MARAKOPA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 248, 6 April 1910, Page 2

MARAKOPA.

Own Correspondent. The strong south-easterly gale blowing for the last day or two has done considerable damage at Marakopa in the way of shifting smali buildings and playing havoc with iron roofs. This ia the strongest wind from this direction for years. The Marakopa Milling Company are likely to start cutting again shortly, having in hand large orders for white pine for export, also several Government orders for bridge timber. It is understood that the company are negotiating for the freehold of the piece of land leased from the Natives which they hold at Marakopa, comprising about 30 acres. The price offered is understood to be about £25 per acre. The settlers on different occasions have tried to get the powers that be to take over this land for the purpose of a township site, but without success. Presumably it is the intention of the company to cut it up into allotments if they acquire the freehold. A fair quantity of grass seed is coming into Marakopa this year, a good number of the settlers in the Pomorangi finding it cheaper to get their seed shipped to this port and packed from the river to their holdings, than carted from the railway. Caterpillars have made their appearance here this year in the grass, in one or two instances making serious inroads on the feed, mostly owing to insufficient stocking in the summer. This has been a record year for fruit, all varieties doing well here in a favourable year like the present, and the approaching planting season will see a good many additional fruit trees coming into the district which has given ample proof of its suitability for growing horticultural produce. Vegetables have had rather a bad time this season with slugs, fly, etc., and potato and onion blight have been fairly common, but we hope for bitter luck next time.