OTORGHANGA'S PROGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 424, 20 December 1911, Page 6

OTORGHANGA'S PROGRESS.

TOWN AND HINTERLAND,

(By Our Special Commissioner.) I. The township of Otorohanga is situated what might be termed midway between Te Kuiti and Te Awamutu. It is centrally located in the midst of a large area of country suitable for dairying. There is also a large tract of country carrying sheep in the back districts, which has its outlet through Otorohanga. Roads run into the. township from various parts of the district, and although the building up of the town has not assumed the mushroom attitude there is every evidence that it will be a solid centre. It has a large area of agricultural and pastoral country which when developed will be without doubt equal to anything in the Waikato or Taranaki districts. During the past few years in the surrounding district there has been considerable activity in plough ing and fencing, with the result that the land is rapidly being brought under. An indication of the activity prevailing is that during the present season the dairying industry has increased to the extent of three times that of last year. Farmers are dealing with the industry in the proper way, by carefully treating their herds, and providing winter fodder for them by the tilling of their lands. It is factors such as these that will no doubt make Otorohanga a good solid and progressive town. It has a good future, and there can be no gainsaying the fact.

The town, without a doubt, has had its drawbacks, due to native land legislation. It has an interesting history in that respect, and despite the fact that where gorse and scrub grew a little over a decade ego, shops and offices for the accommodation of the various commercial requirements of the district have been erected. About almost every branch of the commercial community are found trading there, all of whom report that business is good. They all speak with confidence as regards the future, and have every hope of their town establishing itself eventually amongst the foremost of King Country centres. Fine residences have been erected by a large number of residents, and this is but another example of the faith of: the townspeople. Up to the beginning of April of the present, year, the township was under the control of the Waitomo County Council. However, residents thought they should have a Town Board and one was duly established with Mr John Ormsby as chairman, and Mr H. 0. Osmond as secretary. The personnel of the council as at present constituted is Messrs Ormsby, Osmond, M. Cowley and W. Vicary. The latter gentleman has just_ been recently appointed, and with his experience in the past on other public bodies should be of immense service to the board. It is the intention of the board to go in for a loan for the general improvement of the tosvn, and with that end in view Mr Sims, engineer of the Hamilton Borough Council, has been appointed consulting engineer. Mr Sims visited Otorohanga a few weeks ago, and made an inspection of the various requirement which he is to report on at an early date, There is every hope that the board will pull along together, and they will work in unison for the advantage of their town. The decisions come to as regards the roading and other improvements is certainly to be commended. The local branch of the Farmers' Union under the secretaryship of Mr H. M. Quinn, is also doing signal service for the advancement of the town, and district. Although it might be apparent to those that are in continual touch with the township that it is no going along as fast as it should, it ia not so to those who make occasional visits. The Post Office staff has been increased to four within the last few years. Mails to the back districts are growing considerably, besides new mail services have been recently inaugurated, whilst there are a number of new ones under consideration. The railway business has also shown marked increase of recent years with the result that additions are required to the goods shed and office accommodation. The status of the station has been further increased, and it is now no longer a flag station, a stationmaster having taken charge at the beginning of last week. Townspeople and settlers would do well to make representations to the proper authorities and insist on increased accommodation. In matters, such as these townspeople should not adopt a lethargic attitude, but should be insistent in their own interests. The new Courthouse which is to be built, will be a decided acquisition to the town, At present it is badly needed, and the sooner the department puts the matter in hand the better. Messrs Ellis and Burnand's mil!, which has been a landmark in the town for a large number of years, will soon be closed down as it is expected that the milling bush will be cut out in another six months. Thi3 will be a decided loss to the town as wages to the extent of about £SO per week is being paid. Although the district will have the misfortune to lose this industry there is no reason why the district should suffer to any great extent because year by year the farming industry is becoming more firmly established, and if the progress of the past few years is to be taken as a barometer, it would be hard to estimate what the next few ye.ars will bring forth. The saleyards, which were opened at the beginning of the year, are also a further criterion of what the district can do in the production of stock, and judging by the way they have been patronised up to the present there is evidently every reason to believe that the venture will be a pronounced success Another important adjunct to the future of the town ig that a park containing nearly -seventy acres has bee!^^ med ; J !l!C - h

place in the future. Conisderable improvements are being made. Residents are hopeful that they will he able to centralise ail their sports and pastimes there in the. near future. The, people are to be congratulated for their foresight, which should be an example to Te Kuiti to take such a similar step. Building activity is not as brisk as it might be, brought about by the fact that the large number of sections disposed of by the Waikato-iManiapoto Land Board' last June when the leases came forward only being for '2l years without a right of renewal. This buyers objected to, with the result that buildings have been delayed. The matter his now been rectified and it is hoped that in the near future the original building programme will be gone on with. Railway matters is another item that has been exercising the minds of Otorohangans. They have every confidence that when the railway from Kawhia waters to the Main Trunk line takes place that Otorohanga will be the. joining point. Such a line would without doubt tan an area of very fine country and would be of incalculable benefit to the town and district.

Without being optimistic I am fully of the opinion that Otorohanga has arrived at the stage of its awakening. Energy is being displayed on all sides, and together with the farming resources of the district a marked change should take place. Businesses will grow and spring up thereby giving a general benefit to all concerned. The time has arrived when progress should be the watchword and the united action of the various bodies and societies in the town. The people have the matter in their own hands and it is by persistency alone that the final goal will be reached. There should be no difficulty in attaining it for the right kind of country surrounds the town, a fact which is the key of the situation.