ARAPORUIE.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 27, 14 December 1894, Page 5

ARAPORUIE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Accidents through horses have been very numerous lately. Mr D. McCarty had a narrow escape from being killed: he was riding one horse and leading Mr Harding’s when, I understand, seme boys frightened the horse. The rope was fastened round Mr McCarty’s wrist and he was dragged off. Fortunately the rope broke or he would, most probably have been killed by the entire. As it was he received, I am told, a severe wound on the head and face. Another accident happened to Mr Richardson, piano tuner; in the dark he rode against Mr Paton’s wire fence, just lately erected, and which crosses the road formerly used. Mr Richardson was thrown across the fence with his feet in the stirrups. Fortunately the horse remained quiet, and with difficulty, after receiving some severe cuts on the legs and hands, Mr Richardson regained his seat; he, however, had to return to town next day. This fence is a regular trap for strangbrs, the posts are very far apart and there are only three wires. If the Council had studied the interests of travellers a small deviation could have been made for a trifling expense before Mr Paton erected his fence. As it is the line of road formerly used is fenced off, and in attempting to follow this Mr Richardson came to grief. The Council should let a contract to s <* local man to keep the water i s v.j,vu £5 spent in that would perhaps save a much larger expenditure and add to the comfort of travelling in wheeled conveyances. A® it is they seem utterly neglected until the mad becomes impassable. One surface man as a. present is ridiculous for the whole ridings. One man could be appointed for Arapohue, one Okahu and one for Whakahara at say £5 or more per year. They could also report to the Council on stray cattle damaging the road. Surely some means could be devised to cope with this evil; why should it he necessary to lay out £2O erecting a pound ? The Council should have power to proceed against owners of cattle running constantly bn the roads. The Concert in aid of the children’s school treat came off on Friday last and was a great success in every recpect. We had one of the largest audiences ever assembled in the hall. Great credit is due to the teachers more particularly Miss Mitchell for adopting and carrying out so successfully this new system of raising funds for the annual treat. The programme was a long, interesting and varied one; and it must have been very gratifying to the parents to see their children acquit themselves so creditably. We had valuable assistance from Tokatoka side. The song of UTiga HHnter of Whakahara was I think the gem of the evening. Mr Archard was very entertaining ; Messrs Barry and Lilly possess fine voices. Mr Johns’ first song was much enjoyed hut the second did not suit his voice. I must not forget to mention that Mr F. Bradley occupied the chair in his usual happy manner. Mr Atkinson announced thait£ls was about the amount realised by the effort, and that the treat would he held at the hall on the 21st of December. Some ■'people propose a river exclusion, hut many could not avail themselves cf that as our means of travelling are not sufficiently advanced as yet for it.