COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 373, 28 June 1911, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

(Own Correspondents). Marokopa. The ; public showed loyalty to their King an* to their district by making a ready response to the : function arranged by Messrs Wouldes and Honore, the local authorities. In celebration of the King's Coronatioa, a picnic was held on the north • side of the Marokopa river. Opportunity was taken to plant in sand grass a considerable area of waste land there. The object in taking in hand this useful wo,rk>waß to improve the port. In so doing' a fine area of flat land fronting tb'4' broad Pacific is being reclaimed. The view obtained from this spot—hereafter called Coronation Domaiir—is, in New Zealand, unsurpassed in grandeur. In front is a wide sandy beach, where the sparkling blue water* of the ocean dance merrily to; the shore. To the southward, standing grim and majestic rise tall cliffs, varying from 500 to 2000 feet in height. To the eastward and forming a background only half a mile. distant, stand the forestcovered hills. At their base, wind the placid waters of the Marokopa river, a valuable ; highway for trade and a veritable paradise for the pleasure seeker.

A movement is on foot to acquire that area of waste land on which sand grass is being planted; shrubs, trees, etc., adapted to the enevironment would then be planted. Given a good coach road to the Waitomo Caves, the well-known tourist resort, Marokopa would in the near future become a popular watering place where "Ye city dwellers who have your eyeballs vexed and tired may feast them upon the wilderness of the eea." A word of praise is dqe to the school children, who worked- well under the leadership of the 'adults. Captain Robertson of the Pitoito? had good-naturedly placed his boat at the service of;the public. His sturdy crew had a buay time ferrying the people to and fro. The day was a perfect one, the sun shining bright and warm from a cloudless sky. At length the sun dipped slowly into the "watery plain" to the westward, bidding the holiday makers journey homewards. When the last boatful of happy people was rowed, away, the flames of ; the camp-fire conspicuous in the twiHhgt, told that Coronation •Picnic Mas-over. .

The dance at night proved a greater success 'than eve* was anticipated. Tbe populace of the whoe district bad gathered at tbe hall to take part in a pleasing and impressive ceremony. Mr B. C. Honore, who presided, addressed the assemblage, referring in a fitting manner to the Coronation of King George V. Each of his school pupils, was presented with a medal, a gift from ttie King to the children. Miss Rosie Willison, tbe postmistress and so a servant of their Majesties pinned the medals to the breasts of the children. The singing of . the National .Anthem and- cheers for "Good King George and Queen Mary" concluded the ceremony the first of its kind ever witnessed at Marokopa. Musical and other selections rendered by several of tbe guests, including" the popular skipper of the s.s. Pitoitoi, Captain Robertson, were much appreciated. Mr D. Pask, who officiated at the dance as M.C., kept

the ball rolling merrily till day-dawn. A vote of thankß to all wbj bad so loyally assisted in making the functions successful, especially the crew of the Pitoitoi, was passed by acclamation.

Kiriteherc—Moeatoa. i It is reported here that the MairoaMarokopa telephone line has been started sit the Mairoa end, and erected jas far .as Mr Jones' residence and the j Ratanui settlement, disused iron rails conveyed 4 romr. Te'iKuiti-bavfng been used for the purpose. So.far no effort on the part of the Government has been made to start the -lire at the Marokopa end. The Moeatoa Post -Office,.from which is.now a road wide enough for sledge traffic, is about ten miles from the port of Marokopa, to which place a Government telephone line from Kawbia is-erected. It would cost little comparatively speaking, to erect the line through the Kiri" tehere valley to. the Moeatoa Post Office, and it would be, a great convenience to settlers and others. If iron rails were used in the construction, they could be' cheaply landed at Marokopa, and the line proceeded with at once. At present, judging from the bushels of letters, the Departmen id waiting to let contracts for splitting of posts- near this end of .the line. No contract for same has been let as yet, and it seems that none is likely to be. Settlers along the route have' become dissatisfied, and are about ceasing to hopefor the advent of the telephone. The Mangakokopu road is another matter that interests us all. This road is becoming closed in by the growth of scrub and other vegetation. The Inspector we suggest seeing that it is our main mail and stock route to Te Kuiti should make an inspection of this road and if possible have the scrub cut away. J.t is reported that Mr F. Templeman intends to entertain us at a house-warming as soon as he gets matters in his new house put to rights. '

The Marokopa Debating Society baa made a start again having germinated into be>ng as the resulat of the cold water thrown over it last summer. There will be a good roll call, -judging by the enthusiasm of members. Frivolous subjects are barred. The aim, as it was stated at the first meeting held at the school, is to educate members so that they will Ite able to express their meaning clearly and in. few word 9. Marram grass for binding sand, planted at Marokpopa, is thriving excellently. There is a large number of Socialists in these parts. Literature relating to same is eagerly read. You will find Spencer, Huley, and Blatchford in many a rough out-back whare. Mr P. Saunders has imported a plough, the first in the Kiritehere valley. It is reported that the "mergers" have become lost in a Cog, and have gone the long road of the Ratanui aeroplane. The "Bungatown Poet" has completed his poem "The Lay of the Lasat Merger.'*