MATIERE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 507, 9 October 1912, Page 3

MATIERE.

Own Correspondent,

A spell of five weeks of most boisterous gales and cold driving rains have sadly disarranged the ambitions of those amateur gardeners who always pride themselves) on the obtaining of the "first feed" of garden ' green truck." The heavy rains, and accompanying cold spells, have proved most trying to the young stock and calving cows while our so-called "road," when mentioning which one is tempted to use an interrogation mark, has been worse than for a "ery long time. The "bete noir" of the waggoners has been a small rise just opposite the Bixteen mile peg near Matiere where your scribe helped to dig out a waggon whose front carriage and brake block were below the surface of the "road." From this spot to Matiere the "road is simply a stickey quagmire, and while the rest of the "road" is in a fearful state the portion mentioned "outherods Herod."

Perhaps the person who travels these roads under the severest handicap is our doctor, who has to '"get there" at all time whether in the dark or in foulest weather. Two severe cases necessitated his attendance at Otangiwai recently. A little daughter of Mr John Fergusson, was carrying another child when she slipped and broke her leg near the thigh joint, but is now progressing very favourably. Mr W. Demler, also cut himself very badly in the foot, severing an artery, antj, received medical aid to atop excessive and dangerous, hemorrhage. The road to Otangiwai is described as being in a worse state than ordinary, the portion known as "Peacock's Hill" being very bad indeed. A while ago a petition was circulated for signature, asking the Government to erect a post office at Matiere, and also to appoint a registrar. A postmistress under the control of the department and a salaried officer was appointed a fortnight ago, and Mr J. H. Lyon, on behalf of the signatories has received word from the Postmaster-General per Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., that "a sum is being placed on the draft Public Works Supplementary Estimates for a site and building. The matter will be considered in connection with the final re' vision of the Estimates."

Mr R. Luckman is at present engaged on a heavy waggon for tha firm of Williams and Bruce for the coming season's carting. Judging by the road at present a stern wheel steamer would be a more appropriate vehicle. Addition to the suleyards here are at present in progress, thiß being the third enlargement of these very popular yards, which seem in the Yankee phrasing to have "caught on" with the farming fraternity. Timber for the Waikaka bridge is in readinesss at Symonda and Coy's mill, and will be carted as soon as the weather takes up. This bridge will be a great boon to the settlers on the upper Waikaka giving a more level route to Matiere.

The section bought by Mr Jebb at the lani sale of sections here brought the highest price of the sale for a town section though this was considered too far back to tempt buyers last time when only corner and other prominent sections were sold.

A vote of £2OO has now been placed for immediate disposal by the Land Board for the completion of the felling of tha township reserve, so that we may have a i!air outlook after the felling and burning are dune with a corresponding benefit from a health point of view.

MAGISTRATES' COURT. Before Messrs T. de Vera Hunt and W. A. Carter J's.P. A sitting of the Matiere Court was held on Thursday, October 3rd. Insobriety. Two first offenders were fined 5a and costs.

Wandering Stock. —Geo. Humphries Davis v. K. Wille, charge of allowing stock to wander on road and damage plaintiff's fences, A similar charge of allowing a young draught mare to run upon the road to the danger of the public on Turoto road was preferred against defendant by the Ohura County Council. Defendant disclaimed ownership at the date of information, alleging that he had sold all the stock complained of to his wife in the preceding May, putting in an unwitnessed document signed by himself with a cross; -eceipt, or contra, by his wife, by which it appeared that he had sold all the stock complained of to her in consideration of moneys paid by her to liquidate some mortgage debts of his own. He admitted claiming part of the stock as his own, and that the earmarks of his stock had not been altered, but claimed that he was merely acting under the direction of his wifj. The Bench on his sworn testimony decided that it could not do otherwise than dismiss the cases, each party to pay

mented on the face that, though Wille had sworn that the stock did not belong to him, he had referred to them on occasions as his own.

Ohuca County Council v. John Deane. —Two charges of working a bullock waggon on the main Ohura road after the expiration of the bullock traction season. On the first case the defendant was fined £2 and costs and on the second £5 and costß, the Bench remarking that when a previous charge was laid the fine was i n the nature of a warning, but as this savoured of a deliberate attempt to evade the by-laws larger fines would be imposed. The Bench also commented on the amount of drunkenness in Matiere, and the police stated that in the absence of any regular police protection the matter could not be checked at present. Civil Cases. —Judgment was given by default in the following cases: — Hogg and Christenson v. Ngataua, £2 19s 7d; C. K. Williams v. Charles Moloney, £l4; J. M. Otto V. H. Talbot, £4; N.Z. State-guaranteed Advances Offices Superintendent v. A. and A. Clarke, £5 8s; W. K. Williams v. R. Brooks, £6 10s; same v. J. Patterson, £6 18s 2d; W. A. Hogg v. Ngataua, £7 lis 9d; same v. He Te Akau, £lO 10s; James McDonald junr v. W. Rose, £5 16s; in all the foregoing cases costs were allowed against defendant.