MANUTAHI.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1109, 7 November 1883, Page 2

MANUTAHI.

[From Our Correspondent.] Monday. Generally the first thing to be chronicled in an outside place like this is the progress that is going on. I notice Mr Walter McCaul, blacksmith, lately carding on business in Kakaramea, has erected a large shop on a block of laud near our local store and opposite the Post Office, The building is 32 x 16 and is built of wood with iron roof. The clear constant ring of the anvil is evidence that Mr McCaul is properly into work. His ability as a tradesman is so well known that I need not mention it here. Ho will be an acquisition to the settlers and sub-contractors on the railway works, as instead of taking their 1 work to Patea or Hawera as heretofore, this will be wholly avoided.

Since the addition was pul to our local Hotel the building presents quite a lively appearance. There is a very spacious billiard room, but the tabic is conspicuous by its absence. Through the recent heavy rains numeroos slips have occurred ou the hill going down towards the Manawapou bridge, traffic for a time being suspended. A tew mornings ago Cobb and Go’s early coach from Hawera was properly stuck in one of the slips and had to remain there till dug out. Luckily there were no passengers aboard. The slips are now cleared away'sufficient to allow traffic being resumed. Ou Saturday evening our little township was thrown into a state of, commotion when it became known that the Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson, would be hero about 7 p.m.. and several of the settlers turned out to see their Parliamentary representative. Foremost ,yl noticed Mr H. S. Peacock, The Major left here a few minutes past 8 p.rn. by special train to Foxton. The owners of landed property in this locality' heretofore must have under the impression that Manutahi become a great place, as evidenced by enormous value they place on their lands. Upon a section of land containing about 30 acres, with two dwelling houses thereon, the land being very broken, the late owner managed to raise a loan by way of mortgage of £SOO, lie estimating the selling value at about £BOO. Ttiis section was submitted to public auction on Friday last at Kakaramea, by that well known knight of the hammer, Mr Freeman R. Jackson. Having wasted a great deal of his elocutional power he was unsuccessful in obtaining a single bid, and the lot was therefore passed in to the mortgagee.^ A larger area is being sown to grain in this locality this year than last. All kinds of crops are looking exceedingly well. Owing to the continued cold weather, grass is not so plentiful as stock-, owners would like. In a future issue I intend giving your readers a little more detailed information about the crops in this district. Our roads in many placfes require a little more money expended on them, but it is useless for mo to make any fuss about them, as I am informed our Road Board and County Council coffers are very' low. Saturday last being pay day on the various railway works, I noticed many of the men depositing their surplus hard' earned cash in our local savings bank, so that there may be something in store for the rainy day. A few, I am sorry to note, deposited rather too much in our 4 local hotel. As soon as I can get a little spare time I intend to give your readers an account of the various works that are now going on on the railway’ lino-close to this township. During fine weather our township presents quite a lively appearance with teams, carting to and from the railway’ station. This latter building is situated about one and a half miles from the township, and in wet weather the newly formed road cut* up very much. Why the powers that be had it placed where it is Is an item best known to themselves. . The sparrow nuisance is making itself felt in this district. A few farmers are trydng single.handed to keep this pest a little in check, but co operation is required amongst the farmers to be of any v material benefit. Mr Peter Campbell procured some liquid poison, and with about eight pounds of poisoned grain managed to destroy’ nearly 200 sparrows. . Another neighbour followed suit, about 150 birds falling victims to his doze. This latter number was picked up dead in the field, and it is estimated that not more than two-thirds were found, another third being dead in the adjacent hedges and fields. • , The weather on Saturday and Sunday’ has been very boisterous, high winds and continuous cold rain. All prospects of, a fruit crop is now at an end /for this season. The trees are turned quite black, and so are all rapid growing vegetables. One farmer w!io planted an acre of early potatoes assured me that they are completely ruined.