OHURA VALLEY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 110, 26 November 1908, Page 5

OHURA VALLEY.

(Own Correspondent.) A meeting of the Ohura Settlers' Association was held in the Mangaroa Hall last week, when Mr Loveday, Chairman, submitted a report of his visit to Wellington on behalf of the Association. General satisfaction was expressed on the good work done, especially with the passing of the Ohura County Bill, while the uncertainty of the Railway route was severely criticised. The matter of fixing the boundaries of the proposed riding for the Ohura County was finally arranged on the bads of a motion proposed by Mr G. C. Stevenson. —That the present committee draw up a scheme of boundaries, that delegates be invited from the various centres of population to consider same, and if an agreement is arrived at, the proposed boundaries be submitted to a general meeting of ratepayers to be held in the Mangaroa Hall at a date to be fixed. It was arranged to open an account with the Bank of New Zealand, Hamilton, for the County Business. On the 20th the Ohura Medical Association held a meeting, and an agreement was finally signscLwith the med ical officer for a further term of two years from Ist March, 1909. The Association agreeing to erect a residence before that date. The committee have purchased two sections in Mangaroa township, and arrangements are under way for the erection of a nine roomed house, which speaks well for the confidence of the settlers in the district. At Niho Niho on the 21st, a large meeting of settlers interested was held, to protest against the delay in having the Waikaka Road opened up to the Niho Niho factory, and to consider the reason of the polling booth intended to be open at Niho Niho being held in a private residence on the Rima road. Mr M. J. Dunn was voted to the chair. Mr Dunn in opening the meeting explained that when it was known that a polling booth was to_ be held in a private house, he had wired to the returning officer, and the answer was that he was not aware that there was a school available at Niho Niho. There being three public buildings available at Niho Niho convenient to the settlers, it was a gross injustice to the settleis not to have either made available for bootn. At Matiere they were able at the last moment to change from the school to the public hall, and they should, when the fact of three places being available at Niho Niho having been wired to the returning officer, the convenience of the settlers should have been considered and the booth transferred to either of the three public buildings. It was finally resolved that Mr Dunn write to the returning officer for an explanation. After a heated discussion, during which the Roads Department received much condemnation, it was resolved : That owing to the delay in proceeding with the work of widening the Waikaka road between the Niho Niho factory and Mangapapa, the District Engineer be written to, asking him to state whether he intends to have the work done immediately, and if no satisfactory answer is received in two weeks from date, a meeting of settlers be called to take such steps as they maydeem advisable, and that Mr Sandison be requested to forward the resolution; and such explanations as may be required. This work is meant to connect the. Mangapapa cream suppliers with the factory at Niho Niho, and a sum of £I3OO is provided for it by the back blocks vote. As the factories are at the present, the most important local industry, the settlers who are suppliers are naturally annoyed that the two roads leading to the factories are the last to be taken in hand, especially so as the hot weather is approaching, and the necessity of having the cream gathered into the factory with the least possible delay. To a deputation that waited on him at Taurnarunui, the Premier promised that these two roads would be done. There has been little excitement over the election, as Mr Jennings return was considered a certainty. A gang of workmen under Mr H. Ryan are leaving the main line to proceed to southern Ohura on road work, which seems a more business-like manner than waiting f >r men to wander along. Miss Nellie Taylor, who had the misfortune to have her arm broken by a fall from a horse, is progressing favourably under the care of Dr Rowlands.