DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 215, 9 March 1912, Page 9 (Supplement)

DISTRICT NEWS.

RAIIOTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A meeting of ratepayers was held' in the Rahotu Hall on Saturday night, the 2nd inst., to discuss ways and means of keeping the' Main South road in repair, but, owing to the wet night, very few attended. -Mr. Maxwell, on behalf of the Council, said the Toad could not be kept open for traffic this coming winter if something substantial were not done in the way of re-metalling, and the Council had no money in hand to work with. He thought the only way out of the difficult was to raise a loan of £40,000, and re-make the road, also to put a toll-gate on the road at Puniho,. the profits from same to be used towards paying interest on the loan. Mr. A. Chapman thought it would be a good plan to go in for a tram line. Mr. Maxwell did not think it possible to construct a tram line owing to the heavy cost.

After further discussion, it was proposed by Mr. J. Phillips, and carried, that this meeting of ratepayers consider it would be best for the Council to raise a loan of £40,000 and--re-make-the road, also place a toll-gate on the road at Puniho, the profits from the same to be us"d to pay interest on the loan. Should the Council go in for a loan of £40,000 and metal the road it will only last a few years, and then we will have the same thing to face again. I think it would be better for the ratepayers if the Council struck another rate for the time being. Perhaps we will have the Opunake railway before long, and then we would not require the flash road the Council talk of making. Farmers along the coast between here and Opunake would be wise to consider sending their produce by boat to Patea, and subsidising one of the small boats for a few years. About 800 tons of butter and cheese could be guaranteed per year.

The Ealiotu Dairy Co. have just installed a plant to make butter from whey. Calves are supposed to do better on whey that has had all the fat takenfrom it, but some of the calves I saw for sale the other day did not look as if they would weigh much. Milk is going down quickly and cheese factories along the coast will soon be on to butter-making for the slack time. '

Blackberries seem to have thrived well this sumnier, and look very picturesque in and around the township at the present time. Anyone not knowing what blackberries are should pay the township a visit before, the weed inspector comes our way. I might say there is not much fear of the inspector comin" until the seeds are all ripe.