COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 300, 5 October 1910, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

Own Correspondents. Kiritehere-Moeatoa. Docking operations have commenced and so far satisfactory results have been obtained. Percentages varying from 90 to 100 per cent, are reported. Another largely - signed petition praying for the throwing open of the Crown lands in the Whareorima and Mangamangero survey districts has been forwarded to the Minister of Lands. The petition points out that these sections have been surveyed for the past four or five years, also that the dairying industry in the Kiritehere Valley is dependent on the development of this area. A large number of cattle have been purchased in these parts by Mr W. Kerr, for the Farmers' Auctioneering Company. Settlers report satisfactory prices.

A block of native land comprising 6000 acres and situated at Tirau Point six miles from Marakopa, has been purchased by the Government. A survey party will commence cutting up the block into suitable areas for settlement after Christmas. It is proposed that the size of sections will be about 300 to 400 acres. The land is good and equal to anything in the district and ought to be keenly sought after when put on the market. The site for the erection of the dairy factory on the Marakopa river was decided by the directors at a meeting on last week. The site chosen is at a place known as "the cherry trees," which is desirable from every point of view. It is understood that steps will be immediately taken to have the building material put on the ground ir order that the factory may be erected during the summer months.

It is the intention of Kiritehere settlers to build a shed at Marokopa for the storing of goods and wool. There was a large meeting of settlers at Kairimu on Saturday when the question of the proposed Marakoa county was discussed. Mr John Bell was elected to the chair and Mr W. F. Dines was appointed secretary. Settlers with few exceptions were unanimous in their expression of opinion that the amalgamation of Southern Kawhia and Northern Awakino would conserve the interests of all concerned. Several speakers expressed the opinion that the present county of Kawhia would cease to exist as Raglan was moving to take in the Northern part of Kawhia. The following resolution was unanimously carried, provided that it meets with the approval of settlers in South Kawhia: —"That the boundaries of the proposed Marakopa County be as follows: (Approximately) on the South side the Whakawau stream, on the East side of the boundary line between the counties of Awakino and Waitomo, thence the line dividing the Taumanatotara blocks East and West to the head of the Waiharakeke channel; on the North side along the channel and the Kawhia harbour to the coast." The secretary was authorised to write to Crs Shaw and Kearns asking them to convene a meeting of settlers in Kawhia South to discuss the proposal. Messrs John Wouldes and E. C. Stan-' ley were appointed to represent the settlers of Northern Awakino at the meeting. A cricket match will be played at Marakopa on October Bth between teams representing Kiritehere and Marakopa.

The present spell of fine weather is making the roads in fair order and given another week or so of it the roads should be fairly passable then.