ELTHAM ROAD.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 149, 6 December 1895, Page 2

ELTHAM ROAD.

(Our own Correspondent.) The weather still continues as bad, if not worse than ever, and the prospect of completing the road metalling contracts out of loans during the present summer looks dubious. The local bodies have now issued their rate notices on the new valuation, and as, owing to improvements effected, the valuation in this part must be nearly double that made three years ago, the rates accruing must amount to a good round sum annually. It is to be hoped the ratepayers will keep a vigilant eye on those rates and see that they are spent in the district. The Elthara Road from the Punehn to Palmer’s mill is in a very bad state, and badly requires repairs during the summer months. It is only throwing away money tinkering at such work during the winter, and if it is not attended to this summer another winter will see a great portion of it reduced to its original condition of a mud canal. A footbridge is also badly needed across the Punehu River, the rata log which did temporary duty being now landed in mid-stream, owing to late Hoods sweeping away the banks. It is simply disgraceful that in a thickly populated district like this that except on horseback no one can cross the river in the slightest fresh without either getting wet footed or else divesting themselves of boots, socks, &c., whilst I have seen footbridges erected across rivers in the back blocks where not a passenger used it once a week. The Awatuna Co-operative Factory has now got a supply of about IGOO or 1700 gallons daily. The directors have introduced the Babcock tester lately for the first time, and I hear they are of opinion that it was none too soon either, as even the abnormal rainfall and consequent watery pasture could scarcely account for the unusually large percentage of the latter fluid found iu some of the milk. The supply at the Punehu Factory is small this season—loo or 500 gallons daily—many settlers on the bye roads being unable to get to the factory yet.