OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA).

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 106, 5 November 1908, Page 5

OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA).

_o (Own Correspondent.) The quarterly general meeting of the Norchern Ohura Settlers' Association was held on Saturday, October 31st at Otangiwai, Mr C. H. Box being m the chair. The report of the Executive, cf work* done, for past quarter was adopted and votes of thanks to the Executive and the Secretary were unanimously carried. The Exccutve were empowered to make an additional levy up to 2s 6d per member during the year if necessary. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Department pointing out the total inadequacy of the trucking yards at Ongarue, ani also pointing cut that in wet weather they'would be more suitable for a duck pond. It was resolved jo draw the attention of; the Road Engineer to the fact that nothing is being done towards snending the grants voted last session for the roads of Northern Ohura, and to request that Mr Sayers be given extra, assistant to enable him to cope with the amount of work to be laid off. Also to point out to the Engineer _ the disgraceful state of the MatiereMiroahuiao Road, between Waikaka and Mangakahikatea. Portion of this is a so-called six foot track, but in places the track has almost completely collapsed. The Mnagapapa-Maitere Road is also in the worst condition of any of the formed roads of the Ohura. It was decided to write the Southern Association suggesting that a committee consisting of two members of each Association be appointed to suggest boundaries of ridings for the new Ohura County, and submit same for confirmation at a general meeting of ratepayers. The Executive officers were instructed to interview Mr Jennings re various important matters affecting the Ohura District. Mr W. Carter gave notice to move at next meeting "That the Executive Committee be empowered to pass for payment all accounts against Association funds." The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chair. —Report. — Your Committee has had a very busy time during the past quarter, inasmuch as Parliament was in Session, and the needs of the District being very numerous, much "battling," and a great deal of correspondence has been necessary. In consequence of the resolution from last meeting, the Nihoniho members of the Association were requested to appoint two additional members to the Executive. Messrs Dunne and Fleming have been duly elected, and we trust that they will both prove valuable additions to your Committee., Considerable correspondence has been carried on re Road Grants. The principal matters dealt with in this connection were: — 1. Ohura Main Road, from Nihoniho to fifteen mile. Grants were deferred until Supplementary Estimates came out, when after numerous appeals, we secured a vote of £IOOO for papa metalling. 2. The Waikaka (back road to Nihoniho) : For this there is a substantial grant of £I3OO. 3. Ohura - Paemako: £3OOO has been voted for widening and construction. In connection with this vote, your Executive is at present dissatisfied, inasmuch as some sixty men are already employed at the northern end and none at this end. However, Mr Sayers is now pegging off the required work and we intend doing our best to see that a good portion of it is spent at this end. 4. The Northern Waikaka, the Mangakahikatea, and the Whenuakura have also not been forgotten either by us or by the Department. 5. For Mangapapa Continuation, £750 has been voted and we think that this should put through a serviceable track, especially as most of the route is to be through easy country. 6. There are also several minor notes affecting this District, and in almost every case we have grounds for thankfulness, that our requests, backed up by Mr Julian and Mr Jennings, have received much better attention than heretofore. 7. Bridges: The votes for three bridges have been granted or renewed, and we have Mr Julian's assurance that he intends haying these works comlpeted this summer. In this connection, we wish ot state that the Matiere bridge has not received adequate consideration. The amount voted cannot put up a satisfactory structure. We intend ot inquire further, and make representations to this effect.

Another matter is that of finance. Mr Loveday has done good work for us in conjunction with Mr Jennings, in getting the Ohura County Bill through, Our share of indebtedness in this matter comes to £6 10s ' Od, and as the total receipts to date, in Association funds only amounts to £6 2s 6d, and fully £3 0s Od of this is already bespoke, it will be necessary to make a small levy of about 2s per member to defray our indebtedness over this matter. Canvassers are also necessary to get the amount collected from such an extensive and scattered district.

Ycur Committee has in circulation a petition to the Native Minister re the acquiring and throwing open for selection, such portions of the Native Block Rangitoto - Tuhua, as will be roaded by the Mangapapa continuation. This project is deserving of united support, as it means a further step in the advancement of the whole district. Another matter was the request of to the Commissioner for Crown Lands to properly survey and vest in trustees, the Matiere Cemetery site. This matter is held in abeyance by the Commissioner until the whole township can be laid off, and streets, etc., are decided. No surveyer is at present available, and in the meantime, in the case of burials, care must be taken to place them well within the reserve. Overtures have been mane to, and reciprocated, by the Southern Settlers' Association, by which it is desired to work unitedly in the common interests of the Ohura. Only a prior and very pressing engagement prevented Mr Loveday, Chairman of that Association, being present today, and suggesting on what lines we can work in accord. He desires to meet us at an early date and to then bring forward various suggestions from his Association. We trust that some such arrangements ;nay be brought into actuality. The membership has steadily increased, and there are now seventy nine on the bocks. Jt is, however, to be deplored, that whilst your Executive is spending no inconsiderable time and energy in working in the interests of

the Association and district, many members of the Association do not even take sufficient interest to attend at a general meeting held once quarterly, and ascertain what your Executive is doing in their behalf, or to offer a single suggestion in matters that are ox as much importance to them as to any individual member of the Executive.

We trust that this reminder will have the desired eflect. Signed—Chas. H. Box, Chairman; L. Bicheno, Secretary*