STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 288, 16 August 1882, Page 3

STRATFORD & NGAIRE.

(from our own correspondent.) The topio of the hour in Stratford is the disappearance of Mr. Hall, a well known ami much esteemed settler on the Pembroke Road, who is lost in the bush, and for wlioso safety there are great fonrs. Mr. Hall left home at ten o'clock on Saturday morning with compass, dog, and' slasher, to look for his cattle ; at four his dog came home, but nothing has been seen or beard of him up to tho time of writing, (Monday evening.) Parlies were out searching for him on Sunday, and to-day forty men were scouring the bush ; tomorrow morning a very large muster is expected, and it is intended to make a determined and systematic effort to fiud him, dead or alive. Three nights of exposure in the bush in such weather as we nre having, 1b an awful thing to contemplate, but it is a contingency to which nil bush settlers are liable, and no pains will be spared to rescue our unfortunate neighbour. The entertainment in honor of the completion of the Npaire school was a great success, ICO persons being present. The committee deserve great credit for persevering with their programme in the face of much opposition ; but I think many persons' must regret that Mr. Cowen bliouUl feel himself called upon to resign the chairmanship of the school committee in consequence of a social dnneo having taken place. However, he holds his own views, he Bays, and in these day6< of.trimming and ratting, it is decidedly refreshing to meet with a man who will nail his colors to tho mast, and die fightiug. Mr. H. P. Smith is the new chairman, and invites tenders for clearing the site for the teacher's cottage. If any waverer has doubts as to the expediency of making land boards olectiyc, he should try the experiment of transacting a little official business with the nominee board at New Plymouth. He will there find -some convincing arguments ; for instance, they were asked if they would allow any geueral postponement of payments this year, through the bush having failed to . burn, and - they replied that they could, pnly grant extension of time for six months ; and yet, at almost every meeting, you will, find them granting 12 mouths' extension. ' The Ngaire Road Board sent them a schedule of proposed expenditure for the coming year, £612 ; and now the land joard wants " to know, you know," how those Ngaire people think they Me going to get so much money to ' upend when they had only 4>lßl los. to their credit, at the Treasury op the Cth July last. The wonder is that' there should have been such a large sura accrued just a few days after the first instalment for 'the year became payable. . '< And thon thero is an apparently in torminablo wrangle , about some deferred payment land 'taken for deviations, tho lutest phase of which is that tho local body is. gravely- informed that deferred payment selectors cannot transfer pieces' of their selections. If messieurs the land board would read up the Public Works Act a bit, they would find that the local »ody has ample power to get the land nested in her Majesty for a road, without he formality of a transfer. Perhaps it is >ut fair, however, to, admit that the board shows at a disadvantage at present, hrough the_commisjioner and Mr. JieUy. tr.ffK., b'eing'fibth absent. If 'you have no, wish to- hear rude •emarks about tho weather, don't coino j ip this way: fruit trees and shrubs' are mdding though, as if they liked it. , This ijtrict bids, fair t<* fee one vftat orchard iv ••.■'' • ■ t

% few years' time ; hundreds and hundreds of trees are planted every year, and are doing well. I am afraid, however, that fungus at the root will he pretty troublesome, judging from present appearances. Suhsoiling, or trenching, is said hy a professional gardener to be a cure. August 14. Tuesday evening. Fifty men have been out searching the bush to-day for traces of Mr. Hall, but without any success. The worst is now feared, but efforts will be still made to fiud some traces of the missing man. Mr. Olimie, surveyor, was directing operations to-day, and Constable Eyan came down from New Plymouth to represent the police. This sad affair is casting quite a gloom over the settlement.