Matiere.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 261, 21 May 1910, Page 5

Matiere.

"The rain it raiheth every day," is an apt quotation for our locality at the present time, and the showers have a cold feel about them which hunches the back of weak stock. The roads, too, promise to be considerably worse this winter than before if this weather continues. It would seem that the Government surplus has some funds in its component parts which would have, figured much better on the roads for which they were allocated than in building up that ridiculous and annually recurring financial excresence, but no doubt our settlers, when plodding through the mud, will be warmed by the genial glow of prosperity permeating the famous "Winton speech" of the Prime Minister. It is surely time that this farcical business of sympathy with the back-blocker and its concomitants of unspent road votes and broken promises received its deathblow. Eleven thousand odd were hypothecated for the Main Ohura road last December, and only four hundred odd was bracketed as being already spent at that time, so that we hoped that something might be done, seeing that the party in power professed to be willing to spend a special quarter of a million annually to relieve the back settler's lot in roads and bridges. But less has been done this year than formerly, and the Minister for Public Works has the hardihood to state that the majority of the vote has been authorised and spent, when a mere tyro knows that the contrary must be the case. Possibly, after next election, when the Prime Minister, like Othello, "finds his occupation gone," he will, with Phineas T. Barnum, the famous showman, "write a book, after humbugging the public to show them how it was done." I'hear that Mr Hyde has sold his rnjll and farm at Eleven-mile Peg,

• lock, stock and barrel, to Mr Fraser, of the Freshfields' estate, Taupiri. I also learn that Mr Doar has bought Mr Chas. Harrison's leasehold across the Ohura river. It would seem that properties are beginning to move off, and no doubt many more will change hands as the excellence of the locality is known. I notice that a number of blocks are beginning to be cut up between the three and six-mile pegs on the main road to Ongarue and I believe are to be opened for selection in October There are some eleven thousand acres of very fine land comprised in the block served by the main road, and its general convenience of access and proximity to the rail will lead to eager competition. Mr Phillip's initial brick burning resulted in some first-class quality, so that we.shall see the passing of the old iron chimneys and a consequent reduction in insurance premiums.

A very successful plain and fancy dress ball was held last Friday in the local hall, and the Terpsichoreans tripped the light fantastic till daylight, all voting it the most successful of its kinds ever held in Matiere.

An indignation meeting was held here on Saturday, 7th inst., when strong motions were passed condemning the apathy and deliberate delay of the Government in failing to start railway formation at Ongarue and their general inaptitude in any matter affecting the welfare or betterment of the lot of the settlers. The Matiere Hall Committee have just invested in an elaborate and extensive set of crockery beside improving the building very considerably. The position of this hall is unique, as it was built by public subscription, and by working bees, and is entirely free from debt as is, I believe, the piano. Few halh in the country could show a like commendable state of affairs. The streets which have been formed in the township extension across the bridge and the drainage of the flat have very materially improved that locality. I hear there is considerable enquiry for the withdrawn sections and many with a speculative turn have a desire to operate if opportunity offers.

Mr Luekman has cleared and fenced his well situated plot and intends to build at a later date.

Milch cows have milked extremely well up to very recently, and many settlers are still making a large amount of butter owing to the factory having closed down some time ago. The medical residence goes on apace and will soon be an accomplished fact. I hear that several horse waggon teams are being put on the road this winter to replace the bullocks retired.