Pohangina Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 298, 26 April 1894, Page 2

Pohangina Notes.

[fkom oob own cuh respondent.;; The Secretary of the Onslow Farm Homestead Association informs me that he is often receiving letters from members of that Aasociation, asking when the sections will be opened. All the other Pohangina Valley Associations have been drawn for, i.e., the Delaware, Salisbury, Pohangina, and Umutoi, for being in one block of country they were surveyed at one time, not being dependent upon any Block for outlets for their roads. There is a main road running through all from Apiti to Norsewood. With the Onslow, however, i it is quite different. The lay of the ; country demands that their roads must • go through the Marton Small Farm Blocks, Nos. 1 and 2. It was, therefore, impossible to commence survey work at the end nearest the ranges. The Commissioner of Lands informed inquirers who were at the drawing of the Umutoi sections that his surveyors had instructions to prepare a report of the Onslow Block, as soon as they had finished the j Marton Association. It is generally understood that the Lands Department has a great stress of work, and not too many surveyors to do it. Considering that the members of the many Associations do not contribute a penny towards the cost of survey, it is not to be wondered at if some hare to wait for their sections to be opened. The Secretary is daily expecting a report on the Onslow Block from the Land Department in Wellington. A meeting of the members will be called [ immediately it is received. There are very conflicting (private) reports as to the nature of the Block. Some who have seen it declare that there is a very good patch of country in it, but rough and hilly towards the back nearer the ranges. Others think that it is all broken, but all agree that the soil is good. i The rougher portion of the Pohangina Block, wliich was at first declared too rough for settlement, has since le?n taken, and a large area of bush felled, enough to show that it is very good sheep country. The Labor Department has spent a part of the JJIOOO in opening up the Small Farm Blocks, commencing at the Pohangina river, from which point two and a-balf of the Apiti-Norsewood road through the Salisbury Block are under contract. We hear that the co-operative laborers are to be employed again shortly, therefore we may suppose that the Department has more funds in view. The settlers, should, in that case, ask that another portion of their maiu road be let.