Rangiwahia Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 116, 14 November 1895, Page 2

Rangiwahia Notes.

(FBOM A CORRESPONDENT.) It is with feelings of satisfaction that the settlers in this locality notice the magnificent sum of £1,500 is placed upon the estimates for the purpose of constructing the unformed portions of the Mangawahariki Road. To those persons who are not well acquainted with this road in particular, a short ex* planation, I trust, vriil not be out of place. About three years ago the Government opened a State Farm, consisting in area of 1,800 acres. After the necessary improvements had been effected—including busbielling and grassing — the land was allotted in areas of from 70 to 140 acres to each settler ; the Commissioner of Crown Lands conducting the ballot. This State farm is situated alongside the township of Ruahine, and fronts a portion of the abovementioned road. At the earlier period of settlement the access to the State farm was by means of a survey track, at present known by the name of " Pakarimu track." Since then the greater part of this track has been made into a 16 foot dray road. The remaining unformed portion will be completed this year, as a further sum of £400 has been placed upon the Estimates for this particular work. The Pukarimu track, after travelling four miles, connects with the Mangawahariki road, both forming the main road to the Manga weka (Three Log), at which place, in the near future, the Main Trunk railway will connect. The distance from Rangiwahia to Ruabine is four miles, to Rangitikei river thirteen miles, and to Mangaweka fourteen miles. It will be seen by this that the main access to railway communication from Rangiwahia, Onslow, Kai-were-were, and Ruahine will be by Mangawahariki road to Mangaweka, being an average total distance of twelve miles. The present railway communication is an average distance of 43 miles. The many benefits to settlers in the above-mentioned localities which will be derived on the completion of this road are too numerous for me to discuss. Up to the present there has been a large amount of public money spent on this road. The expenditure has been entrusted to the most careful supervision of Messrs Gibson, Morran, and Manning, who were appointed by the Government as road inspectors. All these gentlemen have almost an unlimited experience in the formation of roads, engineering, etc., and they have succeeded in giving the utmost satisfaction to workers and the Government. The following are the particulars of work done during the three previous years :— First, Felling bush one chain wide and clearing 33 feet wide, a distance of 18} miles ; second, Forming a 6-feet wide bridle track about 12 miles ; third, Forming a 16-feet wide dray road 3 j miles. There still remains about 7| miles of unformed road for wheel traffic, and for which work the total sum of £1900 has been placed upon the Estimates. Although this sum appears to be a large one, yet, I hear, on account of the unlevel portions of the road, it will be barely sufficient for the requirements, or to connect this road with the Mangaweka road at the Rangitikei river. The road on the Mangaweka side of the river has been formed to the river bed. It is also gratifying to know that a further sum of £500 has been granted by the Government towards the erection of a bridge across the Rangitikei at Mangaweka. The land from Mangaweka to Rangiwahia has been largely settled for miles on both sides of the main road, and therefore the increased settlement demands the formation of tbe Mangawahariki road. Mr J. J. Bryce is to be congratulated for his untiring efforts and services rendered tfn connection with the separation petition now in circulation. I understand he bas received a large

number of signatures id favour of separation, and there only needs a few more to complete the petition in accordance with the Counties Act. The public debate, which was arranged to take place here this month, has been indefinitely postponed, on account of the unwillingness of the negative debaters to come forward. Any three or four local persons willing to take the negative side on the subject "fa prohibition advantageous tomankind?" will oblige by communicating with the 1.0.G T. Lodge. The I O G.T. Lodge heia its weekly meeting last Saturday, when a good number of members were present. Three persons were initiated as members, and several others proposed. Bros. Spooner and Millwards each gave a song. Sister M. Moffatt and Bro. P. Moffatt each contributed a recitation, while Bros. Adamson, T. McKean, F. Hancock and A. Hickford, each gave a short reading. ■