ARIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 14, 1 February 1907, Page 3

ARIA.

The petition in favour of getting the bridge over the Mokau river started at once has now received over sixty signatures, and will be sent to Wellington through the Roads Department at an early date. All the road works in this locality have been stopped for the present, but they are expected to be resumed before long. It is to be hoped the Kia Kia and Mokauiti roads will be attended to somewhat before winter otherwise several of the settlers will be isolated. Even now the track to Messrs Russell and Kenny's is in a very bad state for a distance of a mile and a-half. The road to Mr Welsh's is, if possible, even worse, as dangerous swamps have to be crossed. It is stated that a settler's wife, the other day, had to leave her horse in the swamp. Such a state of things is too bad. The Roads Department has done a great amount of good work in this district, and we have little cause for complaint, but surely a few pounds expended on these tracks, to render them safe for our women folk, would be well spent. In view of the possible starting of the dairy factory next season, the roads to Totoro and Rotopotaka are being widened. The school is being started as a half-time school with Kaeaeae.

Several new buildings are projected in the district. Mr Thomas contemplates building a boarding-house sufficient to accommodate a large number, and Mr Hutchinson, at the punt, has erected a residence. The floods did not do much damage in the district, and everything has assumed its normal aspect. We shall probably soon be seeing the tourist and the angler out in this direction. There are trout in the Mokau river well above the falls, and in time good sport should be obtained. Last season a lad, fishing for eels, secured a beautiful specimen of the rainbow trout, which weighed eleven pounds.