MANGAWEKA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9069, 8 February 1908, Page 8

MANGAWEKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent). The Horticultural Society are completing arrangements for the annual show. Although this summer has been exceptionally dry, there seem to be a number of very healthy looking gardens in and around Mangaweka, pumpkins, tomatoes’and marrows especially being, very numerous. ' The cemetery trustees decided to approach the different business people vrith a subscription list in order to erect proper fences and form walks in the cemetery grounds, and a glance at the list shows that the work will be proceeded with fat once. “God’s Acre” in Mangaweka has been left to care for itself and has therefore placed itself in a very dilapidated condition, but now that funds are in hand it is to ;be hoped they will be spent beneficially. Where there is much smoke there must be some fire, is no doubt very true. A bright glare almost encircling the horizon has been witnessed every evening during the past month in this district. The hillsides around Mangaweka and in the JET vwatan and Manui are a mass of smouldering logs, being fanned every now and then into a bright blaze. Ho reports of loss of stock are to hand, but fences in some localities have suffered considerably. A fair number of the sporting fraternity from here journeyed to . JSarioi'to witness the annual races,

and interviewing one or two, they seemed to have had a splendid day s outing. Now that the train, arrangements are so convenient this popular fixture should be well patronised. During the last few days drivers of vehicles and horses have -had an anxious time whilst going along the Cliff road on the way to the Kawatau from Mangaweka, on account of the trees being alight all along the top, sending showers of sparks down the high papa cliffs on to the road below. A party of six riders : returning home late on Thursday night were nearly caught by a large rimn, .which came crashing down in front of them. Their escape was miraculous. The Rangitikei river is lower this season than ever before known by the earliest settlers. You can wade through almost everywhere from one side to the other. Given fine weather on Wednesday next Managweka people are looking forward to a good day’s outing at the Ohingaiti Sports. The committee spare no pains to make visitors comfortaable and the varied programme should cause a lot of amusement. We wish our sister town every luck for their 1908 gathering. Mr W. Fulton, erstwhile of Marton, has had a rather anxious time guarding his home the fire demon: also Mr Oruickshank, another old settler of the Marton district, was rather unfortunate in losing his hay stacks, besides a few chains of fencing. The road between Mangaweka and Te Kapna is the scene of much activity .iust now. Nearing the approach of the Makohiue bridge, papa burning is being carried out, and further through a large number of men are at work wid3iiing that portion of the road that so much discussion has been about to connect the Te Kapua with Mangaweka. This ought to have been finished five years ago, hut money was not available.