OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA).

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 October 1908, Page 5

OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA).

(Own Correspondent.)

indignation is felt in this locality. as well as in all other places throughout the Ohura, at the evident intention of the Government to deflect the Stratford-Ongari-e railway from the Ohura altogether. The settlers throughout this' district have been buoye'd up with the hope that some day, before the end oi their natural lives, thev would be connected with civilization bv means of the "iron horse ana "steel roads,'" but now their long cherished hopes have been ruthlessly dispelled, notwithstanding vain attempt of the Government to break it gently" to them, lest the shociv should prove to be too much for their overwrought nerves. Settlers cf tne Ohura vou are no match against the intricacies of N.Z. "state crait and their political "wire-pullers. It is nothing to the Government that they have made much of their proposed railwsv route to induce you to pui. up

with vears o± back-blocic isolation and discomfort. Their promises are as valueless as tnc proveroial 'new Ciium s goM. You may d&ptnd upon it that there are a few very faitnfui and very select supporters of the Government along the alternative route, who have induced the Cabinet to once more break faith with the settlers generally, so that their precious interests may be conveniently served. We. at least, are utterlv sick 01 the platitudes of the present Government. They discant most volubly about "The needs of the pcc-r workin' man" until they nearly bring tears of self-pity to his honest cheek, whilst ail they are really thinking about is how to reward a specially selected few of their relations and their toadies. "Spoiis to the victors is their policy throughout. If there js one class, above all ethers wnicn has unquestionable right ci consideration on the uart of a Democratic iVj.iniscry it is the unfortunate br.ek-blockers, "jjkgrsof privation and hardsnip istneir ■portion. The only thing' tr.ey h£u e a superabundance ci is iiarc; >c,:. Tnt.-y are buoyed up, it is true, with the faint hope that they may perhaps get a comfortable home and some semblance of the "comforts of cmiisation after vears of struggle and patient tcrtxlude. Vain hope while the Democratic (?) Government holds ofhee. 'ln this district we have r.o roads, merely vile apologies for tnem, anci, v. nc.t is worse no material for making roads. The ssctions are neariy all in small aieas. Our onlv chance ox a livelilicod oft* the land is "through dairying. When we are almost in the centre of the North Island the freight on our butter output and on the necessaries of life can be readily imagined. The one thing that can save us is the railway, or a metal'ed road. But the nat has gone forth on monev for the Northern Ohura main road," but £3OOO for the Waitewhenua —no railway as promised, for the. Ohura as the Government has its minions to serve in another locality, where the land was taken up without t'-e slightest prospect of ever getting the railway and where there is abundance of roading material. I was surprised to see that a correS-. pendent had recently favoured you with some "newsy" notes about the Mangapapa bridge. I may say_ tnat, the*>ridge was in an unsafe condition, ancSalthough there was a little delay in owing to a flood m the stream, there was no undue delay in making it temporarily passable until the new structure can be erected this season. "Your Own" has net heard of any general dissatisfaction in the district over the matter r.cr ct any alleged dispute between the Government Overseer's relatives to toe ni&'-'.ei.