DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

WAITUL (From a Correspondent.) Rome lialf-a-dozcn settlers gathered in our little school-room on Monday night for the purpose of starting a fund to assist the sufferers by the late disastrous fires in the King Country. After discussion, a resolution to that effect was proposed and carried unanimously and a subscription at once started. Quite in accordance with the "Corner's" traditions, the sum of £22 19s was put up in the room. Mr. Fagan was appointed secretary and treasurer, and a vacant page from a derelict exercise book satisfied all stationery requirements. But as a friend of mine once remarked, taxed with the simple furnishing of the home to which he was bringing his bride: "It ain't the dish, but what's on it, that matters!" which is good English in these days of Hun pretence, German wireless, and sixty-milc-rango guns. Why don't New Zealand pressmen overhaul telegraphic communications between London and this Dominion? There's a fodl or a knave somewhere at work along the line.

To return to our meeting. Two residents were appointed tc canvass Waitui and Bristol Koad for further subscription?. Subsequently a second resolution was passed, "That the Government beasked to fix the price of grass seed at the rates ruling before the bush iitcs, in order to prevent exploitation of the settlers' misfortunes and. public sympathy. In our humble, opinion profiteering under such cjfcKSumstancos would be nothing less tjis n obscene" Opportunity was taken by Mr. Jas. Hunter to get signatures to the petition for a ferro-concretc bridge over the Makara, and other road improvements in the "Corner," the total cost of which will be over a thousand pounds. This, with our bridge over the. Manganui, locally known as the Waitui bridge—the greatest bridge, bar the Waitara, in the province, will bring our bridge l>ill up to nearly four thousand pounds, the said ; bill 'having to bo met by tlrree and twenty ratepayers. Mr. Morton and his fellow councillors will please note this when they eome to considering the questiou of bridging anew the Junction Road from Ingle-wood to Tarata. Meanwhile they may continue to use. our bridge fot their traction traffic. y,' mi.-