KAUPOKONUI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1752, 12 October 1887, Page 3

KAUPOKONUI.

. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.} The weather has been very bad lately, rain .falling almost continuously. We generally bave good weather at this time of the ' year for a few days at a stretch, but this spring, so far, bas proved exceptionally wet. ' .The grasß 13 now showing signs of growth, and in a few weeks tbe bush district will be abundantly supplied with feed. It appears likely that the miM-ging of road boards witb tbe comity council is going to fall through. I don't think that bush settlers will regret tbia greatly. If we bad a county council alone, I don't think our wants would be so well attended to. judging by the way tbec. tuvil bas attended to bush roads bearing the name of " county roads," in tbe past. I think bush settlers have reason to complain of tbe treatment they have received from the county council — we have been paying rates for some' years, and if we were asked what the council bad done for tbe district, all that we could sli>w would be the clerk's receipt for our money. Of course the council will say, "Why are the back districts not represented in the council ?" Well, we kuoi. that if a bush settler in the back district did stand, he would have a v<»>r chance of getting in against: open settlers. Bush settlers are disposed to ahow a lukewarmneßß in local affairs, the majority not being inclined to lose the time of going to vote. Another reason is tbat the district is so sparsely settled, and one end of the district would v >t elect a member living at tbe other end, because they wouid say, " Ob ! be only wants to get in to get a good road to his own door." So that you see we have " local " feeling in tbe bush as well as those outside. Settlers living in tbe Lower Duthie road are not pleased at tbe credit of their road. A petition is being prepared asking where tbe money bas gone to, as there has scarcely been anything done to the road beyond being stumped. When one considers that none of the deferred pay ment land was sold under £2 10s per acre it does seem queer that the road does not have more than £16 to credit. I have not heard of the return Mr. Heslop moved to obtain — viz., a table showing amounts due to roads, and amounts expended on them. That would give bush settlers an insight into their own affairs. So the election is over, and with it has gone all political enthusiasm for another three years. Tbe local man proved a strong opponent to the Major — tbe latter has not been so closely pressed for a lone time. However, tbe speeches of botb candidates, the letters written on their behalf, and the newspaper criticisms are at tbe present time about as instructive as reading a patent medicine advertisement or a tobacconist's sign. I was sorry to see by the Star tbat Mr. J. R. Stewart, Engineer to tbe Waimate Road Board, has resigned. Throughout the bush district, Mr. Stewart is universally respected and considered a capable man for his positiou. He bas always carried through the road- work entrusted to bis care witb credit to the board and to tbe settlers who used tbe road. Mr. Stewart will go away bearing the best wishes of the settlers in the busb district ; and it is to be hoped that the board, in engaging a successor, will appoint a man as competent, courteous, and obliging as Mr. Stewart has proved himself. It was a pity that the proposal to have the Waimate road district divided into ridings lapsed. This is a matter of iiuportauce to most of us, and I can't understand why the road board should show euch an antipathy to giving us our rights. I'm glad to say tbat all tbe members did not look at the question in a narrow light. Public boards composed of local people should endeavor to meet tbe wishes ot tbe majority of tbe persons who elect them. But in some cases we find boards going contrary to justice and commonsense. Why it is thus, is difficult to surmise — perhaps its human — and perhaps " contrary " to them is like the blessed word 11 Mesopotamia " to the old Scotch lady — she had no definite idea of its meaning, but derived great comfort from its use. But I don't intend this sermon to reter to the Waimate Road Bonrd, fur from it, but merely to show how pervereeness predominates in a lot of us. To return to the subject, to show how unjust it is to bave the whole of this extensive road district in one, I might point out thut as the district at present stands one end could carry tbe sway by returning nearly all the members at the first election Only the other day Mr. Davy resigned, a neighbor stood, the result being that Mr. Taylor, living in another part of tbe district, was returned, and Kaponga was not represented. Of course anyone is justified in standing for a seat on tbe board, but, if the district were subdivided into small ridings, only those living within tbe boundaries would be elected. By having smaller ridings justice would be done to all, and give every portion of the district fair representation. Again, look at the matter in another light. If bush settlers wished to borrow a sum for improvements urgently required on their road, they would have to get the vote of the Plains people (what a show the bush settlers would have). If more ridings were defined, this course would not be required. Settlers in any particular riding could vote for a loan for the improvement of a road, and get the money, whereas if the question went to settlers in other parts of the district to decide, they would soon put the veto on it — because it did'nc interest them. This bush district bas progressed rapidly in point of settlement and cleariug, much money has been derived from deferred payment land, and settlers will not be satisfied until a reformation is brought about. As long as tbe boaid continue to keep spending money in driblets here, tture, and everywhere a goad feeling cannot exist. Settlers living opposite a good metalled road may not feel greatly interested in tbe matter as they have had their wants attended to, but those living in the back district are interested to large extent. Of course we can't expect to have good metalled roads all in a moment, but bush roads should surely be entitled to the privilege of being fairly represented, and not having to get the consent ot persons not interested to vote for any loan required for the improvement and advancement oi the back district. A good many cocksfoot paddocks have already been closed up for seed. The low prices at present ruling for cuttle will probably deter many from selling off stock now, in order to shut up paddocks lor seed this year, as most settlers would prefer to lose their seed ratber than give their tattle -away. A large number ot bush felling contracts are already finished ; others are progressing slowly. There will be a large amount of bush 'felled this year, though, as far as I 'can 'ascertain, not so much as in previous years. The times are too bad even at the present prices for felling to allow settlers to' clear large areas. Bushmen bave bad a bad time of it so far, bad weather and law prices having reduced the cueqnei usually to be made with the billhook and axe. / October 10th.

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