ROTONGARO.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 30 July 1915, Page 3

ROTONGARO.

Own Correspondent. Sir, —A letter signed by “ Drover ” appears ill your last issue, wherein the writer tried to prove that I was wrong in my previous notes about the Railway Bridge. “Drover” certainly has quite understood my meaning. I never for a moment claimed, or gave the Raglan County credit for all that had been done' The Public Works Department built the bridge, and what I pointed out was, that it is a very wretched approach i to a town like Huntly. I would k advise “ Drover " to try and ne* gotiateit in a motor car, or a four wheeled cart with a lead on, and if jrossible try and meet a cart coming the opposite way, and see how difficult it is to pass, or let him ask the carriers of Huntly, their opinion, I am quite sure they would be unanimous, that it is a wretched approach, at both ends, and the passing place in the middle of t ie bridge is disgraceful. The Raglan County has written to the Public Works Department, pointing out these defects, and asked that they be improved, What has the Huntly Town Board done? Surely they are very much more interested than than the Raglan County, and at least one approach is, within the Board’s juiisdlcaticn, does “Drover” want to convince those who use the bridge, an i Lave to take heavy loads over ic that it is a good approach, op that the Huntly Board is satis tied that it is a proper approach, for a town like Huntly. lias tire Board approached the Department and even tried to get a ‘decent approach m.ad.e, and if not why not. I trust our mutual friend is not voicing the opinion of Hunt ly in his tetter, it is not much ijnprove.rnent on the pre-historic P un L, that used to, (when it wa sn’t stranded) ferry peo.ple across the river. I have a clear recollection that one of o ur pioneers was bringing a mob of cattle across on it, and the poor old tub went to the bottom a nd spilt the cattle into the river, ; taken all round, the habits of tihe i punt were very undignified, and | it is whispered thatljust about the i time war was declared, the old t nug out sank in the river, either c from the weight of its sins or by a torpedo from a German submarine. I hope this isn’t libellous, continuing my wayside notesFollowing on towards Lake Rotongaro we come to West . fairy's corner, here is about th e the centre of these district i. Looking round here, it is evidei it that some fa.rmers don’t know a mangold from a wurtzel. F oilowing on to the lake, I Mrs Mount I ':* is next. We have the Rotongr. aro post office and f .elephone .3 xchange here, ami it is to this ofli.i re that the Hl> a\varo subscribers connect. O ne can see evident signs of iir .prove ments at Mrs 5 fount’s, cons idering that she has only been here a few years. it speaks v o’ lumes. wheu we le.'ri n that o ,v er a dozen cows wi 11 he mil kkng this year. Going a long agai t towards Mr Whitehe ad’s, hers i again there are first- class impr ovemeqts, and everytiii ng is lc .oking exceptionally- well, altho ugh Mr Whitehead ht» s only fake U up this land

I about three years, the change he has made is certainly remarkable. The idle native lands round here seem to be a great stumbling block, if this land was all held by whites it would be under improvements, and could be rated, and thus help to make better roads, bat the native land pays no rates, and can remain in idleness, growing rubbish and noxious weeds, whilst the whites have to do a certain amount of improvements each year, also reside on the section, and contribute to keep the roads jrassable. The Bregnan Bros., George and Alfred are going to the front, and will go into camp early next month. Their farm is near Lake Rotongaro. Since my last notes, another farm in the district has changed hands, between the war and and people selling out, there will be none of the old residents - left directly. The settlers at Pukenui are arranging to have the telephone laid on, this is about 4)A miles by road to Huntly.