MARAKOPA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 405, 18 October 1911, Page 7

MARAKOPA.

o Own Correspondent. Some time has elapsed since last, the writer took up his pen to sketch a picture of that place bearing the above name. It has been the writer's intention to reflect faithfully the local happenings and sometimes at the same time give such views as are, in his opinion, calculated to infuse British ideals, so that the district may prosper through all working together for the common good. In other words write, "not to flatter kinds or court the great," but to benefit a promising district, and so my native land. New Zealand, "that land of my sires," "Set a solitary gem In Pacific's diadem." Summer has come early: this is the general observation of the pioneers. Should season's continue as they have been during the last few years, New Zealand bids fair to he named this "Sunny Britain of the South," bound in by the triumphant sea. The long sell of dry weather has brought our roads into the satne state they usually present in December and as a result friends are able to exchange visits in comfort and congratulate one another on the good times coming. We have had enough rain to keep the grass growing which is providing feed for the dairy herds to be seen browsing the succulent grasses of the valiey. Some of the swamps in the district present a most promising sight. Not long ago they were clad in their virgin growth—to-day are firm and dry, and growing as good crops of rye, timothy, meadow, fescue and clovers, as delights the hearts of the most exacting. The local factory made a start this week, cream being supplied from farms north, south, east and west of the dairy enter. The s.s. Pitoitoi, officered by Captain Robertson, has made another successful trip, arriving again as per timetable.

On no occasion has our captain disappointed his clients. Each spring tide his little ship braves the surges of the Pacific without mishap. The entrance to the river is most awkward, a delta having formed which has split the river, making two channels where one used to be. But it is thought that this delta is a temporary one: matters will have righted themselves next springs. Mrs Carr's boardinghcuse has changed owners, Mr and Mrs Brett, of Kairimu, having arranged to carry on the business. It is the intention of the public to tender Mrs Carr and daughter a farewell on the 27th inst. Arrangements are being made with the auctioneers to hold a sale at th-3 local yards early in November.

As an evidence of our isolation it was not till eight days after the outbreak of the war that t'na news filtered through. Ye trade unionists, ye who are robbing the man out back of his little bit of freehold, how would you like to exchange places with us? You shall have the opportunity: the Crown lands of North Awakino are shortly to he on the market. Shoulder your swags, leave behind you the ordinary pleasures of life,live the lot of the hermit for years, and endure some of our hardships and (hardest of all), our disappointments. When you have endured these privations the same time as the writer, not two years or at most four, but ten long years (one ■sixth of the allotted sphere of human life), you will say as does the writer, life in the backblocks is no comedy. It is a battie. Take away that objective, viz., the freehold, and what is left io fight for? Ho true patriotic New Zealander, no man who loves his country would seek to place men in such a position, that they could not say with the pride of a Britisher, "Daughter am I in my mother's house, but mistress in my own." Marakopa, October 10th, 1911.