RAUMATI.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 65, 15 September 1908, Page 5

RAUMATI.

lOWN COBEESPONDENT.} ;>

jThe, above block is beginning to assume a settled aspect now. Most of the successful selectors are on.the. land, and their houses are in the various stages of "erection. A greater number have their sections fenced and are busy subdividing and erecting stockyards, etc. One of the best residences in the settlement is:,- that erected by Mr Shaw. It is a fine large house, containing six rooms, and has been brought thoroughly up-to-date, having all modern conveniences. Mr Shaw, has been very busy, and has his section of -70 acres, ring-fenced and subdivided into suitable allotments. At present he is. busy stumping and clearing a portion near • the house,, where he intends to erect cowyards and'bails. „'»■'. \

Other settlers who have completed their residences are Messrs Hart, Simpson, Sterling, Pilcher,. Johnstone, and. Webster, whilst .Mr Cosgrove lias Ms house underway. The road contractors are still busy .with the. formation^of the -road' leading iip to Mr Cosgrove's section, they being at present Avorking on a large cutting- near the end of the road. The roads from Mr Simpson's house, 'around pajst Mr Shaw's to Mr Cosgrove's need metalling. At present t^e road i; is in a very bad state, and if rain should come on at any time, it will be a veritable quagmire. The settlers, .14 in. all, met at Mr Ryan's hoiise, last evening for the purpose of furthering the projected erection of a co-operative factory. The New. Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. introduced a firm who would finance the concern, and guarantee tor erect a f actoryj and have it in, running order in a month. A draft agreement, was read dyer to those present, and after being taken clause, by clause, all but two of those present, signed \i. The agreement necessitates the settlers taking up a large number of shares, and as they are anxious that the factory- should be an accomplished fact in so short a time as possible, it behoves them to make the best arrangements, they can and to secure as many signatures as possible so.; that the burden of starting the factory will not fall on a few settlers, but will be evenly distributed over the whole block.

Another matter of urgency that the settlers are moving in is the erection of a school. Two petitions have been sent to the Education Board, and as yet no reply has been received. There are quite a large nximber of children of school age in the block, and it will therefore be seen that the matter is one of extreme urgency.