COUNTRY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 375, 5 July 1911, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

(Own Correspondents). Ohura. A meeting of Tokirima settlers was held recently to consider what should be done to better their present unsatisfactory mail service. Mr Brovvniie was in the chair. It was pointed out that many settlers who have to ride several miles for their mail have to ride home without it, and have to return again next morning The meeting also considered that the Department should grant a reasonable sum to induce the contractor to run up to time. A letter was received from the Department stating that the facts were recognised and asked the settlers to submit a price to carry the' mails twice a week from Auko pae to Roto and Tokirima.

Messrs Brown Bros., of Waitangata are installing a milking plant for the ensuing season to supply the Niho Niho factory. A new hall is being erected by the settlers of Niho Niho, t and it is expected to have the opening night early in August. . Mr W. Fleming, of Waikaka is having his mill overhauled, He hopes to commence cutting again in a few weeks time. Traffic has been blocked on the Harvey and Tokirima roads owing to slips and trees having come down, due to the heavy rains at the beginning of the month. A large number of new settlers have come to reside on the Opatae Block. A young man named F. Pearce met with a serious accident in Loft's bush a few weeks ago. He inflicted an ugly axe wound in his toes and foot. One toe was almost completely severed from the foot and required several stitches. The Union Bank have removed into premises specially erected for them at Mangaroa opposite the County Council chambers. Football is making good progress this year, and a considerable amount of enthusiasm is being displayed. The banner matches are creating a good deal of excitment. Excellent progress is being made with the Mangaroa Band Fund. A basket social is to be given by the ladies at an early date in aid of the project. A public meeting will shortly be held and trustees appointed. The Ohura County Council are to be congratulated upon the successful floating of their first loan, for the sum of £2165 for metalling portions of the Waikaka-Rimu road. The road is recognised as one of the main arterial roads of the county. A subsidy of £1 for £1 will be available from the Public Works Department, and therefore the total expenditure will be £4560.

At a recent meeting of the Mangaroa Domain Board the grazing rights for twelve months were granted to Mr S. E. Meredith for £l6 10s 9d. It was resolved that the Football Club be requested to close their season by the end of August in order that the Board may get the ground ploughed early in the spring.

Matiere. Several severe frosts have visited this locality, and have had the effect of cutting back the winter fed, though stock as a whole show very fair condition. At a meeting convened by Mr Thos. J. Brennan at the Matiere Hall on 10th June, it was decided to appoint trustees for the Matiere Domain, and aT-Jo for the Matiere Cemetery Reserve, and Messrs R. Moore, Thos. Wills, D. C. Morpeth, Thos. White and John Gray were elected by those present to act, the names to be forwarded for gazettal by the Minister of Lands. Mr J. H. L yon having completed the initial work, declined election but undertook to see the preliminary work completed, and we are hoping that the recent accession of fresh and energetic public men will result in a well kept cemetery and a pretty domain. The latter, in the hand 3 of an enthusiastic committee should be an ideal "lung," when railway and other facilities shall have overcrowded our city. Among other matters, it was decided to ask that Mr D. C. Morpeth should be appointed a deputy registrar of births, marriages and deaths, as at present the simple registration of a requires a muddy and fatiguing journey, and as Mr Morpeth has had previous experience in this office there can be no reasonable ground for refusing the request. After the business of the meeting had been disposed of. an informal meeting of the Northern Ohura Medical Association was held, and it was decided after the Hon. Secretary, Mr Lyon, had read correspondence from two doctors in the Old Country, that the guarantee should be increased. A vote of thanks was passed to the Hon. Secretary for the trouble he had taken to obtain information with regard to procuring a medical man. Messrs Lyon and Hunt having pointed out that the meeting was not called for medical business, it was decided that, owing to the state of the roads, meetings should be called for Friday 16th at Matiere Hall, and on the 17th at Otangiwai. Both meetings decided that the growth of the district warranted an increased guarantee, and the Secretary was instructed to at once cable the improved terms, and to call meetings on receipt of reply. In the case of Otangiwai, a strong canvassing committee was formed, and the final stages for registration under the Incorporated Societies Act, of 1908, were completed, and the Secretary was instructed to forward the same as soon as possible to Wellington. Mr McKenzie, Engineer in Charge of the Stratford-Ongarue railway, arrived in Onagrue on the 21st ult., together with Mr Baker, C.E., who is to take the grades of the railway from

f Onggarue westward. The camp of the surveyors will be at the "three* j'milepeg," or just about where the Otangiwai track junctions. I learn that it is scarcely likely that the terminus of the rail will be anywhere north of Ongarue. Many local and amateur surveyors had laid it down that a junction would be effected at a joint point known as "Hetet's paddock," but I am credibly informed that it is more probable that a more practicable route exists at point starting about half a mile from the fingerpost, and running into the ridge under what has been an old native pah. This way a small tunnel would bring the line out between the four and five mile pegs 011 the main Ohura road. Mr Chas. Harrison, of Poro-o-Taras, has often declared that a fine route exists in that direction, and has offered to place his knowledge of the locality at the service of tthe authorities. Mr Harrison, who was on the primary survey many years ago, has a very complete idea of the topography of the whole route, and his advice on this head should be peculiarly valuable. However, we folk in Ohura are not likely to be particular or very critical as to where the railway runs, provided it is constructed quickly and at once. I learn that some three months will elapse before the formation work can proceed, but as the Public Works Department intend to improve the main road for their own hau'age, it is just possible we may taste the benefit of a good road before the advent of the iron horse.

Otorohanga. The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee was held on Saturday night, Mr Millar, Chairman, presiding. Correspondence was received from the Board of Education re school reserve. A letter was forwarded drawing the Board's atttention to the inadequate ventilation in the infants' room. Complaint was also made that the tanks were decaying and had to be plugged up to prevent leakages. It was decided to call for the annual tenders for cleaning the school. A letter of sympathy in connection with his mother's death was forwarded to Mr J. H. D. Burnand, who has been a member of the School Committee for some years. The local branch of the Farmers' Union have been agitating for some time to have a new and suitable courthouse erected. An officer of the Public Works Department paid a visit of inspection last week, and decided on a new site, and I understand a new courthouse and police station will be erected very shortly. At present the court sittings have to be held in a privately-owned hall, with no conveniences at all. Roller skates have been ordered and are expected daily now, and lovers of the pastime will be able to enjoy themselves in Turner's Hall, as it is the intention of the proprietors to open the hall as a rink.