Rongotea.

Manawatu Herald, 19 April 1898, Page 3

Rongotea.

(from our own correspondent.)

April 18. The farmers here are fearing a hard winter. The land has been parched too long, and the young grass that is springing now is coming too late, and will soon be cut down by the severe frosts that are always felt here. Last week we had two sharp ones.

Many of the fanners are only taking half the quantity of milk to the factory they would have taken had it not been tor the drought. The milk has fallen off to that extent that there has been no need for the new creamery, the old one being quite equal to cope with the supply. The loss means £2000 to £3000 to our district. There is some talk of forming a bacon factory in connection with the butter factory, and some of our farmers are trying to agitate for a co-operative store, thinking our local storekeepers are charging too high prices.

Mr Hopping has sold his farm of some 84 acres to Mr J. McHardie, of Bulls, for the price of £28 per acre. Mr McHardie is a gentleman wellknown and respected in our district and who has a thorough knowledge of farming and will thus be a help to the place. Mr Woods, late manager of the Butter factory, has left us. Before leaving the suppliers and employees presented him with a beautiful watch and chain as a token of respect and for the faithful services rendered by him during his management of the factory.

Mr W. Davies is having extensive improvements made to his homestead, which, when finished, will make it the finest place in Rongotea. Mr W. Broughton has built a nice coach-house and workshop on his property. Mr Hickford has just finished painting his house which makes a great improvement in its appearance. Mr Salisbury is also having his house painted as well as several others round the square. I do not know what has become of the talked-of scheme of fencing and planting our square. Our footballers met and reformed the Club but have not advanced any further.

The cricketers had a gay old time at their fancy-dress match at Easter. The match was most amusing and a crowd of people were present. Last Tuesday week the Church of England congregation held their festival. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion with all the fruit and vegetables of the season, which afterwards were sold and netted a profit towards the building fund. The Rev R. Young is an able preacher and all who listened to his discourse, without envying Foxton, desired to have the reverend gentleman dwelling in our midst.

Mr G over ia away in Wellington on a holiday trip for the good of his health, and Mr B. Beauvolt is away in Sydney for the same purpose;

Miss Hickford's birthday party the other week was a splendid success, some 50 or 60 friends being there. Miss Hickford received many presents both valucable and useful, among*: t the number being a beautiful gold watch and chain, the gift of her mother. It is said this gathering will be nothing to be compared to one shortly to take place in which a "penny" will take a most prominent part. One gentleman in our midst refused £140 for a quarter of an acre of land the other day because the site was for an hotel, but I hear a site is likely to be procured for that purpose and right on the corner of our square. Some people think an hotel would be a good thing for the place, some think otherwise. We have been some 15 or 20 years without one, and we are one of the most thriving inland towns on the coast. We have no need for a number of police to keep us in order, and we have no " drunks " in our streets. Every family has enough and to spare, and all without an hotel, so I really do not think an hotel would be much of an improvement. However, my opinion is only that of one, and it will be for the people to decide.

There is a strong feeling in this district of bringing Mr J. G. Wilson out again at the next general election to contest this seat.