RUATAPU NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1927, Page 8

RUATAPU NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent). The slump in the timber industry is showing its effect here. The mill and bush are now only working five days a week, but many are thankful that they are able to work that much. Some of the single chaps think it all right, and they will not like going back to the six days should the industry brighten up, as we hope it will shortly. Now, while the men are on the five days a week, I think the Westland County Council could do something with /regard to giving some of ’the married men with large families a few days’, work on the road from the railway line down our only street. A good coat of fine gravel is needed. This road is in a disgraceful state, as one has to lift one’s feet till one’s knees nearly touch the chin to get over the stones which are sticking up.

There is always the saying of “Keep the cradles full,” but this scribe ventures to bet a new hat that you cannot • keep a perambulator full and wheel it |along this road without the children crying because of the bumps they get. It falls to the women to have to "put their parcels in the prams and carry their children for a considerable distance. to their homes. Readers can just imagine themselves getting out of a train on a pouring wet night and having to go through the slush. Woebetide them if there happens to be twins,, and our little township is not without these.

I might mention that we got up a very largely-signed petition with a view of having this road gravelled or a footpath provided which would be very easily formed, so we could walk along wilh a little ease. The result, was we b.ad a visit from Mr Milner in his motor car. wilh which it is not as hard to ride over this “road” as it is to walk it. Whatever he thought about it is best known to himself, but in due course the Road Grader turned up and trimmed the tussocks off the side. You might as well try to grade the Southern f Alps as try to shift the stones sticking up in the road! We hope that the Member for this riding will see these notes, as the above is the absolute truth, and in view of the fact that there is a hole in the road at the present time about a foot deep, that may be the means of a fatal accident should a cyclist or a motor not knowing happen to strike it, and we trust the matter! will be looked into right away. Ruatapu residents are very lucky in the way of entertainments, and a very large house greeted the Kentucky Four last Friday night. The singing part of the programme was delightful, but in the writer’s opinion the picture part of it did not suit the majority of the-

audience. We have weekly pictures here, am I they are greatly appreciated in oui little township, especially as we gel the same pictures here as are shown ii town, and great credit is due to Mi Moore for the way he has got this show going, and in connection with. th; above, I must not forg-et a word of praise for the pianist. Miss P. Vincent whose music is a treat to listen to. Ruatapu has established a Public Library, w 7 hich is meeting with the generous support of the residents here, and under the joint care of Messrs Dundas and Marshall as librarians should turn out a great success. We arc sorry to report that we are losing one of our school teachers shortly, Miss D. Breach. This young lady, who h.as been here for some time, has endeared herself to young and old, and it is their intention of giving her a sendoff on a date to bo announced, later. I am sure there will be a very large gathering that night to say farewell to one who has done her part with excellence in the education of our children. She-is to be succeeded by Miss Neilson, of Haw'ke’s Bay, and to .this young lady we extend a hearty welcome to our township. Miss Elsie Manera, who has been in the Westland Hospital for a considerable time, is, I understand, slowly improving, and we all wish to sec her about again shortly. The usual fortnightly dance here takes place this (Saturday) evening, and with first class music and a capable M.C., should prove a great success.