COUNTRY NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 14 February 1907, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

TOXGAI'OIU'TU. The holidays have come to an end and people settled down to the usual monotonous work.—the road or li;e nulk bucket. Grasvseed mowing lius some say in U this year. One setter lias landtfd from Mr Williamson's vessel 3(i() sacks of ,seed and another hv Mr Blcakley's waggons hall' that quaiitHy, '\vhi\e a numbeiTof ptluf s aro. receiving smaller quantities. The four years free of rent has given an impetus to settlement In; Itween Okau aiu\ .Mangaroa ami' AVhJunguino'inona, dnstea.d of evergreen bush the tourist, will >ee elovuV fields witii pheep and cattle browsing thereon, while on his tour ■roni the White (.'lilts to the Wanganui River. He will also see half a score of men working on the s:xl\ct pig tracks nt the head waters of the Waitara Uiver and two at Okan widening it to twelv.e feet. At I'll tiki he will pass <hn" or four with a horse and drav pntt'ng sandstone on the inns; bf\t» - gy plies. Should he 1 ravel by way of I'riti he will pass ha'f a dozen with two bullock drays between the M4th and :;.'jtn mile posts, carting ehoeiilate clay on ho fc'lu< ,'roaM it: ii\bm»> t.le llood. When he wi I gel near i\\? :>■ Ih post he will reach the ramp ol' a similar party quarrying and burning pipa. I dmitted a mde, of metalbng in the Mimi, beyond lh<- l : riii road, which iias been been let one ye:', r bv the Clifton County Council, but the work lias not yet commenced. One contractor threw it up: il has been taken from anoiher, and now if remains to be seen what the third will do with it. Smaill jifednvenienees like this do not seem to trouble the Clifton County Council. It is a long "time? to the eV'ctiou of Counc-llors. The, XoxioiN Weeds Inspector has been through the district telling each one to be careful and cut ill;- weeds down, but the Government land, which is the only land with weeds on it, is left alone.

The land agent's aiv coming vrv.ul in tlioir Implies with buyer* of properties. but apparently without re suit. Drapers and tailor*; aiv driving about in nunibeis. The elerirv, too, of all denominations. aiv paving the place a visit while 1 Ik* roads arc good. m:\IATHMO\XK Mr (liven, of Stratford, who has charge of the metalling contract at Strathmore, hopes ,'io complete his work in about a fortnight's lime. When tiii.s is done, we will have a continuous 22V1. miles of good met ailed road from Stratford to a ha fmile beyond Iluiakama. The road from Stratford 'to; Whangamoniona is now in good order, which makes coach travelling quite a p'casmv, tee variety of scenery along the route being alone quite worth the trip, mid with a daily service as at present, this is now within the reach of all. Kxcellent accommodation is io be had at places en route, at Douglas, Strati) hiore, and Whangamoniona. Strathmore races are to be he'd on the 21st, and arc expect"d Io !><> a head -of anything of the kind vei held iucallv.

IIATAIM IvO. A bachlors' ball was held ill the liatapiko Hall on I'riilay. Ihe sth February, and was a great rimes Heing a lovely evening, people came in great numbers from all parts of the ,surrounding district.-. .Music was -supplied by Mr McMillan (piano) and Mr J/ Jiitski (violin). Mr f!. Stulla carried out the duthx of M.C.. and an cxeejent supper was pro\'d'd. Songs were contriinited by Mrs ('. Cheflings, .Mr McMillan, and Mr \\\ St«locks. Altog«tii;'r a most (Jujoyable e\«M'ing was spent, A lot of turnip crop-. r-ee.n to be a great failure this season in (his district. many 'of the fanners to re-sow th«".n. which is a great annov a lice. ThuTi' has al-o by.-u troube in getting hay and oats crops in on account of the wet weather.