and to elect a vestry and wardens for the coming year. The Rev. J. M. Devenish opened the proceedings with prayer. Mr Potts proposed, that the vestry be composed of seven members to include the two churchwardens. Seconded by Mr Ingram and carried. Mr W. F. Whibley was elected the curates' warden, and Mr Craven people's warden. The vestry, Messrs Davis, Potts, Freeman, Ingram, and J. P. Whibley. The auditors Messrs Brown and R. Whibley. The secretary of the canvassing committee stated that the curates' stipend fund was £149 2s 6d. Mr Devenish next spoke of the necessity for acquiring a piece of ground large enough to build a church and residence on. After some discussion the curate was outhorised to see the Rev. Mr Harvey, and learn the exact position in which we stand with regard to section 342, Ashurst. Now that the Manchester Road Board can see the bank of the Pohangina river is being made secure, the roadman has been instructed to make a passable track for vehicles on the Whibley's road. About 6 chains have been washed away at the foot of the terrace, people have been struggling along over stumps and mounts for 'some time. There's a good time coming again. It would really have been money thrown away to make this road passable— unless the riyer bank was protected. „ _ . It is reported that some of our lorest Reserye is to be thrown open for settlement. In a few years time this reserve will be the only bit of bush between Feilding and the Ruahine Range, it seems a great pity that it should be cut down so soon after having been declared. Even in America, that land of forests, people are complaining the soil is getting barren. Planting is being resorted to there on a large scale to lessen the eyils caused by disturbing the regulations of

iianue ioo a. orupuy. As well us plauun^, let us conserve the bush already set apart for that purpose. There have been six upsets at the foot of the Spur road. There is a very sharp bend where the hill is at its steepest, and a slip bad taken place about 3 years ago on the slope, thus rendering it doubly dangerous, a few posts and rails at that corner would be a great safeguard. Six narrow escapes in one place 1 I question Sisyphus had to roll his stone up a worse place. I hear of part of a section here recently sold at the rate of £1200 per acre. Private advices from a gentleman in India who intends leaving tor New Zealand shortly, say that in consequence of the unprecedented fall in silver, he will lose £40 in every £100 he brings to tbe colony. Ten years ago he lost £20 in a £100 in exchange when sending money to England.