RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2274, 5 February 1887, Page 3

RAGLAN.

So far this has been the hottest summer ever romembered here. Never d.> I remember seeing the ground no dry or vegitation so dried up. The heavy rain which fell during tho thunderstorm a fortnight ago, and which for a time made the grass greea, seems to have been of little avail. The heat, though during the day tempered by glorious sea breezes, has been intense, registering Sfjdogr. in the shade. Turnip seed sown five weeks ago is only just appearing through the ground. Pumpkins and marrows are a failure in most places,their leaves being infected with a blight not noticed here before.

The settlers mi the north side of Karioi have secured their potato crops, several acres having been dug during the last week. In cases where the ground was well worked potatoes grew to a large size, but in land not sufficiently worked those of a smaller kind prevailed. Mr Mitchell finds the white Hobart potato to be the, most productive, returning; nearly double the quantity of the red sorts. The natives on the flats have not yet dnp; theirs, but they are looking very well. The late rain in some cases caused a second growth to come on. Messrs Jerome, Vernon, .and other settlers at Te Mata have large quantities of cocksfoot seed this year, also of rape, which has been secured in excellent condition. Nicholson's bridge at Te Mata has just been completed by the contractors, Messrs Vercoe and Co. It has been passed by the chairman and members of the Karioi Koad Board, and is one of the best pieces of work ever executed here. The piers are built of the stono found in the creek and around it, and form a mass of masonry weighing nearly 200 tons. The stringers, planking, etc., are of totara timber. The attention of the Government has been drawn to the desirability of always using stone when it can be procured, the cost being little, if any, more than the usual timber piers. There are now three bridges in this district constructed by Mr Vercoe, all of which have atone piers, viz., at Okete, Wainui, and Te Mata. Mr Hall, the Lite teacher at Te Mata, having left the school under his charge at that place, Mr Calvert has succeeded him there. Mr Hall carries with him the respect and good wishes of a large number of settlers residing in the district. He was a very earnest and paintaking teacher and the children under his chaage seem to have got on very well. We have had a very large number of visitors during last month, and what with boating , , sea bathing, fishing etc., they all seemed to enjoy themselves very much, and no doubt were much benefited too in health.

Mr Sutton's mail coach has been well patronised during , the last few weeks, having conveyed a large number of visitors and others to and fro, under the careful management of Mr L. Svitton. Some months ago one of your correspondents wrote of the "monopoly." Raglan natives enjoyed in the dried shark which they conveyed overland for the use of the inland natives. Could he have seen the quantities of young shark and dog fish now drying outside the harbour, he would be somewhat astonished. For the last few weeks ten or twelve canoes manned by natives have been seen out in the. open sea, about five miles from Raglan, and very large quantities of shark have been caught, nearly 2000 of which fish are now drying in the sun, ready to be forwarded inland. Schnappei- aua other fish too have been caught in large nwmbers. Standing in the large flat belonging to Mr Mitchell, which reaches to the sea shore. On a fine summer's morning it is a beautiful sight to see these canoes put out to sea, and then to run down on to the beach to meet them on their return loaded with fish. During one day 120 sharks were caught, and other fish innumerable.

Except one or two, all the A.C. have departed from Kawhia, being conveyed away in the Stella. It is siiid a Land Court will be held there soon ; indeed something is required to make the place more lively than it has been since the force left it.

It is reported Government are about to have an election here for county councillors, no election having taken place for some time now. No council has met for a year or two. The Waikato Hospital Board are levyinga rate upon the county, but how are they to reach the outlying districts unless the said council meet ? It is certainly most desirable that men will be returned pledged to bring the Counties Act into operation. I know there is considerable opposition, but feel sure the majority of ratepayers in the county desire the Counties Act to be adopted. The subject of the erection of a wliavf here still continues to be the burning question of the day. Several settlers here having sent tVmir wool home no doubt will receive the benefit of the increase in price per lb. Slight showers fell yesterday, and there is every appearance of rain coining, which will be most welcome to farmers. —(Own Correspondent, Web. 2nd.)