WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4009, 28 May 1884, Page 4

WOODVILLE.

[FROM OUR OWN COREESrOXDFA-T.] In a late issue the Waipawa Mail, under tlio suggestive Leading "missed," points out an apparent discrepancy which occurred in my comments on " matters fishy," and those in the Woodvillo Examiner on the same subject. My information—that the JManawatu river is well stocked with young trout in the vicinity of the bridge works— are gained from a gentleman who at present spends the Avhole of his time at the river, and who has seen trout in other rivers, and is, I am confident, to bo relied on. These young trout are evidently the same that were put into the river at the samo spot a few years ago, and it is not so much a matter of surprise, as of congratulation, to find them thriving- as they are. An Acclimatisation Society was formed the other evening for the purpose, amongst others, of introducing more trout into the Manawatu river, but this docs not alter the fact that there arc some there already. My statement has, by the by, been since reiterated by the Examiner's own correspondent from the river. There has been some excitement of late, on account of two of the "Road Boards in the riding not having taken the precautions to curry out the Act, iv the mutter of holding the annual general meetings, etc. In fact some delighted ratepayers had already entertained visions of not being compelled to pay any rates for the ensuing year, on the plea that the Boards were not properly

constituted ; but stops are now being taken to put these things on a proper footing again, so that the rates will be duly struck and collected. The station buildings at Tahoraite seem to be completed. They consist of four square residences, the railway station itself, an engine shed, and a few odd buildings besides. The spot where they stand is at the edge of the bush, and near Danevirke, and though it used to be a desolate, dreary looking corner of the plain, has now quite the appearance of civilisation. It is said, too, that a resident of Tahoraite intends to erect a hotel in the locality of the station. An application was to have been made to the Woodville Licensing Bench at the next quarterly sitting, but the time is too short for the required notice to be given, so that it will probably be postponed until the next sitting. Passing through Danevirke one is quite struck with the stir and bustle which exists there, and the number of new buildings that have been erected of late. Although the places of business are as yet rather immature still their number is really astonishing, for but a few months ago there were only a few scattered places of residence within the whole settlement. The railway works are probably the chief source of the prosperity, and it is not unlikely that for that reason it will be but a fleeting one, although even the mention of such a thing is considered as absolute treason by Danevirkians, and one is very apt to be ignominiously '' sat upon " if it is hinted at ever so indefinitely. The Government has as usual left a monument "in memoriam " of its administration in Danevirke, just as it has in many other places. At the extreme northern end of the township there is a railway station site, say a mile from its centre. At the extreme southern end there is of course another railway 6tation, probably put there to balance the other, and is the one above referred to, which is quite a village of itself, and would have been of great assistance in making the township look solid and j)i'osperous, had it been built there ; in the centre of Danevirke, in the place where there is a large timber depot, and where numbers of passengers and goods will book and be booked, where, in fact, all the business of the place will be done, there will be a paltry flag station. Had a private company made this line they would have placed the railway station in the most suitable and convenient situation for their patron, the public. But a Government, which has jKecisely the same interests and duties, has chosen to make things as inconvenient for the settlers as they possibly can—on the score jf suiting them best, and in as costly a manner as possible—on the score of economy, Mr J. Martin offered, I believe, to give two acres on the road side, and abutting the line, for a railway station, but his offer was not accepted—perhaps on the s;oro of economy. This is why the Woodville people have resolved to request that our railway station may be placed as close to the centre of the township as is compatible witli the nature of the ground. It is humbly suggested that the township may have a slight consideration in the matter of a station. At the same time the most sanguine of us is fully prepared to hear that it is to be somewhere j about two miles away from the town. In fact, if we are to tako Danevirke as our cue, we may just us well expect to have a station up the Napier road, another down the Masterton road, third down the Palmers ton, and a tiny infinitesimal flag station in the centre, where the booking and general business will bo done. With these bold conjectures we will let the matter rest until something definite is announced, in the meanwhile it is hoiked that due consideration will be given to the request of the Settlers' Association.

The next section of line, to Matamau is expected to be thrown open early in June. It is further rumoured that the trains which will run on it will be for passengers only, with the exception of one, which will take goods as well. Whether this is a fact is not known, but it is evident that, if adopted, the system would be most inconvenient, for it would have the effect of depositing goods just too late for the brakes which ply regularly to Woodville, and upon which we rely for our Napier consignments. Surely tho train service is expensive and inconvenient enough already without it adding to our troubles. We watch your harbor arrangements progressing with interest, but still with a sort of " nvusu't touch " feeling, for until a better connecting link is forthcoming' we shall never bo able to realise any benefit fron it.

I understand that all the sections iv the Puketoi block which were recently put in the market, except five or six, have been taken up. This is held up to us as an example of tho wise manner iv which they were oiferod. We don't admit tho force of the argument. We say that the holders were forced to take up tho land in whatever blocks they could get them, and that the fact of their being selected only shows the great demand for land which at present exists.

Mr John Bargh, road surveyor, has just started for a new block situated to the west of Danevirke, towards the ranges, where he will commence tho preliminary operations of laying , off the roads to enable the block to be surveyed. It is a large block, and should contain a good deal of fair country, which, if judiciously cut up, will be soon settled. We read of pastoral deferred payment lands in tho Lands Act, which are to be not more than 640 acres in extent, but have not yet seen any of these sized blocks. Let us hope that as the districts get further back from the main road, and the poorer class of land gets thrown open, we may see some sections of that size, so that small capitalists may be induced to settle amongst us. During the last week or two we have had frosty nights, but the warmer autumn rains have set in now. niiich to the delight of our " squatters," who have young blades of grass peeping , out from tho ashy hillsides.