Oparau.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 380, 25 September 1908, Page 4

Oparau.

(FROM OUR OWN OORRESP -NDENT.) Nothing new to report here. We have three saw mills, which do not supply the district as yet, but will do when all get going full time. The grass seed sown this spring has come away well. Wild turkeys are very plentiful and cause great destruction in picking up grass seed sown. It is a pity they have no owners, who would have to pay for the damage. Sheep are all getting fat; lambs are ail alive yet enjoying the lovely weather and sweet young grass. A bad slip on the road into the river at Gage’s wire bridge has occured and if not repaired will cause accidents, loss of time, and money to those responsible for the delay, as there will be no road to Oparau There is no doubt we would be better off without a County Council, as if we united and got upto date roadmaking plant the work could be done better and less expensively by 75 per. cent. The first cost of a power road plant, tractor and trucks is the heaviest, when work can be got through expeditiously and cheaply. The long handled shovel and other ancient relics of a by-gone age should, with all ancient superstition, be sent to the state museum as an example of what our forefathers believed in and how they did their work.

Intending milkers are getting provision made to start, but there is so much to be done that many may not start milking until later than expected but once the fencing of new areas to carry surplus stock is done cow spanking will start to do for Oparau and other districts surrounding what it has done for Taranaki—make all settlers more sure that after all their hard toil the reward will come unsparingly. Messrs Schreiber Bros have taken over the Oparau butchery business from Mr T. Sootc and intend to run at low prices and on up-to-date lines, Milking machines, cows, springing heifers and cream separators are the topic. The weather has been splendid for crop and grass. The area of oats year is double that of past years, next year a much larger area of wheat and oats will be grown, tiers are finding out the fertility : soil and the expense of baying feed, flour, etc. A change is badly wanted at rau landing as goods are contin being lost, causing trouble and de those losing them. There is n commodation whatever at the la and goods are stacked on some e cases to clear the tide water, an therefore at the mercy of any di est person. A private shed and is to be put up between Oparau the ferry, which will be kept loc The Kawhia County Council have talked considerably about a landing shed and that is all that can be said of, bem —plenty talk and three rates to pay.