NUHAKA NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 64, 16 March 1901, Page 3

NUHAKA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CHANGEABLE WEATHER, The very changeable weather experienced of late has rendered outside work very disagreeable. The majority of farmers have finished dipping their sheep, but in many cases the rain came on soon after, and will certainly mar the effect. Cooper’s mixture is preferred by a great many hero, and although dearer than other mixtures, more of it is used than all the others combined. BUSH CLEARING. Those who were fortunate enough to get their bush burned are to be congratulated on the advanced state of the rape and turnips on their clearings. Others, who have nothing but old pastures to roly on, will probably have a heavy mortality among the hoggets, should tho winter be a wet one, as present indications lead one to expect.

COACH ROAD. A number of men have, started the formation of a coach road from Mahia to the Hot Springs, via Mr Gaddum’s. The Ranger, Mr Martin Smith, has been at work obtaining the best grade possible, and marking culverts, etc., and hopes to have the work well on before the winter. When finished, settlers will be enabled to cart away produce, instead of packing as at present, and travellers to the Springs, via Wokokopu, will have the choice of two routes to their destination.

NEW STORE. Mr N. Mclntyre’s new store is nearing completion, and when finished, should afford him greater facilities for displaying his goods to tho best advantage. He is to be complimented on his effort to keep pace with tho district in its rapid development, and, no doubt, his present expenditure, will result in a substantial increase of business.

THE SCHOOL. There arc now twenty-eight pupils attending the local school, in charge of Miss Siddolls. Mr , Hill is daily expected, to conduct the examination, but the uncertainty of the weather prevents him from fixing a definite date.

THE SPRINGS. Quite a number of visitors have been enjoying the hot baths this month, and with but few exceptions, they speak vory highly of the waters; without doubt, many a sufferer finds relief in an incredibly short time, by a continued course of bathing. A local settler, over sixty years of age, told me that he had the greatest faith in the waters, for affording relief to those troubled with rheumatism, or lumbago ; a bath every day for, from three to six days, always banished his.pain. I might quote a number who havo benefited by a short stay here, but to the sceptic, no evidence given thus secondhand, would be so convincing as a personal trial. To any ailiictod with skin diseases, rheumatic pains, or cuts that do not heal readily, I would recommend a week or two of daily bathing, and am very sanguine as to results. . ROADS AND BRIDGES. The Cook County Council are not doing much to encourage settlers to forward their wool, etc., to Gisborne. One is apt to get into a way of grumbling and criticising in a placo like this, where an absence of metal on tho roads renders them disagreeable after a shower of rain, and actually dangerous in winter time, but it seems that unless we make ourselves heard that we will be left to get along as best we can. There are four dangerous streams to be crossed near Murewai, and no attempt is being mado to bridge any of them. Quite recently the coach was a day lato arriving in Gisborne, just because thoso creoks were flooded ; are we to wait until some fatal accident arouses within us tho conviction that something must be dono ? Tho vast increase of traffic on this road within the last' few years demands some substantial improvement in this rospoct. If the peoplo of Gisborne aro going to agitato for something to change this deplorable condition of things they should move in the mattor without delay, otherwise the Wairoa peoplo will secure all the trado, and the bonefits accruing from better connection with-tho district will be irretrievably lost.—(Own Correspondent.)