A THRIVING TOWNSHIP.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 233, 12 February 1910, Page 2

A THRIVING TOWNSHIP.

Otorohanga and its Needs.

(By our own Representative.) I paid a visit to Otorohanga a few days ago, and was agreeably surprised with the strong evidences of growth and prosperity exhibited by this "~M King Country township. The Annual Picnic.

Last Saturday the great annual picnic was held. Commencing 15 years ago as a school picnic, it has grown year by year until it now draws larje numbers of the general public, tic whole arrangements being in charge of various committee." and financed by public subscription. Tin's year almost a record attendance was counted, there being 550 people on the grounds. There were games and sports for adults, and children; the Otorohanga brass band was in attendance, and played many lively airs; and refreshments were provided in abundance. The Maoris had a hangi of their own for cooking their eatables. Mr R. G. Green was secretary, ably assisted by the various committees, Mrs Cowley being in chai'ge of the ladies' committee. Local Needs. I learn that a petition is now being circulated to establish a telephone bureau and service in Otorohanga. There are stores, hoarding houses and private residences in plenty to justify this petition, and it is to be hoped it will meet with every success. Another need, which is rapidly becoming a grievance, is for a train service which will give the townspeople tho opportunity of visiting Tc Kuiti and returning the same day. This means having a carriage on tho morning goods train from Frank ton and being provided with a passenger service in the evening between Tc Kuiti and Frankton. The Bank of New Zealand has a branch office at Otorohanga, and opens it for an hour and a half every Thursday morning. The manager at Te Awamut.ii visits the branch for this purpose, and travels, by special arrangement:, on the goods train leaving Tc Awaniufu about 9.0 a.m. Last Thursday morning he wired: "Not visiting to-day, refused on train this morning." Tho result was, the branch could not be opened this week at all, and many settlers, some of whom travel a considerable distance to transact their business, had their journey for nothing, and cannot do anything for another week. It is stated that the guard has authority to refuse a passenger on a goods train if the train is carrying explosives. This is probably the reason for this refusal, but it strongly illustrates the need for a respectable train service. It is a certainty that, if wo had such a service as I have sketched, the number of passengers would greatly increase and visitors to Te Kuiti would be in much greater numbers. Such a day service would give new life to many King Country townships. Another grievance of Otorohanga people is the failure of the Land Board to grant them tho freehold for their saleyard site. The Company had been organised and the capital found, and all that was wanted was the title to the site. This, for some reason, has been refused. It is said that the land is partly in the Native township, which perhaps accounts for the hesitation of the Land Board in making a new precedent.

Growth and Progress,

Otorohanga lias, perhaps, 600 people, all told, within its borders to-day. It is a Native township, just like Te Kuiti, but of older date. Last July a number of leases fell in, and a sale of sections was held. All the sections were taken up. In November another lot of leases fall in, and in January next they will be cut up in to : j, X ami .J-acre lots, and offered on the 21 yearn lease with right of renewal and compensation terms. This will dispose of practically all the available town lots in the place for many years to come. About a dozen farm sections have been taken up recently by new settlers and some 30 to 10 others have been allotted between Otorohanga and Kihikihi. Sonic of these are in the hands of the ex-civil servants who were retired last year under the retrenchment scheme, Otorohanga is finely .situated on dry level land, the Waipa flowing through the town. In a conversation with Mr Forster, the chairman of the school committee, l learnt that there are about 140 children on the school roji,of which the average attendance i,i 125, Messrs Ellis and Uuvnand'a have a flourishing branch sawmill here, cmploying 25 hands, and a further 20 in the bush. Immense quanl.itieM of kahikateu are put through every day, and a considerable number of' fruit boxes manufactured. Otorohanga has a Domain which it is developing a;i funds permit; XoQ has been recently spent on it, Mr Green, of Messrs Green and Colebrook, informs me, and a further .£2O is to be spent. Then application will be made for the XI for.ijl subsidy from the Government, and a further £SO be spent on it. A. cricket team has also been started in thp tpyyn, and there are soiyic hope:.! of meeting Te Kuiti at a future da to, Otorohanga strikes the visitor a? goingahead without booming, but held back in some respects through the lack of conveniences like a convenient train service. The tone of residents is that no booming is wanted. They want steady progress without extravagant speculation, and in their outlook on the future they carry a confidence which speaks well for the growth and prosperity of their township.