Notes from Tongaporutu

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 263, 22 December 1903, Page 4

Notes from Tongaporutu

(From Our Own Correspondent.) - Christmas has come again—another year nearly 'ended—and the settlers of this part are anything but contented therr lot. - There is Vio ,work, therefore no money. No money has been voted for roading this part. So far roald-miajring has kept them—not their holdings. There is nothing coming from the farms—tent to pay and no return for it. A certain amount of criticism goes on about land administration, that ft Is not .staistiactory, that money for. roads has been added to the value of tile land, and that settlers are paying tor roads whkti Ifip-ve not been made. They claim that purchasing- land for close settlement, while so much remains unoccupied, is a delusion. They cite the pur- .. chase of Spotswood and Clandon as. Utter failures, properties which poor men were not allowed to take, and which the rich would not. Had the thousands paid for these been spent in roadiins the bpckblocks J it (would have put fifty families to one upon the land. If no work be given the bacHblock farmers there is nothing for them -but forfeit. A good many ■are of opinion that they are wasting time over their roadless holdings. 'Hie main road, too, is nothing move nor less than a bog hole. The Minii Rivei-fcoverflows it for a space ■or two miles during every fresh, ■and the mountain is as bad now as in the month of August. The new mail contract which commences on Jan. 1 provides a conveyance for carrying maiils. Truly a great undertaking. It is to be hoped the authorities will arrange some Other day tfaan Sunday, as at present, for the conveyance otthe mail. ■Post offices arc closed in the town upon the first day of the week ; they should also be closed in the country. It has always been noticed tfhat ' .where all meetings and such work are held on Sunday, that district is ■not a thriving one. Sunday being 1 mail day brings the people together on that'day. Were the mail day altered these Sunday meetings would cease^