COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 267, 11 June 1910, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

Matiere. Own Correspondents. Sheep continue to be brought in from the rail in large numbers, and apparently travel well —a decided contrast, by the way, to the state of affairs last winter, when it took nearly two hours for a fair-sized mob to clear Matiere township. I learn that a well-known and popular settler is considering an offer received for his farm from as far south as Hokitika.

Truly, "good wine needs no bush." A professional man visiting here told the writer that he considered this district would later develop into a second Taranaki. I learn on good authority that Messrs Williams and Bruce's furniture store has changed hands, the buyers, Messrs Moore and Shaw, contemplating opening a cabinet-making and furniture shop. Mr Tom. Moore's stable is now well on to completion, and is of spacious dimensions, forming another link in the main road chain. Football enthusiasts had a match on Saturday, June 4th on Mr Thompson's newly-sown grass flat, resulting in a win for the Matiere team against the Nihoniho boys. So prolific in the matter of melons, etc., has the season been that at one settler's homestead, lower down the valley, these fruits have been left to rot, the owner having more than he could possibly use. Feathered game seem to be fairly plentiful, pheasants being most numerous, with a few native quail, but few ducks are seen. One noticeable scarcity in feathered species is the pukeko, which is very scarce; indeed, it is rarely seen here. I have no doubt there must be some cause for this, and I leave ornithologists to find it out.

I learn that Miss Flett, of Whenuakura, has been seriously ill with bronchitis, but is now convalescent. The necessity for a local medico has never been so much in evidence as lately, and the presence of a skilful medical man has proved a boon to a great number of settlers. The bush standing flanking the township should now be felled as it is productive of fogs and tends to- keep out the wind and sun. The road to Otangiwai is getting very sloppy and the road from there to the three-mile peg should prove a welcome alternative to the sludge channel leading to this township. I learn that the first general meeting of the newly-formed Ohura Railway League at Nihoniho proved a failure as few turned up, there being, no doubt, some misunderstanding among delegates as to the time of the meeting. Local storekeepers report increased business and the general briskness and evidence of progress are forerunners of a prosperous time for the district. The genial 'Tom," with his thoroughbrace vehicle, still plugs along with the mails more or less up to time. Time was when parcels by post were limited to five - pounds weight—pack-horse limit —but we are hoping that wheel traffic will never be checked as in the past, and that our excontracting Jehu will, as formerly, keep a regular service and surmount the problem of negotiating the Ohura road with his plucky little horses.

I learn that a farewell social is to be tendered to Mr and Mrs Hyde, of the eleven-mile peg, prior to their departure from the district, and will be held in the Matiere Hall. Another function on the cards is a school benefit concert for the purpose of getting together funds for school gardens and ploughing and laying the play grounds in grass. Quite a large amount of local talent are willing to assist, and it is thought that with the action songs, etc., of the children themselves, a very good programme may be rendered, In matters of this kipd it is noticeable that even the bachelor portion of the community are very generous in support, all having a soft side for the youngsters. Mr Mears, of the Presbyterian Mission, is leaving here next week for the sou to and presentations are being made to Miss Mears and himself in recognition of the arduous labours of both in this circuit. The lot of a back-block missionary is no sinecure and one would like to see some of the higher placed dignatarie's of the churches confronted with the mud and desolate and lonely rides of their scantily-paid brethren. It would certainly generate a practical and lastiner sympathy. At a recent meeting of the Northern Ohura Medical Association a very satisfactory report as to funds and progress was presented and the meeting cordially endorsed the various arrangements of the committee. No dissension or complaint was reported and the chairman (Mr Bicheno), remarked that few meetings he had attended passed off so harmoniously and with such unanimous voting. Various important questions were discussed, and a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. To your correspondent, Mr F. C. Stuart, who complains of the idiosyncrasies of his countryman, the Minister of Public Works, I would like to cite the explanation of the witty gcobie McKenzie in a bygone Parliament. He explained that the black McKenzie had in pre-historie days caught and partly tamed the red McKenzie, but that, owing to various causes chief among which was the innate "cussedness" of the red specimen, an imperfect job resulted, with the natural sequence that various stubborn and bad traits were for ever cropping up. However, we all agree with your Waikaka correspondent that it is very desirable that we should get outside and independent politicians to come in and inspect the state of affairs for themselves so that they may speak with no uncertainty as to the manner in which the apathy and bluff of the Government are disgusting our best settlers. Who knows but that such course my "tame the savgge breast"- of the aforesaid "red McKenzie." .