PAHIATUA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1558, 13 December 1883, Page 2

PAHIATUA.

(From our own Correspondent). Having just coiuplctod a journey through tho bush from Mastcrton to Woodville and back, I cannot refrain from giving you my impressions of the progress that has been made since I last passed through, which isjust upon two years. First then I was sadly disappointed with the sorry appearanco of the work on the Opaki section of railway, as I fully expected to havo seen it in a very forward state, for if you remember, when the contractors started, you devoted ut whole column or more of extra sized type to their praise, and held out hopes to us poor run holders that tho men had arrived who could show us, I mean the County Couucil, how we could get two miles of road made for tho same price that we usually paid for one, and you were not sure whether thoy (ilm contractors) would complete their wo. ,c in a half or two thirds of their contract time. As far as I can see, lli'i only thing they have completed is ihe diversion of tho road in two or three places and a few miles of fencing. By the appearance of it, I should imagine that a slight extension of time, say two or threo years, would enable them to finish the job. I didn't notice any startling changes at Opaki, It has the same lively appearanco as when I was last there, the only thing I noticed new, was a cartload of broken metal which was extended to its utmost limit, I cannot say anything about Mauriceville. I was told'thc road was so bad it was not safe, and as the Insurance Departnent don't hand over the cash iu case of suicide, I though! it was too rißky and took the safest though longest road. Coming next to Ekctahuna, I was astonished to see tho little progress that has been made. The hotel has been enlarged and a large accommodation house built, which I. should imagine will be sufficient to meet all demands in their lino for the next ten years to come. By that time in all probability the railway will have reached there, and tho proprietors having amassed a fortune, will be prepared to retire and give soraeono else a chance. The Maori hostelry (that was to be) at Hawcra, is in the same state as when I last saw it. The Maorics at Tutikara have made great improvements, having built several very decent cottages. Pahiatua, and before I proceed, the name is a misnomer, for rendered into English it means the " home or place of a spirit," but I can assure you that although I should very much have liked a glass, it was not to bo had—l supposo the creature was not at home. To come back to my notes I find Mr Macara has bought a fine section, and is having some bush down, so that immediately after tho burn he can build a large stable. One sido of the road through tho settlement for about two miles has but one house upon it, while there are soveral on the other, and knowing that both sides were laid out alike, the sections being alternately cash and deferred payment, I asked the reason it was so, and was J told that the big estate had swallowed them up. Evidently those selectors were not disciples of Henry George, and I certainlv hope that when another fine block of land is thrown open for sale that those men who sold their birthright for a mess of pottage" will bo kindly remembered by the Waslo Lands Board, (Coming to the- inter sectioa of the road which will shortly open up some hundreds of thousands of acres of the Puketoi and Mangatainoka blocks) I come to wJat will

evidently be tho township of Pahiatua. Four of tho large section fronts being in the market, several town and suburban sections having already been sold and built upon it begins to look quite tf village. By the number of children running about I should imagine a school was very much needed. I was told a site had been given by Mr. McCardle, of Masterton, which'was considered by the settlers a very convenient one for the purpose. I noticed that quite a respectable mail bag was delivered here. I see also that a hotel license has been applied for by the notice on Mr Crewe's accomodation house, where I was most hospitably served by Mrs Crewe. After leaving tho settlement I passed through the Wellington endowment of 2000 acres, and I thought how much better it would bo for the district if the Government took that land back again and gave them the value in consols at 3 per cent, or compelled them to cut it up for settlement under the perpetual leasing systom. I next came to the Manawatu ferry, and until I came within about a okain of the punt, I must say, our county manages to keep the road in "fairly well" order, the Government subsidy being sufficient to keep four men ar.d about as many overseers on the Voad between the Gamp aud Ferry. As I observed before, about a chain from the punt they seem to have shot their bolt, for then and thero commences ono of the most villanous approaches to a ferry punt that can be concoived, but which . is equalled by tho approach on the j£ other side, which is under the special P* care of the Waipawa County Council. Did tho s übsidy stop at the Ferry could make some excuse for them, but it don't, then what becomes of the money or who is responsible for the criminal state of tho road from Woodvillc, culminating in a Slough of Despond at tho Manawatu. 1 thought what a boon the bridge would be " when it was_ finished." With this ' laudable idea in my mind I was moved to enquire how lone; it had been in progress. Two or three men wore pointed out to me as having grown considerably greyer with anxiety caused by tho immense velocity of the one horse concern that drives the piles, as in case of an explosion the men's oating house and several other elaborate buildings, ineluding the public works office, would inevitably be destroyed. On hearing this I hastened on, and when out of danger I fell into a brown study—l wondered if any of the present generation would like to make use of the bridge—what Government would be in-who the next contractor would be, and what tho name of the inspector of works—at last I fancied I saw the thing finished, and a painter with a large pot of hematite mixed with water, such as is used on railway bridges in Canterbery, just in the act of handing down tho names of all concerned, when my horse put his foot into a Waipawa county man trap and I very nearly came to grief. So I pushed on for genial host Murphy's, where I freshened tho nip caused by tho calculation I had just been making.