OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4551, 21 October 1875, Page 3

OUR RANGITIKEI-MANAWATU LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Marion, October 18. Since my last communication little or nothing has occurred deserving of more than passing comment. We have been pursuing the even tenor of our way in the ordinary jog-trot manner to which we have become so accustomed, and to which we seem, indeed, to be wedded. The most noticeable feature of our everyday,life is the activity in the building trade, which manifests itself everywhere throughout the district. In Marton it is, and has been for some time past, exceedingly brisk. The same may be said of our suburban village of Croftou. In fact, buildings are going up rapidly in Bull’s, Sandon, Palmerston, and even Turalana has not escaped the infection. There is one thing, however, in this portion of the district that has a tendency to check operations in this direction, and that is the great scarcity of timber, for during the winter and spring we have only two mills from which to obtain a supply, as it is a physical impossibility to dray it at this season from the Feilding or Sandon mills.

As a pleasing evidence of our progress here, in Marton, may be mentioned the establishment of a second bank. The Bank of Australasia opened a branch here on Friday in temporary premises. They have secured more eligible ones, centrally situated, and these are to be fitted up forthwith. It has long been felt that a Farmers’ Club would prove exceedingly useful in many respects, and I am happy to say that we are now in a fair way of having one speedily inaugurated. A meeting of those interested in the movement was held on Saturday evening at Prosser’s Hotel, Mr. Peacock in the chair. There was a pretty fair attendance, though many who had promised to be present failed to put in an appearance. Mr. W. G. Watt, in moving “That an association be formed under the title of the Bangitikei District Farmers’ Club,” observed that such an institution had been long wanted in the district, which was one of small holders. He thought that by meeting together once a month, or oftener, and discussing different topics, a great amount of information would be gained, that would prove most serviceable to the settlers. The motion having been duly seconded by Mr. Fleetwood, was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Jordan, seconded by Mr. Thomas, a committee was formed, consisting of Messrs. Peacock, Fleetwood, Frederick, and Watt, for the purpose of carrying out the former resolution—obtaining information as to the working of similar institutions elsewhere, framing rules, canvassing for members, &c. The committee to report to a general meeting, to be held on Friday week. Nearly all present signified their intention of becoming members. There can be no doubt that such an association would have very beneficial results, and if the committee display the same amount of earnestness and zeal that the ploughing-match committee evinced, we shall have a good strong club. In that case, we shall next year probably have, in addition to our ploughing-match, an agricultural exhibition.

At Bull’s the local Board are setting vigorously to work in the matter of drainage. A plan submitted by Mr. Coleridge, district engineer, has been approved by the Board, and in a few days tenders will be called for the execution of the work. This township has for some time acquired the reputation of being unhealthy, owing to the prevalence of fever in it. This was rightly attributed to defective, or rather deficient drainage. To remedy this, the townspeople are spiritedly taxing themselves in order to carry out an expensive but thorough system of drainage. At Feilding the Immigrant and Colonists’ Aid Corporation are endeavoring to obtain a supply of pure water by means of Artesian wells. For this purpose they have engaged the services of Mr. McNeil, who has been accustomed to the work for a long time. The last account to hand was that the pipes were down some sixty-five feet without having struck any available supply. It is to be hoped that the experiment will prove successful, in which case two more wells will be put down in Feilding and three in the new township of Halcombe.

Speaking of Halcpmbe reminds me that some allusion is due to it. Strenxxous exertions are being made to complete the sxxrvey of the township, for location on which some 500 immigrants are now on their way, who ax-e expected to ax-rive aboxxt Chx-istmas. Considerable difficulty, however, is experienced in meeting with the reqxxisite number of surveyors, who jxxst at the present time seem to be at a premium. It is gi-atifying to learn that applications for land in and aroxxnd this new township are so numerous that thex-c will be no necessity for holding public sales of the same.

Reverting again to Peildiug, I may mention that a resident medical man has been appointed. From among the candidates for the office the choice has fallen on Dr. Johnston, well known, I believe, in Otago, where he has long practised. He arrived witlx his wife and family at the scene of his fxxtxxre labors last week.

I learn from a x-eliable soxxrce that the Emigrant and Colonists’ Aid Corpox-ation have x-ecently, at Home, declared a dividend of ten per cent, thus proving its success ixx a financial point of view ; while the good that the corporation has done in exxabling hundreds of ill-paid laborers at Home, by emigrating xxnder their axxspices, to raise themselves in the social scale, cannot be qxxestioned.

And now a few words about roads and bridges. In this portion of the district, at least, we are in a pitiable state. For several days last week the Turakina bridge was closed for heavy traffic during x-epairs. The Marton trade being principally with Wangamxi, we were put to gx-eat inconvenience. At Bull’s they are even in a worse plight. The Tutaenui bridge is still without approaches. Though tenders were invited to be sent in as far back as the 22ud ult., nothing has as yet been done in the matter, consequently Bull’s is shut out fx-om using the adjacent pox-t of Lower Bangitikei. Goods have been lying stored there since last Augxxst, and though fx-eiglxt has been raised 50 per cent., draymen refuse this additional sum, and cannot be induced to undertake their tx-ansport at any reasonable figure. A steamer plies regularly now to Lower Bangitikei, and were these approaches formed, goods coxxld be delivered in Bxxll’s at a very low rate. The people thex-e ax-e hegixming to think, and with gx-eat show of reason too, that they are being vexy badly xxsed by the Provincial Government in this mattex-. Then again, Feilding is still worse off. The track at

present in use to approach that township passes through the native reserve. In the winter time the track is nearly impassable, and vehicles diverge to the right or left, cutting up the ground very badly. The natives will not stand this any longer, and have given notice by advertisement that after Friday next any one using this track will be prosecuted for trespassing, and it is their intention, I hear, to fence in the land. Should the native lords of the soil put their threats into execution, Feilding will be almost as badly off as though in a state of seige. I really cannot imagine what the Manawatu Highway Board are dreaming about. A capital road—almost a dead level —was surveyed more than eighteen months ago, and paid for out of their funds, and yet at their last meeting, I see by the report in our local paper, there was a long discussion about this road, which ended in a resolution that the Government be again written to for assistance in laying off this road and metalling the same ! It is really too bad that the Board should have allowed so long a period to elapse without giving the Feilding people a road to the Manchester block, at the least. Their coffers have been enriched to the time of some £I3OO by the Feilding rates, and the Government subsidy—one-third—and yet not a shilling has been expended in the district in respect of which such rates have been paid. This is a gross injustice, not only to Feilding, but also to the agricultural districts around, which are thus shut out from a good market for their produce, and one within an easy distance.