Whakapirau Yalley.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 361, 15 May 1908, Page 2

Whakapirau Yalley.

[COMMUNICATED. ] On Monday laet, 11th inst., a meeting of the Whakapirau settlers was held at Mr Flamank’s residence, and was well attended,J everyone in that district rolling up. Messrs W. J. and H. Shaw, oar repaeseutatives on the Harbour Board, were also in attendance. The meeting was convened principally to discuss mactora in conneetioa with the proposed loan of £2OOO for expenditure ou improve meats and shed accommodation in the various places round the harbour, as already set forth iu your advertisement columns. Mr F. C. Derecourt occupied the chair, and after explaining the purpose for which the meeting was called, requested the feeling and opinions of those present ou the ailimportant subject of shed accommodation. Needless to say the chairman’s request was quickly acceded to. There was no mistaking the feeling, as ail present seemed to be of tho ons mind in thinking that there is shed accommodation urgently required at some paint more convenient to their settlement than Kinohaku. Surely where the verdic ii so unanimous there must be both reason aud justice iu their demands.

Mr H. Shaw, and later Mr W. Sbaw, gave their views on the question, and explaiucd their position as members of the Harbour Board, which I consider to be a very prudent action on their part, as by doing so they put things on a more satisfactory basis, and enabled even the most ardent supporters of this movement to view the questipn from a different standpoint.

It may interest some of your readers to know that this Whakapirau Valley is closely settled by whit appeals to too as an energetic, hard working band of genuine settlers, not one of whom resembles in any of their modes or teases, the pirates who got possession of so many of these 100acre sections in the first instance. I could not help remarking as I passed through there on Monday last how different the aspect is to-day, compared with what it was on my first visit there three or four years ago. Then all was mture unadorned aud the hand of man wai to be seen—to day all that is reversed, as the improvements are many and varied. The bone and sinew that is responsible for these improvements is ever willing to do and dare, provided their pobition is' not made altogether unbearable ; and wbat purer sensation of happiness can man feel iu his declining years than being able to look on a life well spent iu honest toil aud with the consciousness that what he now possesses was self acquired, remembering also that it was his own exertions and indomitab'e courage that secured for him tho glorious privilige of being dant. Goldsmith seems to hayo pul 'he finishing touches on a life such ns 1 hive attempted tadescriba whun be wr 'c—

Glut blest is he who crowns ia shades like these A youth of labour with au age of ease.