KAUPOKONUI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VII, Issue 1312, 20 May 1886, Page 2

KAUPOKONUI.

(from our own correspondent.)

The bad weather still continues, but to-night it shows signs of clearing, and not before it is time, for during the past three weeks it has been almost a continuous drizzle, and Suuday and Monday were notablo for the extremely boisterous state of the elements.

The nine members selected "'om the twelve candidates for the seats on the Waimate Road Board ehonld give satisfaction to the ratepayers during the incoming year. Ratepayers must have bad a particularly bard job to distinguish who to vote for, as tbfi whole of the gentlemen standing are admitted to be clear headed, cautious!, and thoughtful.

I hear it mentioned that a meeting will be called by householders in this district to reconsider the school site question, it beirg understood that one or two who voted for the building to be on Hastings road wore inclined to favor the Little Tempsky-Skool site. Mr. Brightwell still offers a loom of his dwelling-house, to be used as a school until a building is erected, and it is very probable that his generous offer will be accepted if an aided school is decided on, winch tlio deputation favored.

The dairying industry is in a flourishing condition in this district, and there are few families who do not make a considerable quantity of butter weekly. Cbeesemakiug is also extensively entered iuto by Mr. J. Wilson on the Hastings road. All is not beer and skittles in the butter making line, for the report that 5000 kegs await a market at New Plymouth is anything but comforting.

A large number of cattle have been lost by settlers on this block, and there are few who have not lost cattle, some five or ten, and up to twenty. Very few cattle are kept by bush farmers unless well branded and ear-marked, and the question arises, "Where do they go to ?" "The mountain," is the usual reply, and if so, Egmont should be able to supply herds to settlers. I hear of a small expedition, comprised of settlers who have lost cattle about to set out to scour certain outlying parts of unoccupied land to hunt out any cattle they see, if theirs.

Whenever monetary adversity overtakes a country, the cry of the unemployed is heard ; and as the colonies are too liberal to think of poor-houses, the question is taken in hand and solved by the Government, who, to savo the men from want, supply them with work, and wages just oue step above " tucker score." Iv Tarauaki we do not see any of the poverty among the able, such as is witnessed in other parts of this colony. In the South Island the bad times seem to press far harder on all 6ides than it appears in the North (or iv tins district, at anyrate). It is a glaring truth that the farmer who can scarcely give away his produce, cannot afford to pay wages to his laborers that place them on a better footing than himself, and so lie has to curtail his expenses, the result being that numbers of able men have to seek masters, — rather a difficult job in these " all kicks and no ha'pence " times. The result is that a nnmber of men are thrown on the Government to engage in work at the modc6t sum of 4s per day— not a princely stipend. The work usually done by the unemployed is proverbial for its uselessness, aud if work — substantial work, which the Government could reap a benefit from, could be found, they could afford to pay a fair wage for a fair day's work. Would a fanner not be considered mad if he were short of funds, and instead of tilling his fields spent his cash in building a valuable granary ? Rather ! I reaJ in your paper the other night that a large amount of bush land was shortly to be offered for 6ale at the back of Hawera and Paten. Now, would it not be better for the Government to give these men work there, to fall the bush, putting on the extra cost of felling, to be paid by the buyer of the laud? The land is of good quality, and should meet with a ready sale. The felling should be let at a fair price per acre to the men, and supervisors appointed. There could be no " slumming," aud here would be a chance for the Government to get back their expenditure, and perhaps more, for if a Rood fire were to run over the land it would thus increase its value. The chance would then be much better for the poor man to obtain a section, for he could go on to the land and at once set about making something, whereas he would have had to wait twelve months if the land had not been felled. The Stratford township was felled in this manner, and I don't think the Government had much to grumble ot. I'm afraid that if these suggestions were acted on that the cry of the unemployed would not "resouud throughout the land." Bush work would not suit the average person who poses as one of the unemployed. He would rather live in town and level 6oine suburban hill, and at night attend a meeting to deplore the state of affairs iv the laud, and dabble in politics, but bush work he would never, never think of tackling. And then there is the other kind of man who ranks as unemployed. He does not attend street corner meetings and try to make others believe things are worse than they are, but simply toils daily for the miserable pittance, and trusts for things to improve. This is the man who would try to improve his position, work nt bash felling, or any other emplyment. He is the man that should be encouraged.

The news that we are exempt from furlhor rating for the New Plymouth breakwater was received by all with feelings of relict. Of course, we will watch with pleasure the formation of the massive slruoture which will do unutterable things for the district, but I'm afraid the good the breakwater will do is a long way in advance — somewhere about 2000 a.d. However, I'll bo right happy to be disappointed.

During the past week there have been two land buyers in the district ; one irom Rangilikei, where, he informed me, there are several of his friends who intend to come to the district, if he can be suited. He told me he never before saw such f^ood gross as is growing in this district.

Mr. Henry Raikes has purchased one of Mr. Q. Mnir's sections fronting on the Skeet road. Mr. Raikes has been residing in the distrset for some time, and is highly esteemed by all who are acquainted with him, and only lately decided to cast his lot amongst us.

I notice several settlers are running sheep on their clearings, and they do very well, lambs especially. Some sime back there was a cry that sheep would not do except on a very good barn, but this seems a fallacy.

The cuttings on the Skeet road, which were improved some time back, are in a

bad state now, tbe em bank merits "leing rather sticky. The Inaba bill seems very steep yet, as it was not amongst those improved, and the bridge over it requires either to be wider or to hav&a hand-rail, as I have heard of several narrow escapes from accidents.

Pigeonß have been very scarce in this district during the pasi month. There is no food about for them, and they appear to have sought fresh trees and berries new.

By the way,' I saw ttrat'harmiesa'par. in the Star the other day, regarding sportsmen. lam told that some Manaia sportsmen went out the other Sunday, blazed" away at a lot of dncks, missed 'em all. and to finish up bad revenge by shooting a hen pheasant. And my informant added tbat they were licensed sportsmen.

The Rev. W. Grant made a pilgrimage through this bush district the other day, and I am informed he intends making a call at settlers' places further up shortly. This is tbe first minister I hava heard of oniing into this part of the district and making a house-to-house call, and I am sure the presence of a divine is refreshing even to the most sceptical. By the way, it is a wonder that a minister does not make an occasional visit to Eltham. I am sure he would secure a large congregation. Then there is Kaponga, a rising settlement, where an occasional Bermon would be gladly listened to. At Okaiawa services are held regularly, brtt in winter time the roads are too bad to go to a place of worship..

Tbe hawks are very troublesome here now, and they are specially destructive to fowls, destroying and demolishing full-grown birds. It is a- matter of imDossibility to rear chickens oat of doors. I counted ten hovering near a dead bullock the other day. That would be a haul for the Acclimatisation Society. May 17.