OHURA DEVELOPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1916, Page 8

OHURA DEVELOPMENT.

■MR. NEWTON KING'S FIRST CATTLE SALE. It seems but a very few years ago that the land in the Oliura was opened for selection, yet the fact that at Mr. Newton King's first cattle sale on Thursday last between 1100 and 1200 cattle were penned shows how rapidly the north-eastern'portion of Taranaki has developed, While the excellent condition of the stock'bore testimony to the fine producing' power of the district. In following up settlement in the province by purchasing cattle yards and holding periodical sales in the hinterland of Taranaki, Mr. King is materially assisting the progress and prosperity of the settlers, and his presence at his first sale .in, tiio Olrnra shows the importance attached to the new sales Outside buyers . were in rvidev.ee from the large, area stretching from the. King Country to Wanganuf, with t.ic result that the prices were most satisfactory to vendors. The member.? of Mr. King's staff present included Messrs. S. W. Shaw and Harold ' Abraham (Strattord). The journey up was quite a new experience' to many of those present, and on the morning of the sale the weather proved all that could be desired, while the'arrangement.?, which had been carried' out by Mr. King's Oliura branch manager (Mr. Hugh Cameron, formerly of the Stratford office), arc deserving of praise. In his prefatory remarks, Mr. King remarked that .he . .was there to do business, and he .had not the slightest doubt his firm would do it. He was convinced that the Oh lira was a fine district, and he was going to sell the sheep and cattle for-the settlers to the best of his ability. He spoke appreciatively of Mr. Cameron,.in whom he had every confidence, and stressed the imperative necessity for telephonic communication with Stratford, intimating that all the public bodies in Taranaki, and especially the Olima County Council, should move vigorously in the matter.

In the course of a very brief speech, Mr. S. W. Shaw referred to the excellent yarding, the quality being a distinct credit to the district.

Mr. Abraham, also spoke, as did the chairman of the Oliura County Council (Mr. F. Romayne), who welcomed Mr. King and his staff on behalf of the settlers, and suggested holding a meeting that evening to take action relative to the telephone service. Mr. Shaw then commenced the sale, bidding for the various lines being keen, the first being secured by Mr. S. Meredith. The sale was a perfect ruecess, and augured well for the future of the district. It was subsequently decided that sales be held in December, January, February, March, April, May, August, and October. TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION. As suggested by Mr. Romayne, a meeting wa.; held in the hall in the evening to discuss the question of telephone communication between Tatu and Tahora, Mr. Romayne presiding. On the motion of Mr. W. K. Williams, seconded by Mr. G. C. Stevenson, it was decided: "That this representative meeting of settlers, business people, and residents of the Oliura and surrounding districts urge upon the Minuter of the 'Post and Telegraph Department the absolute and urgent necessity of having the telephone line be' tween Tatu and Tahora completed at tiio earliest possible moment; that eopie.! of the resolution be forwarded to tho Whangamomona and Oliura County Councils and the Stratford and New Plymouth Chambers of Commerce, asking for their hearty and united support of 'anio." A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to Mr. Jennings and the other Taranaki members, with a request for their support, the Stratford and New Plymouth Chambers <)f Commerce having already moved in the matter. The meeting appointed Mr. G. Donison to act as secretary.