TONGAPORUTU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8125, 2 June 1906, Page 2

TONGAPORUTU.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

We arc all but sliut in here. Mr Williamson, with his oil launch, however, kcops us in touch with civilisation.

Tho Clifton County Council erected a toll-bar at the creamery on the Waihi, and not satisfied with that, they put on a mud one at Mr Kelly's, Upper Mimi This structure consists of two great ditches with three feet or more of slush between, and nearly two furlongs long. Mr Bleakley, of Urenui, has been carting on tho road for years, but this barrier has even stopped him, though he has a big supply of good horses. The mail contractor has a conveyance at each end, and even then he has had to take to the paekho;sc. Bullock drays have tried it, with no better result This celebrated body spent tho summer sending deputations to Wellington to get more money than Parliament had voted for this road, with the result that they got nono. They once or twice called for tenders, and they considered them too high. In March they accepted one, with the above result. On this sido of the mountain the road is good, being sandstoned satisfactorily. The launch runs fairly regularly from Waitara, and is deservedly well patronised.

Road construction goes on slowly. The Whangamomona road will soon bo open six feet wide, but it will be years before the Mangaroa road will be open.

Settlement is going on apace. Two stores, with butcher's shops combined, have opened in Okau. A blacksmith is also there. Others are building houses or whares on their holdings. A large amount of fencing is bring done, and most probably a great area of bush will eome down this season.

The winter so far is good, thougli on the wet side. Stock is looking well. The milking season is about over. Game of every description is scarce, and very little shooting is being done. Dancing and other amusements are a dead letter, all the people being too busy working.