MATIERE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 658, 8 April 1914, Page 2

MATIERE.

Own Correspondent.

This district, while not exactly "hustling," at the same pace as the late Phineas T. Barnum has certainly "got a move on." Unfortunately just lately Bomeone of an energetic tendency got rather a bad mo've on a local billiard saloon owner and left with the cash bag containing about thirteen pounds odd. Tho police are investigating the affair. The public works of the district are being pushed steadily along, and the railway developments are the cynosure of the eyes of all settlers in the outward travels. After the years of fruitless agitation and waiting and the "hoping against hope" it is certainly very cheering to the settlers to see that Mr Msssey's promise of railway communication within a definite and fixed period is likely to yield face value arid "Plain Bill" is at present a "person a grata"cvith the large majority of settlers in the valiey. in addition to the works now being prosecuted from Okahukura to the tunnel and the tunnel works themselves, cuttings arid culverts are now in hand to the brickworks at the fourteen-mile, while between the fourteen and fifteen-mila a deviation is in progress to avoid what is known as the "Crooked Bend" whereby some twenty-two chains will be saved on the journey to Matiere. At this point some few hundred yard of papa are being burnt by Mr J. Symonds, whose first kiln has turned out a first rate sample. Six drays and a waggon have been carting pumice for some months from the eleven-mile onwards and the road has been formed and dressed with pumice as far as Warren's hill and we are hoping that before they are withdrawn they will reach Matiere township. A fair amount of building is going on and projected. Mr Geo. Jebb is building a very handsome residence acrosß the river and Mr Thos. Wills is has nearly finished a fine bungalow reidence on Riro Terrace in the same locality.

The local dairy factory has had a very good season, indeed, the owner, Mr Brash, tells me that in point of output the factory has far exceeded any previous year's working. An offer of eleven pence per pound for next year's supply has been made by Mr Brash, and as far as 1 can learn the majority of dairymen hero prefer a straightout offer with no risk to the signing of guarantees. In fact nothing is so liable to induce the settler to follow the example of the sea-sick "Sir Joseph Porter of the Queen's Navee" in "seeking seclusion" as to produce a "guarantee bond." So often have these seductive documents been galling reminders of past indiscretions that their production is apt to cause an outbreak of strong adjectives or a general scatteration.

A meeting of members cf the Northern Ohura Medical Association is being held next Saturday to make fresh arrangements with the present medical, officer for a further term on the expiry of the present three years' agreement. Matters medical have run so smoothly and well during the past that it is sincerely hoped they will continue, and I learn that the general feeling is in the direction of making a substantial increase in the guaranteed salary of the present medical officer. A great need of this part of the district is that of a good surgical and obstiretc nurse, as a medical man has often to do his best single-handed in cases which involve heavy risk. Mr Phillips is about to add twelve rooms to the Arcadib Hotel, and is erecting a plumber's shop, etc., adjoining the Bank cf New Zealand. Mr Geo. Clark is making fair progress with the main street of Ma tiere, and later is to form the road to give access to the cemetery.

Our post office and telephone bureau is still in the air, though I learn on official authority that the volume of business doubles that of any office in the district.