MAROKOPA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 501, 18 September 1912, Page 3

MAROKOPA.

Own Correspondent,

BACK BLOCK FREIGHTS

It is a general conception that those districts which have a sea board for the transaort of merchandise are lucky in not having bad roads to contend with. That applies, of course, only to the centre served, for the surrounding districts have the bad road element to combat, in getting their goods from the port at which the steamer called. However, it is well known the many difficulties and hardships that settlers have to undergu in getting their supplies to their various of transport. What I want to deal with this time is the coat of freights prevailing from the larger centres to the smaller way ports. Whilst recognising the uncertainty of the bars at the majority of smaller ports, and a certain element of danger, the prevailing rates of freights per ton are undoubtpdly on the high side and entail a heavy burden on the settler. A few example of the prices charged will suffice to show the inconsistency of charges under separate conditions. The Marokopa Dairy Company has recently had a waggon built in New Plymouth for the special purpose of carting cream, and on its arrival at Waitara the agents, Messrs Hatrick and Co., Wrote to the company in forming them that the freight per the s.s. Pitoitoi would be £l9 2s 6d plus wharfage £1 5s 6d. They would, however, prepared to freight the vehicle for £l2 10s plus wharfage. This announcement was received by the company itli surprise, and the Northern agents at Kawhia were communicated with, and it was ascertined that the waggon could be carried from Waitara to Kawhia at £ cost not exceeding 30s plus wharfage. This plan was of course adopted. A settler getting in ten barrels of cement was notified that the cost of freight from Kawhia to Waitara would be £2 10s, whilst a local storekeeper got a bill for freight for four rolls of wire netting for £1 19s lOd. Strange to say, that the previous mentioned articles were all of New Zealand manufacture and that any of them could be freighted from England or America for less cost. Certainly such high costs of freight are net conducive to the -enco.uraging of New Zealand manufactured goods and to the settlement of the land in outlying districts. Such has been the case in the past of all early settlement, and little has been ever done to alleviate the hardships of pioneer work. HOSPITAL MATTERS.

The movement on foot in Te Ku'ti to have a public hospital established at that centre is being enthusiastically watched by settlers in the back districts, whe will, without doubt be ready and eager to help to have the institution successfujly established. In the Awakino county, which is ratable under the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, considerable dissatisfaction prevails. It is the end of that rating area, and owing to the great distance and unspeakable roads settlers are unable to avail themselves of the facilities of that establishment at Hamilton. All the rates from the Awakino county are paid to the Waikato body, whilst the patients suffering from illness necessitating their being taken to the hospital for treatment are taken to the New Plymouth institution. All those form the southern portion of the Awakino county, and aliyig the coast are taken in that direction. Recently a couple of cases had to be taken by special " launch from Marokopa, and although not refused at New Plymouth, the Hospital Board there raised objections to the fact although they were paying patients. They, of course, naturally object on the grounds that they do not participate in any of the rates, and that patients coming from outside areas may possibly tax the accommodation to the detriment of those within their own defines. The subiect is one that the King Country representative on the board should bring forward with an endeavour to make some arrangement for the accommodation of patients within the Waikato jurisdiction, and thereby remove unpleasantness when patients are taken there. The long distance by bad roads to the line from these parts make it necessary for those who are ill to be taken by boat, and it would certainly be a gracious action if the Waikato Board entered into negotiations with the neighbouring body for the accommodation of those who are contributing to their funds. However, it is felt that year by year the roads will be getting better and more complete and that the King Country institution will be more accessible. It S9ems only fair that the Waikato body should do something in the matter in the meantime for those who are supportingthe.m who, through isolation and bad roads, have to be taken for treatment elsewhere. DAIRYING. Another couple of weeks will see the Marokopa factory in a full swing and there is every prospect of a splendid season. There will be a supply equal to double that of last year, and matters generally are very promising. The fitting up of the factory for the dealing with the anticipated increased supply is rapidly approaching completion. Increased supplies will be coming in from the Kiritehere, Marokopa Valley, Ratanui, Kinohaku and Whakapirau districts. The directors at a meeting last week decided to pay lOd per lb for butter fat to shareholders, until the end of December, and 9d per lb to nonshareholders. The matter of disposing with the season's output has not yet been decided on. Several satisfactory offers are to hand. WHARF AND SHED. A meeting of the trustees of the Marokopa wharf and shed was-held on Thursday night. There were present Messrs John Wouldes, E. C. Stanley, J. Bell, J. Willison, and C. Willison. On the proposition of Mr J.

Stanley, Mr Wouldes was elected chairman. The Secretary for Marine wrote forwarding terms on which the Government would lend £4OO for the erection of the wharf and shed all of which were accepted. He also asked that a schedule of wharfage and storage be agreed to in order that they might be gazetted with the Order-in-Council authorising the erection of tha structures. The trustee decided to ask that it be stipulated that dues be paid r,n all goods coming or going across the ba- of the Marokopa river. A charge of 2s per ton wharfage was decided on, with a minimum charge of 6d on other than specified cargo. Among the specified items were wines and spirits Is 3d per gallon. Storage was fixed at for the first 24 hours, free, and for eveo' subsequent week or part of a week, 2s, with a minimum charge of Gd. It is to be hoped that the Government will exercise as little delay as possible in carrying out this much needed work. No storage is to be charged on outgoing cargo. THE WEATHER.

The weather during the past couple of weeks has been of a very boisterous nature, and has had a very detrimental effect on the roads,,, despite the fact that the month of August was fine. Although the elements lately have been far from satisfactory. they have had little effect on lambs owing to the fine shelter in the district. Bushfelling work has also been retarded to a certain extent. However, it is expected that the work will be completed in good time.