DISTRICT NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9418, 14 April 1909, Page 8

DISTRICT NOTES.

While journeying through the baokblocks'territory,. of which I wrote,last week, I learnt that sis years ago a butter factory was ■ erected at Pukeroa by the Loan & Mercantile 00., the settlers having first consented to supply cream and take up shares in this project. But it : was proved that the Pohonui country-was not suitable for dairying, -the tfonveyance of cream over ■ the nnmetalled roads being one difficulty and the dairy cows not having been bred in this undulating district were not used to_ climbing almost perpendicular hills in search of food. Many slipped from their insecure foothold and foil many feet into the gullies below and were missing from the herd at milking ■time. So'this factory was not a ■ financial success, being closed in its third season, and it was eventually laid low by fire the shareholders and those interested losing rather heavily by/the venture. ... . ■• Fortunately for the .backblocks settlers in the Wanganui district the Education Board interests itself in the country schools. At present there is a school at Pukeroa and one „ at Pohonui, and it is probable that one Will be required at Koeke at a later date. I was pleased to notice small green plots adjacent to the schools, showing that the teachers and children had taken up the all important subject of elementary / agriculture. In these back country districts where toe settlement is scattered it is very difficult to maintain attendance at the public schools, especially during the winter months, some of the children having to, ride from two to five miles through the papa mud. But settlers take a great interest in the education of their children and pack them off tojsohool when the weather is not too bad. I noticed - that the Oalforniau thistle had made its unwelcome ap peaxande on inany of the sections on the Pohonui block, and the farmers are doing their best to check the growth of this Weed by cutting it down each year when it flowers. The settlers are well oared for by the Postal Department receiving their letters and papers twice a week. A coach leaves Honterville every Monday and Thursday for Pukeroa, a distance of 18 miles,, and the. mails are there strapped to the back of a wiry paokborse and delivered to the settlers on the block. The mailman is a person of importance in these parts, being eagerly looked for by those who delight to Refuse their papers and keep in touch with the outside world. The stranger who visits the back . country is made welcome by the families who offer him every hospitality. When the industrious housewife has attended to hia personal comfort and the inner man has been satisfied, he is questioned regarding the latest news from outside and asked about the condition of stock and genera l , appearance of the lower country for the farmer who resides in his mountainous home can seldom ■afford the time to visit the closely populated portions of the island, but he endeavours to take his wife and family away for a holiday at least once a year, though farmers tell me that a visit to the city is apt to make them restless and it is some time before they can again settle down to the quiet life of the back •blocks.