TE MAPARA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 725, 28 November 1914, Page 6

TE MAPARA.

# Own Correspondent. In the Te Mapara district the dry spell experienced lately has caused a ehortness of feed, aa compared with former seasons, although not seriously, the majority of our settlers having gone in for green crops to supplement the grasses. Our roads are getting gradually improved, which fact tends to deprive us of one of our main topics when looking for a grievance when the liver happens to be Blightly out of order. Still, a great desl remains to be done. On of our new Hettlers, Mr Fuscher, who has been living on his holding for the past eighteen months, has no means of access except a bush track, which' he cut for a mile through heavy timber at his own expen-e. He cannot get timber on to his holding, and consequently has to keep his wife and family in a rented house in Te Kuiti. This means keeping two homes, and isn't very encouraging to an energetic man; it isn't settling the people oh the land." Despite the war, the high cost of living, and sundry other troubles,

the Te Mapara settlers do sometimes come out of their shell. Surprise parties have been the rage lately. By far the most successful event ot a social nature yet held in tho district, came off at Mr J. V. Mortensen's residence last weekend, the reeidenta turning cut in full muster. Dancing, songs, recitations, jigs, and hornpirjes, made the time pass all too quickly, so that when daylight came it was a surprise, a humorous Irishman among the crowd remarking "that the beauty of being up all night was that there was no danger of oversleeping oneself in the morning." Everyone went away appreciative of Mr and Mrs Mortenssn's kindneßS, and with genuine friendly feelings towards on 9 another. The thanks of our community are due to Miss N. Larsen for her efforts as principal promoter, and we only hope and wish for a repetition on the same lines. The music—violin and pianowas pupplied by local talent, there being no less than seven performers present, which shows the material we've got in the district. Politics weren't introduced except when one settler very pointedly sang: "Vote for Mr Cafferty, mind don't vote for Rafferty, For Cafferty's the proper man to

vote for and to sthand, For if you vote for Rafferty, inßtead of ould Bill Cafferty, You might as well pick up your swag and lave New Zealand."