WOODVILLE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5068, 6 May 1878, Page 2

WOODVILLE.

[from a correspondent.! May 2. I see " Your Own " wants to make your readers believe that the meeting held in Woodville re telegraph, &c, was only intended for the select few. It is well known that that is all " bosh," as the chairman sent word all about the place, and all were told they could come across — and to make sure that the settlers back in the bush should know, the schoolmaster was induced to give it out to the children (between 40 and 50) at the close of the school of Friday, and there is little doubt that " Your Own " knew, though he failed to attend. Then the meeting had nothing to do with the police station; j what they wanted was a telegraph station, and help from the Government to make the main lines of roads into the bush, so that the' settlers could get free access to their farmSj and the children be able to get out to the school. "Your Own " says that Mr Ormond's suggestion was a guarantee by the settlers of the salary of the official placed there. Mr Ormond never suggested anything of the sort. He said, that considering the growing importance of this place, there was little doubt that the Government would put a station here, if the matter was properly represented to them. He did not think we should need any guarantee. I understand that there is an opening for a blacksmith, as Mr Downey thinks of sticking to farming only, and will not attend to that business any more. Well, I hope we shall soon have one, as nothing has been so certain as the uncertainty of getting your horses shod when you wanted them in a hurry. One thing is certain —

that the most of the Woodville horses are shod elsewhere, because you can never catoh the blacksmith. I am glad to learn that Mr Gregory, who was reported in yours to have beenV hurt with the falling of the arm of a tree/ ■ is getting on well, and we hope that be* fore long he will be as well as ever.

I see by your paper that the Waste Lands Board refuses to make certain alterations in reference to the price, &c, of certain sections in the Small Farm Settlement. Well, there is no doubt that the land is good even on those sections. But, how ever they come to be classed as farm lands, is one of those things' l cannot understand. In the three sections (165 acres) referred to there is only about (say) 15 acres anything like levelj the rest is such that the settlers will never" ■ get a horse over unless they cut tracks in the hill sides, and go through each other's sections. Some of the gullies are, as perpendicular as the side of a house for three chains high, and the sections are all hill and gully. If the Waste Lands Board ■ will not let them have more level land, they will have to go in and breed goats and farm them, for it is utter nonsense to •■ talk of these people ever growing corn on | those sections. The Waste Lands Board think that because a yearly meeting of members agreed to certain rules and made certain allotments on paper, of course the members should stand by their lots for better or worse; but then they may forget this land was classed as farm land, whereas it is almost too rough for sheep. One would like to know who is to blame for these three sections being added to the small farm block. There have been ! thousands of acres in this province classed ■ as unfit for farm purposes, and sold at five shillings per acre, which could have \ been ploughed well ; but here we have, ) three sections sold to three poor men at a f , pound per acre, which, if it . was ajLr j cleared to-morrow, no one could ever dare to ride a horse from one side of the section to the other. I hope some of the members of the Waste Lands Board, will . take a trip up, and have a look at' them. ' I am sure the settlers would have great pleasure in helping them up and down the ■ gullies.

1 have Been a fine specimen of stone found on the Association/Block. ■ I It is : sand or freestone, and slabs out well. It would make first-class grindstones and the like, and may hereafter be .a ; source ofvwealthtothe place. When a good face is opened out, I will tell you how it turns out. . ...