TATU.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 188, 6 September 1909, Page 5

TATU.

Own Correspondent. Tatu forms the southern riding of the Ohura County, and comprises three I districts: Tatu, Ilcao, and Tokirima. , Tatu and Heao are situated along the ; main Ohura-Stratford road and have i been fettled mostly on the improved t farm settlement system, and are proving very »uccessful settlements. Owing to being for several year? served ' by*a very dangerous and narrow track over the Paorae Saddle some difficulty was met with in getting the proposed settlers to porceed with their improvements. However, when the deviation, [ via Mahorahora was formed and the tunnel opened through the saddle, settlement proceeded apace and this district promises to be the most successful of improved farm settlements in \ the Ohura district. Lately a petition was circulated to have the tunnel made ! an opvn cut, and it is understood that I the work is to be proceeded with dur- ! ing the coming summer. A considerable amount of dis«atisl fact ion is being caused by this, as there are still a considerable number of settlers who have not got the preliminary six foot track to their sections, and they rightly say that, before large sums of money are | spent on work that may well be left over for \»ars to come, they should be given access to their fcol'Jings. It being inadvisable in the present shortj age of funds to hive large sums sj>ent ! on alterations until every settler has ,at least a six foot. Tatu has a school, ■ post and telephone office and expccU ! to have a skimming sta'ion erected in j connection with the Ohura Dairy Company, Nihoniho, during the coming season. Tokirima lies to the east of Tatu and comprises sections abutting on to Tokirima, Turoto and Kokoputi roads. The sections arc on an average about 200 acres in area, settled on the improved farm system and considering the drawback in the want of roading and the distance that stores have to be packed the progrss has been very good. Lately they have been able, by the erection of a suspension birdge across the Ohura to draw their supplies from Taumaninui via the Wanganui river. This bridge has been provided with | extra stays and the frame work supported at each end, thus shortening the span that is entirely resting on the | cabtea with very satisafctory results, j i the side to side swaying being reduced i to a minimum. Tokirima has a post j office, ttitb a twiec weekly service from the Ohura post office. The settlers are making a strong effort to , have the mail service from Taumar- I j unui via the Aukorac landing or direct |by the Kuraraii road. In no part of the Ohura is the question of roading so 1 acqulc as in Tatu riding. With no main arterial road they have had and j will for some time to come have to pack all their supplies in to their holdings and produce outward. A petition was forwarded to the Minister of Public Works praying that the Ohura River be snagged so as to allow launches to navigate from Matiere to Aorangi. but it was not favourably entertained, the report furnished to the Minister by Messrs Bullard and Tolme being against the proposal. Still, it is only a matter of time when the work will he done, probably as soon as some progress has been made in the construction of the Ongarue-Stratford line from Ongarue, as the Ohura will i form a splendid waterway for small launches from Toi Toi where the line j crosses the Ohura to the Aorangi district. For the coming County Election Messrs Loveday, O'Brien, and S. Currie are expected to be nominated and as the riding rolls are now ready the election may be expected soon. Mr Pennel the returning officer is expected in this week. W. Sandison and Mr G W. Hyde district valuer of Hamilton are visiting the Ohura doing valuations for loans from the Advances to Settlers Office.