Waikaka.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 265, 4 June 1910, Page 2

Waikaka.

Throughout this district at present indignation meetings are the order of the day. Yet they tell us this is "God's Own Country." I am voicing the opinion of my fellow settlers in stating that the Minister of Public Works has, by his methods in dealing with the votes for roads and bridges this year, given us good cause to think that this is the "Devil's Own Country." The Hon. R. McKenzie has changed front so often within the last twelve months that the settlers in this district have made up their minds, to a man, to demand their just rights, and bring their grievances forcibly under his notice. He has evidently made up his mind to ignore this district, as far as roads and bridges are concerned, but he will find to his cost that the settlers in this part of the King Country are going to have their just rights, viz.: passable roads and no more bogus road grants put on the Estimates. The present Minister of Public Works has proved that he has no sympathy with the back-block settler. We have absolute proof of this in the scant attention that the bye-roads have received since he assumed office as Minister of Public Works, with the result that the greater portion of them are unsafe for horse traffic. The Matiere-Maraheau road is almost impassable at present between Mangahakakatua and the Waikaka. Things liavc got to such a pass that we are going to invite Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, to pay us a visit, and we also intend to give him a banquet, should he accept our invitation.

•A number of settlers have finished crutching their sheep. Surveyors have been busy of late cutting up Native leases on the Waikaka for various clients. A large area of bush will be felled in this district this winter, ranging from 100 to 600 acres in various blocks. The total as far as I can learn won't be far short of 20,000 acres.

We have had very mild weather here of late, free from frosts at nights, and all stock are looking well for this time of the year. From appearances I think we are in for a mild winter. In the recent Government valuation of the Ohura County, Olangiwai riding heads the list with .C(58,1i19. This valuation does not include a large area of Native country that has been leased recently by various settlers. A good deal of road work laid off by the Ohura County CcjrlHHk in this district this year, but it sciHfflF the Government votes for same are not forthcoming. What in the mystery? Are they only on paper? Will the Hon. R. McKonzie accept Cr Stuart's challenge—who is prepared to prove that they were never available? Paemako. The weather has changed from bright, warm, sunny days to bleak and stormy winter, but the grass still holds good, especially on the old clearings. There has been a large amount of wire coming in to this district of late, indicating that this winter there is to be a lot of fencing done. Our roads have at last got their winter coats on, but up to the present they have been very good, and by this time next year we are hoping to have it metalled to hero. The Government have got a largo surplus. Let us hope that we will see some of our back block roads metalled with some of that surplus. lam afraid, however, that it won't come off. The news of the death of our illustrious and noble king came as a shock and caused profound sorrow. His death will be keenly felt throughout the civilised world, as he was undoubtedly the greatest peace-preser-ving monarch of the age. Nearly everybody has omcthing to say about llalley's comet, and how they rose in the morning to see it. The new organ has arrived and so has the organist, and all that is wanted is the people to come to church when the parson comes along.