A Trip to Te Rau-a-moa.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 318, 28 June 1907, Page 2

A Trip to Te Rau-a-moa.

(Special Rbpouter.) It is good to note the improvements being effected in this district, and to one who visits the place occasionally, the good quality of the same is more noticeable than to the residents who see them daily. On Monday last, in response to an invitation from the Dairy Company to be present at tr social in honor of the closing of the most successful milking season, I started out on a visit to the abote progressive settlement, and as the weather fortunately proved fine thotrip was very enjoyable. After journeying to the Ferry in Walter Morgan’s oil launch Naumai, we found the coach all ready, and in a few minutes a start was made. I must hero compliment Mr Sam. Stewart on bis excellent teams, staunch horses every one of them—and so they need to be when the state of the road to be negotiated is considered. With careful handling of good horses the journey to Pirongia is now completed in good time, and I readily contradict the reports that the coach has stopped running and that passengers walk a considerable portion of the journey. Such statements are untrue. The first property passed is Mr Terry’s, who has fenced the road frontage, fallen bush and done considerable ploughing for turnips, which yielded well. Mr Williams has only had his property two years, but in that time has felled 150 acres, fenced a cousiicrable portion and built a house, and has this year put down the bush right along the road frontage. The section owned by Mr Turrell has over 100 acres ia grass, many chains of 8-

wire fencing, a nice bouse, whilst a the present time an orchard is being planted and sub - divisional fences erected. Small ureas of bush have been foiled on Mr M‘L wen’s and Mrs Hughes’ sections, both of whom are absentees. The road frontages of Mr Fivey and Mr Douglas’ sections have been fenced, the former having also bad additions made to bis house, whilst the latter has a new burn of GO acres, upon which the grass is taking well. It might not be out of place to here make a few remarks on the road. Since my last trip along it much work has been done which will probably be beneficial in the summer. But why it is necessary to employ labour to make bad roads worse is beyond me. Tost is really what is being done. Tf the money thus being wasted was expended in metalling (the metal being plentiful all along the road) the worst places the powers that be would show that they were honest in their endeavour to help the settlers. The people ot Te Rau a moa are unanimous in the belief that the settlement will not progress as it should until there is metal on the road to Kawhia, so that they can get in their goods and send out their produce by the natural way—the Kiwbia Harbour. Complaints are also made that the Kawhia residents are not moving in the matter. Now then Kawbia, wake up. A year or two ago ragwort was rather plentiful at Te Rau-a moa, but now a ro>t is rather hard to find. The chief reason of >hif> was the introdoc ion of sheep by the Government, but another fac tor that helped to check the weed wks the at'eution paid to it by settlers, who were peraistent in their endeavours. The sections now are clear., and it may be mentioned that land boaght two years ago for 30a per Jacre cannot dow be pct chased under £5 p?r acre. The Government sheep have been removed, and nearly ail the settlers now have small flocks; whether the step is wise time alone will tell, but personally I think that better ultimate results would have bden attained if the Government sheep had been allowed to remain. One thing must bo remembered—the weed ia not eradicated, only checked, so if the settlers are wise they will push forward the sub-division, so that the full benefit of the sheep may be realised. The factory has now closed down for the win ter, but still the engine is running at top, as tho sawing plant is now being used. Messrs Jas. and John Noonan are in charge of this department, and expect to cut 70,000 ft before the separator hams again. The quality of the timber is of the best, whilst the settlers named are past masters at sawmill work. Rtmu can be cut for 10j 6d per hundred, and needless to aay the settlers appreciate the opportunity of getting building material at such low figure. The new houses of Mr Raudall and Mrs Le Prou loom up when the post office is passed and are inded commodious residences, the latter place being reoognised as one of the bast way-side accomodation houses to New Zealand. My friend “Kia” recently erected anew slaughter house and now talks of a new shop. In* the evening there was a large gathering at the social in the school, visitors being present from Awaroa, Pirongia, Kawhia and Oparau. The evening proved very enjoyable, the only drawback being that the building proved to be too small; this defect is shortly to be remedied, as it has been decided to erect a large ball. The evening was devoted cluefly to dancing, the music being supplied by Mrs J. Ormsby, Miss Ormsby, Messrs Jourdain, W. Davies, Dayehe and Roa. Mr J. 3haw officiated as M.C. At intervals songs were reodand by Mesdames Ormsby, Williams, Le Proa, Misses Ashby, D. Ormsby, Messrs F. Laskey, Williams, Higgins and Jourdain, .recitations by Mr J. Easy, and duets by Mesdames Ormsby and Le Prou and Misses D. Ormsby and Ashby. Supper, supplied by the ladies and Mr Turrell, was partaken of about midnight, and the gathering concluded a couple of hours later with Auld Lang Syne and cheers for the factory manager, Mr Allcook.

Shortly before sapper, Mr J. A. Ormsby made a very nice speech. He apologised for the absence of Mr Wiley (chairman of directors) who unfortunately was laid up. Ou behalf of the company he extended all a hearty welcome. The reason of Rie social was to celebrate the successful season of the factory, due to increased supply and careful and efficient management. (Applause). To show how the factory bad gone ahead he quoted (he follow ing figures :—The first season 8524 lbs. of butter were made, for which £BBl was paid, and a loss of £l2B made ; the second season's figures showed 18,7001b5. butter, costing £7BB, the loss being £99; the third season 18,8781b5. butter was the tally, (or which £784 was paid, the result being a profit of £2B ; whilst last seasen the output bad increased to 24,858 lbs. butter, for which £1129 was paid to suppliers, the profit baing over £lOO. (Applause). He urged the settlers to help the factory, as if they did it would go on progressing, which in turn would mean that everything else w iu Id progress