TARATA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 78, 30 March 1900, Page 3

TARATA.

(from our own correspondent.) Mr. C. Watts, who has sold his f.rm ; near the township to Messrs. Vickery s and Monkhouse, of Stratford, held a i clearance sale on the premises on ' Monday last, which was well attended by the neighbouring farmers. Messrs. Vickers and Stevens conducted the sale, and everything on the place, including household furniture, was sold at the hammer at fairly satisfactory prices, though in some instances prices) wereinfavourofthebuyers, Mr. Watts, who is leaving the district for Canter-' bury, is to be presented shortly with a splendid pair of eye-glasses r.y his neighbours as a token of ;he respect and esteem in which he was held during his settlement hero. He has for some years acted as lay-reader for the Church of England and more often than not conducted Church Services at Tarata, so in that respect he will be particularly missed. We wish Mr. Watts good fortune and health in his new sphere. The settlers most concerned are justly indignant that the .£l6O voted by Parliament specially to complete the formation of the Tarata end of the Ofcaroroa Road should have been by some species of juggling diverted to improving the Tikorangi end of the i road. There is presumably more influence, pecuniary or otherwise, at the ■ Tikorangi end to have enabled them to wot k the oracle. At the same time it is manifestly unfair to the settlers here, who agitated so vigorously for , the money, and worried the member ; tor Egmont until he procured the trifling sum which ought to have had at least £IOOO added to it in ordtr to do justice to that important road. But, alas for all earthly things ! we are sure of nothing until we get it, and even then we are not sure of ke ping it long. About a dozen Taratians paid a visit to Kaiinata last Friday week, to attend the patriotic concert and subsequent dance held there. The concert was fairly good and well attended, sitting room being unavailable for late comers. The sum of 4 17 was realised during the evening, which goes towards furnishing re-mounts for the First New Zealand Contingent. A well attended dance promoted by Mr. Cameron's employees was held in the School-House on Friday last, when all present enjoyed themselves, and did not disperse much before daybreak. Some of the settlers are agitating for the purpose of providing means to build a public hall here, and a meeting is convened for Saturday next to discuss ways and means, i The weather is rather too dry here , for the newly-sown clearings, and a ■ thoroughly good soaking rain is much i to be desired now. Some of the [ farmers' wells have gone dry owing to ■ the continued drought, and they have i to cart water from the creeks for their • wants at a considerable inconvenience; ■ nor have they been able to get more i than a few gallons of soft water at i a time for about three months past. March 28th.