OTAKEHO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2758, 29 June 1894, Page 2

OTAKEHO.

(FBOM OUR OWN CORaEjpONDKNT.) Within the past fortnight we have been favored with various, samples of weather, summer one day winter next with the muggy atmosphere o\ spring the day after. Weather glasses have but a moment's peace, and like the ' Weather prophets with their "infallible signs" don't seem to be up to much in this North Island of ours. Both one and the other, however, are excellent i indicators—after the event.

Tbe schools, are closed at present for mid-winter holidays, which will terminate this week. One of the In-. apectors had a run through about a fortnight ago on one of their surprise

trips. On tbe breaking up of the Batanui school for the holidays the committee distributed £1 worth of prizes amongst ' the children. The examination of the school, which should have taken place this month, has been postponed to November. Traffic to the sawmill via Auroa road

is now stopped owing to a bad hole at the northern end. Tbe roads all round for the month of June are much better than they were tbiß time last year.

From roads to r,a^es is an easy transition; and the way these moneys are sometimes administered is a treat to see. Scores of pounds are annually spent employing men just as winter is .setting in at bits of formation, filling up mndholea — making them deeoer and much worse than they were before— the money literally sunk, no ultimate benefit berng gained. All our roads are a chain wide, and if the money was only devoted to the clearing ol stumps, draining of low places, and a little levelling, it would be real economy; for tben the carter could choose any portion of tbe road he , wished, instead of having to plough through or stick in the perpetual mudhole as at present... The light traffio on

our bye roads being thus widely, distributed, mudboles would be few and far between, our roads presenting the appearance of racecourse tracks would be a pleasure to ride or drive upon, and the annual howl ' of the outlying settler would be heard no more.

Theie is no doubt that our present local governing body who meet once a month at Manaia are possessed of the average intelligence and prac* ticality of the people- they represent, and perhaps a trifle 'more. But what avails this if they prefer to adopt bad customs, and precedents instead of good innovations— follow the beaten track of false economy and wastefulness instead of aiming at originality, usefulness, and thrift. We have had a obange of proprietors at the Otakeho hotel lately.' Mr Me* Lachlan, of your town, is the new host. Mr Hunter, the outgoing licensee,; left here with bis family for Bangitikei about a week ago. He made a great many friends and became very popular dnring his sojourn at Otakeho.

Warm interest is . still manifested in the meetings of our Mutual Improve* ment Society. The last debate night was taken up with readings. At tbe conclusion of each reading the subject was disonssed, and the oritioiem (impromptu) proved novel and in* teresting. Oar schoolboys feel about two inches taller since they dressed down the Manaia lads at football here a fortnight ago. I got into their bad books for not being present and recording the progress of this important contest. If they had lost I am certain they would have forgiven me. . , " A monthly circnlar, containing all matters of church interest, is being circulated amongst members of the Anglican Church, Waimate Plains. I understand the Otakeho M.I. Society and the Manaia one are. to have debate contest at an early date.— June 28.