DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1918, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

FU'KENGAHU, (From Our Own Correspondent). If the gale of a few weeks ago and the recent heavy rains presages what tie are to receive when winter sets in we certainly have something to look forward to. There was no damage sustained by any of our settlers from the gale, but the heavy rain brought down a large number of slips on the higher country, one of which blocked the Robeon road, which gave the directors of the Stratford Dairy Company a chance to vent their objcctionableness on three suppliers who were unable to take their milk to the Waihapa cheese factory. The Stratford Company refused to allow their milk to be taken in at their creamcry, notwithstanding they all held a large number of shares in the Stratford Company The Stratford directors' action hardly surprised any one in this valley. The Ngaere Company took the milk in after Stratford's refusal, juid fifteen settlers got to work for a day and reopened the road. !

Owing to too small a culvert being put in to earn- the water of the Wailiapa stream where it crosses the Waihapa. road about ten chains of the road was under water. A washout took place which might easily have ended in a fatality, ,as an express with six cans of milk dropped into'it. Four of the cans of milk got washed out and lost, and the driver got out somehow after a good duckinsf-

When the road was being repaired prior to metalling Cr. O'Neil drew his fellow councillors' attention to the fallacy of expecting so small a culvert to carry the water off in flood time. But as the engineer said, he had inspected it. Cr O'Neil was near being crucified by the old councillors for '"Los Majoste," In future we trust the old councillors will not take any criticism of their engineer as a personal affront to themselves, as we cockies have to pay the piper for any miscalculations made. Om worthy settler, Mr. J Kelly, is laid up for repairs in Stratford as the result of an argument with the engine that drives hjs milking machines. The contest ended in a draw, as the engine is also incapacitated. On enquiries I am pleased to report Mr Kelly is mending fast. The engine is suffering from a leakage of its respiratory organ and is likely to have a prolonged illness.