ARAPOHUE.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 183, 3 February 1893, Page 2

ARAPOHUE.

(From our own Correspondent.) X am glad to report that the metalling of the road between the School and Chapel has been heartilj taken up ; and there is likely to be plenty of volunteers to assist in the carting, I hope to see this system extend, and that each year ratepayers will turn out and cart meta.l on to the roads. Instead of one surface man for the whole County there should be one for each riding ; at any rate for three months in Autumn, when metal could be prepared, and every settler be required to give a certain number of days with cart and horse in proportion to the exnent of his holdings. This would bo no hardship whatever, as it would be more to their advantage probably than anything else. One settler when asked to assist at the hauling- of metal, said he thought it bad to begin such a practice as the Council would soon do nothing at all. Another said he h id made up bis mind to put down his foot against doing any more work gratis. Mr McLaren has made good progress w ith Ins contraet, and expects to finish this week. The settlers should approach the Council again and offer to metal a certain portion of the road if the Council will assist. It may be taken as a certainty that the road will be destroyed in the formation and be impassable before the end of winter. The new road to the rock was so last year. Enough on roads for the present. Our big annual event, the School feast, I won’t designate it childrens’ as all participate, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and grandparents, all meet and mix together for once in the year has passed off. The day was fortunately very fine ; and though there were scarcely so many as usual present the affair passed off very successfully. A dance was held in the school, and a large number enjoyed themselves ; refreshments being provided by the School committee. A riding party of sixteen visited Mr Dennin’s vineries last Saturday ; and as we deployed over the ridges along tne narrow track in single file, we presented quite a formidable array. The road proper, is impassable even now, for a considerable distance and so w e had to follow the old track. The prospect was not so pleasing while going, as the sky was heavy and overcast, but as we journeyed back in the cool towards evening, and the declining sun shed his glorious beams o’er hill, valley, mountain and river, it were a dull spirit indeed that would not feel charmed. Along the flat by the river edge the heat was almost oppressive, but as we gained the ridges a lovelv breeze cooled both steed and rider. We found the vineries in good order, everything tidy and well looked after apparently ; but we missed the genial face and hearty voice of the proprietor, who has scarce-

ly recovered yet from his broken arm. Mr Bennett is taking charge and did all he could to make our visit pleasant, There is a good show of fruit on the vines but the season is not at all favourable for the ripening, being so moist.. Mildew is troublesome and sulphur has to be freely used. I have spoken of the charm of scenery but some of the party I doubt not, found more joy in something less tangible perhaps, than grapes or scenery, but that goes without saying ; it was ever so and ever will be. Examination report of Arapohue School (just to hand) examined on 19th December 1892. IjPass subjects—Percentage of passes 55.3. Percentage of failure, 23.9. Class Subjects—6B 75. Additional subjects, Marks 62. The result of the examination is a 3 a whole satisfactory. The high percentage of failures is due to irregular attendance. Tone order and disciplin eare good, J. C. Dickenson, Inspector.