Oparau.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 310, 3 May 1907, Page 2

Oparau.

(from OUR OWN OORRESP3MDX.XT.) After an exceptionally long «p >ll of fine weather, we have bad a period of wet, which has caused the roa<i formation recently done to bicjme mil. The fooli'hneea of doing earth* irk oq our real so late in the fill is now evident Another case of cireless people burning fern that has taken yeare to .grow and was ready to bum and bo sown with grass ha occurred, aui it is a pity property owners could not make the desperadoes pay the damage. The White Star Sawmill is undergoing one of its periodical spells, The mill should pay aow if it is not too heavily loaded. A meeting of ratepayers to again vote for or against borrowing to improve our roads, was held ou Saturday. Result: All ware in favour of borrowing, and oa the motion of Mr G. Bell agreed to have an estimate pre* pared of wh>t could be done with the money when borrowed. Or Armstrong occupied the chair, and at some length explained that on account of some sections being half rated for each road the Government said that a breach of the “Loans to Ljcal Bodies Act ” had been made, and that to get the money it was necessary to full rate half the section. Messrs Bobye and Mackenzie, the Battlers affected, agreed that if they had to pay the sama rate as the others they would de satisfied. Mr John Gage has returned from a successful Native Land Court trip, aod has succeeded in leasing several native areas to Europeans. This is a good lift for Oparau, as lands that haya long lain idle will awaken to productiveness under the axe and plough ot the settler. Several natives have started farming ou their sections. This is also a good sign and proves that natives can gat there if they only have the will.