Oparau.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 333, 18 October 1907, Page 3

Oparau.

|(from our own correspondent.

Goodscontinue to be missed at the Oparau landing, and the miscreants will ‘'fall in” directly if a recurrence occurs. We must have our central shed and pay the punt man to look after it. The Minister of Lands has refused to have a landing area set apart at Oparau, so as the Te Rau a-moa people are the principal exporters of produce the shod must be pul at the ferry landing, as a good road on the Bunny side connects Oparau. No great loss is occasioned in time to the tew Bettiers at this end. All back block settlers are pleased to see that one has explained the true position in a letter to our paper. The Criminal nr-glect our roads receive is past talking about. It is time we united in one solid union through this Dominion and return'to Parliamentmen who will do what is for the benefit of All dwellers in tbe Dominion—increase our trade—by getting roads maJh. The weather has been trymg its best to make back block life harder to bear. Several sheep and lambs have succumbed to tbe weather, which is tbe worst yet recorded here. The soibas been so wet for the past six weeks that no oats have yet been sown. Gardens are very backward compared with other years, but all we Want to improve them is friend Sol’s warm rays. Our primeval road is about as bad as it can get, It is an apology for a road, ns it has been made on tbe south side of a ridge and is fully one mile longer than necessary. We must growl, as we pay the County and Government to do our work. They are our servants and if we don’t see that our work is well done, and done in the best place, it will serve us right for being so careless. Although there is a main road from Oparau to Kawbia, our past and present Governments have done nothing to it. This road is full of dangerous quicksands, and requires three small bridges. Are we to be left to do all our own roads and bridges ? If so we should pay our rents, which are a heavy tax on our labour, to the County Council. We are supposed to be a dangerous class of land sharks and wealthy blonted aristocracy! We would like to have a batch of Labour Union agitators doomed to break in and make a living out of a section. We cannot strike and apply for a rise of wages, but are at present* the source from which these labourers get their rise. All we want is fair play in tbe shape of roads. We undertook to improve

tbe land. The Government’s job was to make roads and bridges. We have done our share. Has the Governv ut? The apology for a punt at Oparau ferry was adrift last week. We want 1 a bridge badly. It is evident this Government is 100 slow. We must have money spent here before tbe place can prosper. We have none, and the country must find it, or eliminate all land rents and taxes.

The death Io k place at Oparau on Wednesday of Mis Tai Haururn, Mr Caroßchan returned to Kawbia Irotn Auckland on Thursday, much improved in health. The s.s. Rothesay made a trip to Aotea on Friday, having as a cargo a good load of stores, etc. Mrs Berg notifies that she has commenced business as fruiterer and confectioner in Kawbia. The spell is broken I Thursday was tbe only day upon which rain has not fallen since tbe 20th of last month. We lenrn that Mr R. Barron, District Road Inspector, intends resigning at Christmas, and leave for Taranaki to go in for farming. Over 1000 head of cattle from this district are entered for the Waikato spring sales, chiefly «ith the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. The ?.s. Waitangi arrived here from N<*w Plymouth on Tuesday. During the heavy weather on Thursday and Friday cbe stood well out to sea SMOKERS, PLEASE NOTE The famous DERBY To btccois now sold in TWO OUNCE TINS, FLAKE OUT. Try it. The Rev. C. E. Davidson has com pleted making the pulpit for tbe Te Kuiti Congregational Church, and is to be congratulated upon the excellent quality of his workmanship. Tie work of connecting the Post Office and Mrs Morgan’s house by telephone has just been completed. Dr Jenkins can now be rung up from any office around tbe harbour between the hours of 5 p.m and 9 am. While* the Kinohaka was towing Mr M’Carthy’s boat,’the latter was swamped and capsized. Owing to tbe heavy sea running it was impossible to pick the craft no, and it has not been seen since. Mr M'Uartby estimates his lons at £lO. At a special meeting of the School Committee on Tuesday, Mr Durham wrote relative to the small attendance, on an average 12 being absent daily. It was agreed to get a defaulters’ list fr<>m the tonebor, and to then take severe steps to remedy the evil.