District News.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 9 July 1915, Page 3

District News.

ROTONGARO. Own Correspondent. A petition is being circulated, and largely signed, asking the Minister for Public Works to form a road, so as to give the settlers in the combined districts of Pukemiro, Ruawaro, and Rotongaro, access to the new railway station at Malnita. It claims that such road would be a great boon to the farmers, and would lessen the distance by some miles. As compared with the Huntly railway station, the length of the road is only about 2jfj miles, and has already been surveyed by the department, the estimated cost is about £ISOO. The settlers are in great hopes of getting their request acceded to. Another petition is being signed, having quite a different object. The northern half of the Raglan County are taking steps to sever the county in two. It is felt by a considerable number of ratepayers, that this is a retrograde step, and would leave us with two second rate counties, and would simply mean double offices and officers, and instead of having first grade engineers, etc., we should have to put up with anything we could get, of the ordinary garden variety. Generally it seems to be the day of amalgamation rather than the disintegration of local bodies, mostly on the question of added expense.

Two more settlers have sold their properties during the last few days. Leaving Caley Bros, farm we come to Robson’s, this is in the stage of reclamation, and seems to be drains everywhere, and in a short time ought to be ready for the plough, coming naek along Pukenui road we come to a farm owned by Mr C. O. Connns, this place is greatly improved and the owner has just finished wbat appears to be one of the finest residences in the district. The place is also being brought into production very rapidly. Next we come to Mr C. Alders. The owner has certainly affected great improvement as he has his place all fenced, and practically all ploughed, here again there is a fair crop of turnips. Evidently this land, taken all round, is very suitable for turnip growing, and considering the exceptionally dry summer we have had, crops have been very good indeed.