OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA)

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 111, 30 November 1908, Page 5

OTANGIWAI (MANGAPAPA)

(Own Correspondent.)

Several road contracts have been recently let in this district and we trust that the distirct will be opened up to better advantage than heretofore. The overseer in charge, Mr Sayers, is, unfortunately, on the sick list, and Mr Early has come along to fill the breach.

We had a visit from Mr Julian recently, and he appears to be optimistic in the matter of getting road and bridge votes fully spent. The people abuot here are very anxious to see a start made with the Mangapapa Continuation, which will junction with the Main road at the three mile. The County Counccil election passed off very quietly, but some of the settlers allege that their names as ratepayers should have been on the roll, and furhter, that Otangiwai should have had a polling place. Managpapa public men did not enter the lists as candidates on this occasion, but I hear that there is to be quite a large field of aspirants for public honours at the new County elections to be held early in the new year. Several are already in various stages of training. Of course they may not all face the stater, a3 the threatened nomination of a rank outsider has caused considerable uneasiness amongst local backers. Still, they are a promising lot of colts, and at least one or two are acknowledged "stayers". A good and interesting race is expected. But more anon.

At the General election opinion was fairly evenly divided regarding the merits and demerits of the respective candidates. The voting here gave Mr Jennings a slight lead. Both election speeches were on similar lines, and consequently the old and well-tried sitting member got the benefit of the doubt. An unfortunate letter in the paper, purporting to represent a wire from Mr Jennings to the effect that he did not intend to stand to the Ongarue route for the railway, was very misleading and caused some electors to forget their "first love" at the ballotbox.

The boiler has at last arrived and has been placed in position in the local creamery. Better late than never! We shall yet hear this season, the rumble of the morning milk carts and sledges, and the shrill blast of the rceamery will yet startle late comers at the factory into a more vigorous "hustle". Dairying in the backblocks seems to me to be nearly all drawbacks and very little profit. Truly suppliers in this valley have considerable "rgit" as many of them are putting in a full day at road work as well a attending to their dairying. If the Hon. the Premier could only realise what a valiant fight, settlers are putting up against great and almost insurmountable difficulties that railway would be right into the Ohura next summer.

We do hope that Te Kuiti residents will cease their dog-in-the-manger atitude and support the Ohura in getting its undoubted birthright -the railway.