King Country Chronicle Saturday, July 18th, 1914. DISTRICT PROGRESS

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 687, 18 July 1914, Page 5

King Country Chronicle Saturday, July 18th, 1914. DISTRICT PROGRESS

To those who take more than a casual interest in the life .of the country the history o£ the settlement of the King -. Country Mat be of absorbing interest. Now that the first invasion of pioneers is over, and the district has ■settled down to solid development there is time to review the events of ' the past few years and, comprehend to some degree the work which "has been accomplished. Not that the development of the district is completed; it has merely arrived at a - Htage when sufficient pioneering has been done to mark a stage in the progress of the district. During the initial stages of settlement when the pioneers were actively engaged in geting the first portion of their holdings into grass extensive road formation was carried out by the Gvernment, and for a few years the settlers were compelled to use roads which were but clay tracks in summer and quagmires "in winter. This experience is still common in many localities but fortunately the settlers have come to realise the necessity of permanent roads as associated! with success in the business of farming. It is little more than three years since the first loans for metalling purposes were promoted in the district, ana each year haa seen a steady increase in the amount of permanent'road work accomplished. The fact that the coming season promises to be a record in respect to metalling ■ work is a definite assurance of more solid progresa than ever. In the Waitomo County alone the work in ' hand, and projected, approximates a hundred [miles of metalling, and "very little consideration is required to realise what thia fact means to the permanent progress of the country. Farming is one of the most exacting ar.d engrossing branches of business, and in new districts where it is seen

1 n all-.'stages of development, some idea/csn be obtained of the value of settlement to the State. A striking. featur.e in connection with settlement is the manner in which settlers have to combine in order io progress satisfactorily. £ln order to get proper roading schemes; establish dairy factories,saleyards and markets.freezing works, and other common requirements co-operation is -essential. The history of King Country settlement to date is a record of co-opera-tive action, and the progress of the district will be immeasurably assisted by the growth of the apirit of co-opar-ation. -■