SHAFTESBURY.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 69, 27 September 1884, Page 2

SHAFTESBURY.

Thlh township presents just at present a rutner nielanunoly appearance. Three i»ut of every four of tlie houses an; unoccupied, ami altogether tlie townsnip looks the opposite of flourishing. The proposed punt on the river, all prelimintiry arrangements for tite estahl.ahing of which were completed some month? aijo, now appears to have a very poor chance of be i n.i? erected at all. The bridge on the main road to Ma tamata, just outside the township, on t.'ie over side of the river, was rendered useless during the list flood, through the approaches from both si'les bein^ washed away, and nothing can now cross it. We drew attention to tins in a recent issue. Nothing has, however, been yet done to repair the injury. It is to be hoped it will be soon made available for traffic again. Mr Grant, sen. ( Grant and Poster), has very recently been staying on a visit for some days with his son atManawaru, and during that time paid a visit to the rrincipal surrounding settlers. Mr Grant is over from England on a tour of inspection of various lands in the Province of Auckland, suitable for settlement, principally, we believe, with regard to that belonging to the Auckland Agricultural Corapanv, for whom he will act as agent for sale of their lands on his return to England. We understand Mr Grant is expected to pay another visit to Shat'tesbury before returning to England. ! Tobacco culture is receiving a conside'able amount of attention in this district tnis season, and the Auckland Tobacco Company hare distribute 1 a number of pamphlets containing instructions, etc., together with a quantity of seed (both of which can be obtained from Mr Squirrel 1, local storekeeper). Nearly ail the cottagers have so <vn small plots of it by way of experiment, and the larger settlers on a more extensive scale. Mr Grmt, we are informed, has sown several acres with tobacco. We wish the new venture every success. At the recent examination of candidates for District Scholarships, held in Auckland, 179 competitors, Miss Evolina Mineth Knight, daughter of Mr i Win. Knight, of this place, wa9 one of twelve successful in carrying ofif a I scholarship.