ARIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 38, 12 July 1907, Page 3

ARIA.

There has been very little of interest to chronicle during to past week. The change in the weather, with the resultant rain, has rendered the ror.ds much worse. and traffic is now very limited. Still the season has been wonderfully favorable, and settlers have every reason to be thankful so far. The road works in the district are progressing and the chain to Ohura will be completed before very long. With the addition of metal we should be exceptional!}' well off in this locality. However, I suppose even that will come in time. In an}' case it will be necessary to metal some portions of the roads when the dairy factory gets going, in order to allow suppliers to reach the factory.

| Up to the present there are no fresh developments in connection with the starting of the dairy factory, and it appears problematical whether the initial work can be accomplished in order to open at the beginning of next October. There are enough cows in the district to ensure a start this season, and from present appearances there will be no lack of grass. Therefore every effort should be made to push the undertaking in the interests of the settlers. There has-been no word received yet as to the fate of the petition in favour of the erection of the bridge over the Mokau river, but, doubtless, the project will be assisted by the District Roads Engineers at Wellington. The work is a most important one for this district, and its early completion will mean much to the settlers. In addition to cheapening freights b} r nearly half, it is essential to the success of the dairy factory, and the local people are anxiously awaiting the result of their petition. I am pleased to be able to state that Mr Hutchinson has secured a section in the district, and will proceed with improvements as soon as possible. There has been some talk of endeavouring to get the Oh ura railway brought through this district to junction with the Main Trunk line near Te Kuiti. There are many arguments in favour of such a scheme, but an agitation in that direction would likely have the effect of delaying the work already projected, and seeing how important a railway connection is to the Ohura settlers, it will be advisable to leave the question of route to the Government engineers. With good roads, which could be used at all seasons, this district would have little to complain of, and could afford to wait for a railway.