SHAFTESBURY.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 March 1884, Page 7

SHAFTESBURY.

<ti:e\t dissatisfaction is holns; expressed by the resilient-, m tin- district at the way the proposed erection of a punt on the Waihou Ins fallen through. The ■c isc is us fuhows : — tS'iiiic lilile lini" •since the Pia\'<t County C nuicil. on tiie application of Mr Henry P> vkov (at that ti ne proprietor of the Sh iftesbury Temperance Hotel) igreed to give h.m permission to erect a pint. whic'i was to be •worked under rhe same condition* as the one at Te Aiohi is uo\v being conducted by Mr Everitt ; when, however, the •County Conned for v a rded Mr linker the found agreement lor his signature, lie observed t iat the rale for foot passengers was set down at one penny. II .» therefore refund to sign the agreement, as at Te Aro.ia fool pa -.•senders are charged threepence, and sixpence after 7p m. No further ■step* h >ye been taken in the matter, and the arrangement seems to have come to an end. This is a matter for imic i regret, as the nee I of a punt is much felt; and we trust satisfactory arraui,a'i»iJiit« will yefc bo made for iis erection. We are glad fo be able fo report that so far none of the houses on the Grant and Fostei'a block have been removed, or taken down for removal to Waiorou#omai. as was intended. We have more than once in our columns referred to the matter, and hope such an unfair movement will never be proceeded with. No •words could too strongly condemn such an action on the part of the gentlemen referred to. Jl.ivmg been most liberally dealt with by the Govcrnmen', and given the Crown grant to t.ie block as pro- j wised, they surely, on their part should be the very first the settlers and labourers brought out under their auspice* should ' look to for support and encouragement ; and as owners of a large tract of land, obtained on most reasonable terms, it is their duty to forward the interests of the district as far as they can possibly do so. The c.trrvin ; out of tie. -tcp contemplated would undouute ily be most an-

just, nnii tl iniuipus' harm i ) the whole district.. ..s w? have on :»'•( ther occasion when reierriug to (,!iis mn ( 'er. stated it was su.ely never ue in leu lion of Government that houses "erected in fulfilment of the conditions attending the sale of the lands should bo removed as soon as the Crown grant was delivered The f armors hero have; scoured thri. crops of hay and corn in good condition. Mr Birker has jL»iven np t'.ie Temperance Hotel, but still continues to provide comfortable accommodation for all comers in a smaller building" of his own, situ iteil close to the new crossing. The hotel is at present unoccupied-, except for school purposes. Mr ITamcs, the schoolmaster, since his marriage a short time ago lives in a house he lias taken near the bush. The population lias not varied much during- the last month or so, several families have left, but others have replaced them. Mr Roches new boat is regularly plying on the river for some time past, ami the accommodation it, affords to neighbouring settlers along the line is much appreciated. Oppos fcion, generally said to bo the life of trade, has arisen even in this comparatively thinly populated district, in the shape of Thornton, iSmith, and Filth's boat, the Kotuku, which has recently embarked in the regular carrying business for the settler . Goods are now carried by cither craft at low rates. This district is exceptionally favoured with regard to JSuii lay services, three being le^ularh conducted every Lor l\-> Day, viz., morning and evening at the Temperance Hotel and evening service at one of the cottuges at the bush end of the settlement. Mr E. Y. Cox is at present having a house built for his own occupation in Auckland, where he purposes, residing, at least during the s>umm« j r months. The house is being erected by one of our local tra lesmen, Mr Franklyn Mr E. M. Thompson (Thompson and Herrie a ) left a week or so ago tor Auckland, en route for England. We do not know how long Mr Thompson purposes being absent, but believe his trip to the old country will probably occupy the best part of twelve months. Rumour, which must, of course, in this as in all other matters have a say, gives it out that when this gentleman returns he ayill be accompanied by a Mrs Thompson. We do not know whether thore is any truth in this surmise, but hope that there is for the gentleman's own sake, as bachelor life at Shaftesbury must be rather monotonous.