RANGATAUA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 15

RANGATAUA.

A SAWMILL METROPOLIS. Rangataua, one of the latest town products on the Main Trunk line, is one of the sawmill metrcpoles of the district, and in the course of two years has thriven amazingly. Tho land was cut up and sold in town areas and village settlement sections by the Govern-

ment on Dcccmber 5, 190S, and now boasts a population of 900 within a two-mile radius. In this area thero are seven sawmills, some of which are small villages in, themselves. Tho largest concerns are the Powell Wood Company, Perhani and I/arsen's, and tho Rahgataua Timber Company, which has its headquarters at Marion: When the town was laid out bv the Government the sections were loaded to the extent of £2000 for street-clearing and forming purposes, and later the residents "borrowed a sum of £2500 for metalline!, drainage, and footpaths. This work has now been completed, and the town presents a very good appearance. Somo very neat cottages and business places have been erected, and practically all traces of "canvas town," which mark the initial residential efforts in newly-settled bush districts have disappeared'. The people arc energetic and enterprising, and in tho majority of instances they rightly have a. supremo faith in the future of their town. ■ A good deal of further bmldmg is likely to take place, The Methodiat

Church, which will be quite an imposing building, is nearing completion, and the Town Hall Trustees with commendable foresight are now preparing a site for their own building. Several other buildings are likely In be put up in Nei Street, which is tho main thoroughfare. I.ike oilier new towns thefulureof the town will rest upon its arterial communication, and lurthcr seitlement. l'or several years to conic the place will be kept going by (lie sawmill industry, but even now the residents are agitating for the Government, (heir landlord so to speak, to commence the work of opening up further roads through Crown sections, and tn open up blocks adjacent to I lie town, where there are several thousands of acres suitable for dairying. The Government has promised a 1! for il subsidy up to .C'oOO to make tho Dreadnought Road, which will ultimately become a main line of connection. At tho present time there are a thousand acres of good cleared and grassed lands in this block, and tho Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. M'Kenzie, has been asked to open tho areas for selection. For the Timber Workers. Tho greatest want at present in Rangataua, said a citizen to a Dominion" representative, is three or four-roomed cottages for the timber workers and their families, the majority of whom do not wish to buy cottages, or lease Government building sections, a position which has been very unwisely forced upon tho Rangataua popula-

• tion. The fact that so many quarteracre sections are heinj reserved for lease obstructs settlement, because men who would buy up the land and build are kept out. AVhat is tho result? "A.8.," a mill hatid, ballots and obtains a quarter-acre section, and after a very hard struggle puts up a threeroomed cottage, and with other improvements adds £100 to its value. Work slackens. His mill is shortening hands, and he, with others, gets what is commonly called "the sack." Ho finds it impossible to obtain work locally, Slid has to 20 further afield. He lets his cottase, and takes his family to his new home. In time, Mr, Ranger comes around and reports to the Laud Board that "A.8." is not fulfilling his residence clause'. The Land Board then instructs the clerk to write to "A.8." and ask him to show cause why he should not forfeit his section, which he has with his own labour (after working hours), together with the help of his wifo and children, improved to the extent of £100 or more. Now he stands to lose the lot, unless "A.8." pays numerous fees—ls. for stamps, .fs. 6d. for valuation fee, or 10s. for transfer, and permission to allow "C.D." to reside 011 tho section for a month or two. And when "C.D." leaves the same fee or fees have to be paid for "E.F." to reside there, and so the poor lessee is harassed unless he can sell out his interest and have done with it. No doubt the Act is at fault, but surely it could bo altered to allow the residenco clause to be fulfilled by others than the lessee without the imposition of the numerous fees, as tenants often remain only a month or two.