MAKARORA NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1927, Page 1

MAKARORA NOTES

(From A Correspondent.)

The rabbitting season generally has not been quite up to expectations this season, some difficulty having been experienced in enticing brer rabbit to partake of the poisoned bait. Nevertheless some good hauls have been made, a cash buyer in the district offering up to £0 10s per 100. Good progress is beng made in flic alteartions to the launch which is hoped to be a fore-runner of a new service trading on Lake Wanaka. The boat is locally owned and controlled and should he a boom to local residents. Mr Erie James returned this week from an exploring trip to the headwaters of the Clarke River and Hooker (Racier, ami was favourably impressed. He prediets Maknron must at some future date become the starting point for tourists to some of New Zealand’s premier scenic .sights and wonders. Mr J. Dunning commenced his new service of one toil trucks from the railway terminus at Cromwell to Hnwea and Pembroke last week. Mr Harry Peake leaves to undergo a. medical test to join the New Zealand Navy. Thirty tons o,f artificial manure is on the wav to tin' A alley for topdressing purposes, Mr Win. Taylor and Mr Cameron leave this week for Central Otago on business bent. FLAT' INDUSTRY. For n number of years a flax mill lias been operating successfully in the district, lint recently closed down on noSLiut of having exhausted the flax until a year hence, when the older flax will he again ready for cutting. A remedy, to enable flax to lie available in quantity to keep the mill going continually, is being tried out by Mr Win. Taylor, a large land-owner, in the form of growing and cultivating flax throughout the valley. This is being carried out in several progressive centres of the North Island successfully and should he equally successful here. It will also be the means of absorbing more unemployed. It is further hoped the local sawmill will again commence operations, thus employing further mein It i.s understood there are no lack of orders. A grand concert i.s being organised to raise funds for the local Cricket Club which propose to enter the contest next season with renewed vigour. This is probably ou account of several new players residing in the district, which includes Mr D. Hay. a former member of the Club. DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Mr E. James was a loser in a fire that destroyed an unoccupied dwelling and disused post office at Okuru. The goods lost included saddlery, horse-shoes alone being unharmed. Tt is understood the building was insured and until recently was owned by Air J. C'uttauco of Hokitika. The building with adjoining property was held under leas.' by James' Horse Service. It- was also used as a storage for txxiks and records, the property of the Registrar of Births Department. It is understood police investigations are to B-• made.