Oparau.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 374, 7 August 1908, Page 2

Oparau.

(from oub own oobrbspjndbnt.) The weather has taken up at last, and the road-? have dried in places. We have had several very hard frosts for this part. • A lot of carting has been done during tbe late- we: weather, which has drained the pools oi mud on the road* oausing* them to dry whers water tables exist. Parts are large hollows with no defined bottom, evidences of summer neglect by those responsible. A slip between Oparau and the Ferry blocked the water table and made the water wash out the embankment. The Government and Council have both been written to, and answers received, bn- the chance of losing the road for want of one man’s work for a few hours remains. What do wp. pay rates for ? Is anyone responsible fur the taihoa tactic* of our local holy? Mr H. Armstrong is getting a complete sawmilling nlant. His timber is all heart, true to size aud very heavy. Dr Mackenzie’s manager, MrCheetham, went to Te Awamutu to bring over a waggon and six breeding mares fs m Wellington, which came by the great central track. Mr W. M‘lntosh and MrV. Clarson have Mr M’lntosh’s new bourn nearly finished, and Mr Mowbray bad two rooms of Dr Mackenzie's bouse almost completed. Another dance at Oparau nex- week. The youug people say Oparau dances are much superior to the Kawhia arti de, but possibly they are incapable judges. Messrs Bali Br s are preparing to build, but the roads are ao bad that to wait for fine weather saves horses.

The Oparau Iroad, between Ander sun’y and Newton’s, in one part is a lovely quagmire, and will be no use in winter until gravelled. The same remark applies to tbe piece from Ander son’s to Oparau. Tbe old excuse of not spending any money on the Opa rau to Anderson’s rnad. because it pas ses through native land, and the same of tbe road from Anderson’s to New ton’s, and from Anderson’s to Mac kenzies, is played out, asall the vacant land baa been leased by the natives to Oparau settlers, and will shortly be rateable. There has been no meeting of tbe Oparau biauch of tbe New Zealand Farmers Union for some time, but the secretary has applied to all available Government sources for a bridge ac the Ferry, and has mat with success; also the remission uf rent will be fixed shortly.