OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From A Correspondent.) AIETEOHOLOGICAL. Rainfall for July amounted to 9.57 incites, an increase of nearly one inch on the previous month. Rainfall for tho year is— January, 14.51 inches; February, 15.52 inches; Alarcli, 8.12 inches; April 1(5.52 inches; Alay, 13.14 inches; June. S.7G inches; July, 9.57 inches. LAND SETTLEMENT. Bona fide enquiries are to hand from a probable new settler who is in the locality and who desired to inspect certain lands but find they were quite recently placed in State Forest Reserve. As mentioned previously in “ Okuru News ” a useful portion of these blocks are finite suitable for immediate improvement and settlement. Another new settler lost to tile district and revenue lost to the Government and public body through a. faulty policy. GOING TO SCHOOL. A striking display of courage is witnessed each clay by tlie daily arrival of the two little Aliss Harris, aged 6 and 7 years respectively who ride froyn Huhiika t-o Okuru School. The <lis-t-riet* covered by these little maids is five miles each way, making a total of ten miles per clay. Both doublebank the one horse and manage to open and shut the various gates on the road. They also have to cross the Turnbull River ford each way. It is a lonely road passing through much forest and leads only to their own home.

A PUBLIC NUISANCE. The numerous and unnecessary gates erected on the main roads have been and still are a perpetual source of annoyance and hindrance to travellers. It has Ijeen known in nil adjoining district where one land owner was refused permission to place a gate on the boundary of his run which was impossible to fence, yet at the same time no objection was made to an adjoining land owner who had no fewer than eight such gates across the main road, two-thirds of which were unnecessary being used to sub-divide the holding (free’'old', at the expense of the public and saving the owner the expense of .erecting the ' usual roadline fence. AA’Mlc if iiiav be placing runholders in a difficulty should the removal of gates become enforced, gates placed to enable largo land owners to sub-divide their holding should he removed. On the lower portion of the Haast Track no less than twelve gates have to be opened, all withiu a short distance of c’e another. Two unnecessary gates have in be negotiated at Paringa, subdividing a. freehold property, and two at A lull i till! i. On the TTanst Pass Track one gate has to be carried to allow passage through and one set of slip rails have to be taken down. On several occasions travellers have become hurt, their legs having become jammed against the post and clothes and saddle bags have been torn through coming in esutact with barbed wire. It is apparent the land owners who have an excessive number of these gates oil the road are bosom friends of the road overseer who himself a farmer, has sympathy for his farmer friends but not fairly distributed. It lias long ago been remarked “the road overseer is * a benevolent father to his cronies.” GENERAL. A married couple share-milkers and a male assistant will arrive by the ketch “Elsie” for a local dairy farm. A fire occurred in the kitchen of the residence of Air J. Harris. Huhuka, the other evening. It appears a quantity of dry wood caught, the flames spreading to wall paper. Luckily it was noticed in time and a quantity of bandy water quickly subdued the flames. . However had there been a strong wind blowing there would have been little chance of saving the biylding. Mr J. Ritchie leaves by the “Elsie” which is expected on the 9th inst. AVAXAEA NOTES. AUGUST 12. GENERAL. A euchre and dance was ■ held at Afakaroa on Teusdny evening, a large number assembling. The rabbiting season has nearly closed, being much earlier than the previous - year, the bunnies are not so numerous in this district due to the high price paid for skills. Mr Fred Roote left yesterday for Dunedin, on holidays. . A wharf is to be erected at “ The Neck,” Lake AVanaka, as a landing stage to enable tourists to land, to make the walk through to the Hawen. Lake, connecting- with another launch service running to the foot of the lake, thus completing a round tour and popular tour from Pembroke. ,

There has been heavy casualties among the mnstovers’ sheep dogs in this district recently, due to distemper. Tn several cases as many as four in one pack and usually valuable dogs. A dance was held at Pembroke last evening. There was attendance from the surrounding district. Severe wintry weather has been experienced throughout the district, as yet the coldest period of the winter. Mr J. Ruck ley has been appointed ranger for the Wanaka District. The Ketch “Elsie” arrived yesterday with a full load of passengers and general cargo.