DISTRICT NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9378, 23 February 1909, Page 8

DISTRICT NOTES.

From Onr Travelling Correspondent. In the vicinity, of Utiku there are at least sis sawmills, which during the past few y§ars have been busily engaged converting the pick or the dense bush into timber, which has been sent to different parts ot the Dominion. With the sawmills came employees and consequently quite a small township made its appearance. The two mills at Taoroa expect to cut out this year, and those who have to use the road running from Utiku through Taoroa and pay for its upkeep will not be sorry when they have closed, for owing to the heavy timber traffic the roads are almost impassable during the winter months. When all the timber has been taken out the settlers hope to road metalled. . Wherever land is cleared and is stitatole there may be found the dairy wider. Mr Campbell, manager ot We Taihape batter factory, informs that this has been an exceptional season for dairying. A good supply of cream is sent to the factory from the branch creameries at Mataroa road, Sandon Block and Mangaweka There are about sixty-five milk suppliers all told, which does not include the farmers who separate their milk and forward the cream. Fourteen hundred gallons of milk was the largest intake in one day at the factory this season. At present twenty-fonr boxes of butter are made a week. One ton per week is required for local use—that is between Hunterville and Ohakune—and there is a demand for this supply throughout the year, enough being stored to last through the three or four winter months when the factory is closed. Home churned butter is accepted, it being made up, boxed and shipped as milled butter. Milking machines have not made their appearance in this district yet, but I understand that they are to be installed in two sheds next season. No doubt as time goes on we jmal. find mechanical in place of handmilking in the larger : sheds. The machines solve the labour difficulty, and what is more important clean milk will he produced, providing the parts which come in contact with the milk are kept thoroughly clean. The ratepayers of Taoroa are agitating for a bridge to he built over the Rangitikei river where the cage is at present, and made an application for a Government loan for this pnrpoae, hut received a reply to the effect, that owing to pressure upon the fn»ds for loans to local bodies, the money cannot he obtained under that Act but could be got under the amended Act, which permits borrowing in the open market guaranteed by the Government, which pays 34 pel cent, sinking fund. The bridge is estimated, to cost £2500 and this money would now hear per cent, interest and per cent sinking fund, or would cost settlers 0 per cent, for thirty-three years. A petition making application for a lean as advised for above snm and for purposes mentioned has been signed by ejcfht out of about thirteen settlers in the district, who represent 20 000 or more acres of land. It this bridge is constructed it will give access to a large area of country known as the Mokai Block, part of.which, so I am informed, is owned by the Government and is covered with standing bush.