Pongaroa.

The contract has been kt for the sawing of tiruber for the bridges over the Mangatiti and Tik-iriimonga creeks, or (Ticklu-the-nrnkey, as it is named here) to Mr G. Burling, and Messrs Heunessy Bros. When these bridges are built, wheel traffic will be able to get through from Ek> tahuna to Pongaroa, a distance of 42 miles. At present there is a temporary bridge over ihe Mangatiti for pack horses only. Placards have been posted up along the Alfredton-Weber Road, p ohibiting the working of bullocks ou this road from ihe Deep or Falls Creek to the Pongaroa stream, from the Ist June to November Ist, by order of the Minister of Lands. It would save a lot of inconvenience if the Minister could see his way clear to have these placards posted up two mouths before coming into force, so residents in the township could get their wood carted in. The Government Engineer for the Alfredton-Weber Road has put off all day men and bridge hands for a month under the new regulations. The Co-operative men will be put off also as they each finish their respective contracts. It has given every satisfaction as all hands are served the same, there being no favor shown on these roads. Mr Burling is having his paddocks fenced in along the AlfredtonWeber Road and Pongaroa Road lines. The sheisp on this station are a cross between Lincoln and Cotswold. They make a splendid marketable sheep, their weight, dressed, averaging from GO to 65 lbs. Mr W. Oliver is about to start a butchering business here. He expects to start slaughtering in about G weeks hence. Messrs Pearcey Bros were out last week looking at their sections. They seemed pleased with them. Messrs Trewby, Reeve and Miller, are having bu-h felled on their sections iu the No. 1, Pahiatua Farm Homestead Settlement, and Mr Hederman is about to have 100 acres felled. Messrs Johnson Bros, are busy cutting scrub on Mr Petersen's section close to the township. Mr Stirling has moved on to his section iu the Masterton Reform Association Block. The grass on the differant sections is looking splendidly. I noticed on Mr Brown's section young grass fully six inches long. Messrs Lane and Mason have started to make some of the white pines on their sections shake. The Government are about to start a admirable plan—that is to let the felling of the bye-road-lines to the settlers that are about to fall their bush, the line to be felled a chain wide and cleared a half chain, ready for the formation. This will save a lot of bitterness that has been caused by the blocking up of tracks in older village settlements. The Pongaroa Road line has been sown with grass seed. Next season the settlers will have plenty of feed for their stock, and grass seed for their sections, The weather has been very warm this last week. No rain here, but I should say they had rain in Makuri on Sunday, by the appearanqe of the Puketois from here.