COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 359, 13 May 1911, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

Owo Correspondents. Matiere. "Now is the winter of our discon-

tent," especially with such roads as we at present are blessed with, and surely our wintry discontent is excusable when the very cold comfort of unexpended road votes results in the sickening repetition of boggy tracts in lieu of proper access to the outside world. The very heavy rains which fell recently, followed by excessively heavy traffic, have broken up the main roads very considerably, and one or two places on the Ongarue side of Matiere are pretty stiff and boggy already and portend high prices for carriage of foodstuffs before the winter is over. Messrs Doar and Symonds' new mill at the bridge near Matiere is now in process of erection, and promises to be a very prosperous venture, there being a long period of cutting ahead comprising firstclass timber easily workable, with the additional advantage of being on the main road. Mr Hunt has been busily employed brick-making, and has just completed burning a large kiln, some of which I believe are to be delivered considerable distances down stream. The local butter factory closed on 20th April, owing to a number of cream suppliers ceasing to send their product. The ravages of the drought caused serious lessening oc uutput. Despite this latter fact, the factory has done exceedingly well, and it is generally hoped that the increased supply promised for next season will enable the factory to pay an enhanced figure for butterfat in the coming season, but of course this will be chiefly decided by the state of the Home market. The ball in aid of the Tennis Club's funds proved a pronounced success, and the presentation of the mantle ornaments won by Mrs W. H. Thompson in the ladies' tournment was made by Mr Le Cocq, who congratulated the winner. Mr Edward Owens is building a combined engine and cow shed at Otangiwai for the reception of his new milking plant, and has the boiler for the engine already to hand. Mr Dernier ha 3 completed his house, and taken up his residence on his holding at Otangiwai. Dipping is now over, and the sheep look fairly well, and while I have heard of losses thus early in lambs, I believe the cause to be reckless overstocking and foul pasture. Mr N. C. Kensington, Government Surveyor, has just completed defining the boundaries of tthe Matiere cemetery, and it is proposed to get the land vested in trustees and felled and imnroved forthwith. It may not be generally known that Matiere, from being styled a "village" has now risen to the dignity of a

"town"—vide a recent Gazette dealing with "Matiere town extension." The shooting season has opened here with a desultary fusilade but native game is exceedingly scarce, there being very few pigeons, a contrast to a couple of years ago when the Natives shot something like nine hundred odd in the lancewood scrub at Otangiwai, all in splendid condition. The pheasants provide a little sport, and are in first-rate condition, and seem to haunt the thistle patches. The• broods this year as far as my observation has gone are larger and were more quickly Hedged than formerly. No doubt the abnormally dry season contributed to this. The deadly pea rifle accounts for a good number of birds, and our youthful Nimrods are many of them first rate shots. Small hunters seem to be an increasing quantity, particularly about the upper Waikaka, where they promise to become very numerous. Pig-slaughter seems to be the. order of the day now cooler weather has come, and Messrs Moore and Willis have turned out a large number of troughs wherein piggy may receive his last bath. It seems a pity that some of the bacon- companies do not send an agent to this district, as the plethora of pigs is too great to be dealt with by home-curing. Mr Gray is just completing a road waggon to the order of Mr A. Tyford, and is putting in hi 5 * usual high-class workmanship. Local tradesmen appear to be doing a good business, and I notice Mr Brennan sending large quantities of goods to the vicinity of lower Ohura. Mr Joseph Symonds, who has given up possession to Mr Raitt, is starting with Mrs and Miss Symonds for Queensland on a visit to his parents before entering on his sawmilling venture, in the latter vocation of which the genial Joe. is no novice, having for many years faced the "breast-bench" before becoming a bush farmer. We all wish Mr and Mrs Symonds and family a happy and healthful holiday, as all have proved themselves exemplary settlers, ever willing to lend a hand and counting nothing too much trouble in cases of sickness or when help was needed and foremost in any movement to better the conditions or add to the enjoyment of their fellow settlers. A private letter from Home reports that efforts to procure a doctor for this locality are being pushed on, and an advertisement is appearing in the '"Scotsman" as well as a circular to the leading hospitals, so that we are sanguine of success ultimately. It is reported that the Hon. R. McKenzie is coming through here, and a deputation is to meet him to put forward the claims of the district to recognition in the way of road matters. One bears of the Yankee who succeeded in inducing his hens to lay two eggs a day, but a settler at Whenuakura informed me that a two-year-old hen which had accidently been shut up actually laid two eggs on each of two different days, but the second egg had no shell. I saw a specimen in Taihape, where several eggs were joined together, and the exhibitor, a genial storekeeper, expressed the opinion that had the hen not been disturbed she would have laid a string in the same style as sausages. A splendid specimen of a locally grown turnip has been shown in Mr F. Brennan's window, the growerbeing Mr G. Phillips, and the seed used being that of Barraud and Abraham, for whom Mr Brennan is agent.

Tangitu

A meeting of those interested in the formation of a Rugby Football Club was held here on Thursday, May 4th, when it was decided to form a Club to be called the Tangitu Football Club. E. A. Meredith occupied the chair. Mr E. *A. Guilford was appointed Hon. Secretary. The annual subscription was fixed at 2s 6d. Tne question of affiliation was left over until the next meeting of the club. The colours are to be black with white cape. The first practice match to be held at the township site on Sunday, May 14th. at 2 p.m. It is to be

hoped in the event of the club not being able to compete with any outside clubs in the cup fixtures, on account of the bad state of the roads in the winter months, that they will be able to arrange with other clubs for a few outside matches. Word has been received here that the Railway Department has under consideration the appointment of a caretaker for the goods shed at Waimiha. I mu.st say it will not be before due time. We are still anxiously waiting for the proposed telephone connection.