OHURA VALLEY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 743, 6 February 1915, Page 3

OHURA VALLEY.

Own Correspondent. A party of prominent settlers are to visit New Plymouth and Stratford, leaving Ohura on the 6th inst, returning tha visit of parties from these districts last year. The timber for the Nionio and Opatu bridges is being delivered and the erection will soon start. The delay in erecting the Opatu bridge has been a great disadvantage to a large number of settlers in getting stock to and from their sections, as the ford across the Ohura stream is only fordable for stock in very dry weather. In the early days of this settlement access waß through aative land; now this land is leased and fenced off, so that for the last three years settlers have had to depend on the river ford. In anticipation of the erection of this bridge the settlers have pooled their thirdß, and widening and straightening the Tokarima road south of the bridge. The Council have received notice that the Tokarima road from the main Ohura road to the Opatu bridge is to be transferred to their control. The settlers are protesting against the action of the Public Works Department, as the road is very narrow, and the cost of straightening and widening would, in addition to metalling, be too heavy a burden on the settlers. The trouble is that the Department have no system in handing over the various roads. Some are widened to fourteen feet and well culverted; some are passed over ten feet wide with few cuvlerts. In other instances, where the settlers have objected, the Department have raaintaineud the roads indefinitely. Naturally the settlers who have an uncomplete road thrust upon them object strongly. The Council have let contracts at Matiere and Nionio for papa burning, and at Ohura for delivering gravel from the Mangaroa stream. S The Council teams are now on the Waikaka road delivering the burnt papa. Good progress is being made, three large kilnH having been emptied. Owing to the good rainfall there is an abundance of feed.