OTANGIWAI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 179, 5 August 1909, Page 5

OTANGIWAI.

(Own Correspondent.)

Otangiwai riding forms the Northwestern riding of the newly formed Ohora County and is the second in rateable value having a rateable value ofX5?,!l? with a roll of 4? voters. The district is a succession of valleys leading out from the Waikaka. The Whenuakura, Mangapapa and Mangakabikatea valleys axe all comprised of sections of 209 acres and under, forming ideal dairy farms, and have been settled by co-operative, works mostly from the main trunk line. The assistance given by the Land Board in bosh felling, boose building and fencing ; has been well used as the grass cover- '. cd hill sides comfortable cottages and well secured farms show. The Mangapapa Valley forms the centre of settlement, and has a large school house: with an attendance of 52 pupils; teachers'residence; Ohura Co-operative Dairy Company's sklining station: Post office: and a large store in course of construction. Taking the school as the most central pobit. the distance from Ongarue railway station is 23 miles by to pre sent road; while by continuing the Mangapapa road to junction with the Main Ohora road at the three mile peg, the distance is 13 miles. The settlers, early recognising that the Mangapapa road most eventually be their main outlet have for several years advocated the farming of a bridle track long the proposed route. This year a j sum of £750 was allotted for the work, and good progress was made from both ends until the vote was exhausted, leaving a considerable distance untouched. The settlers not to be dented, have formed working par- j ties and are making a connection so ! as to enable them to pack supplies j from Ongarue and thus escape the mud of the Ohura road. Eventually, this road will be useful in relieving j the main road of a large amount of traffic.

Two road-* traverse the riding, the Waikaka and Miroahuiao, to Mattere. On both several miles have been widened to 12 feet, and on both there has been left a considerbtc distance of onformted bridle track. As these roads will, when formed, be the route over which stock from the Northern Ohura district will travel to the Te Koiti stock sales, the settlers are agitating to, have at least one opened up sufficiently to allow stock to travel in safety.'and as nearly all, the bridges over the Miroahuiao road* have been erected, they intend to use their influence to have it completed at an early date. Part of the riding is Native land, which is being teased in fairy large blocks. It is all good land, covered with heavy mixed bush, and will all be classed as first-class land. Several sections the Native owners wish to sell, and are asking £2 10s per acre for the freehold. Representations have been mad* by the Northern Settlers* Association to have all the available land purchased by the Government for disposal in small sections. rightly holding that it is agaimt the welfare of the district that it should be disposed of in large leases as is being done. These targe teases are held mainly for speculation. For the forthcoming County eke-

tion three candidates are prepared to face the poll: Messrs Stewart, O'Brien and Carter. Fortunately for the ratepayers the roads are too muddy to allow the candidate* to give much annoyance.

A considerabe amount of discontent is expressed by parents at the extended holidays of the Otangiwai school children. Parents recognise that winter with its long evenings give the children an opportunity to do more lessons, which summer in a dairying district does not. and fali to se why the committee should order longer holidays than provided by the Education Department.