OTANGIWAI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 246, 30 March 1910, Page 5

OTANGIWAI.

Own Correspondent, A very successful church concert and social was held in the Otangiwai schoolroom on the 24th ints. The gathering took the form of a farewell to Rev. Mr and Mrs Ililder, who have been labouring in the Ohura district for the past year, and who are leaving almost immediately for Whangaroa. There were fully a hundred settlers and friends present (another inndication of the rapid advance of this young district), and a most enjoyable programme was rendered. The following is a list of the items contributed: —song, Mr Collen; recitation, Miss Flett; song, MrsHikler; song, Mr Thompson; recitation, Miss Stuart (encored); recitation, Master L. Fergusson; dialogue, Mesdames Fergusson and Peacock, and Miss Mears; song Miss Stuart; gramaphone selections by Mr E. Smith; song, Mr Thompson; song, Mrs Riddel I (encored); recitation. Miss H. Stuart; sword dance, Mr F. G. Stuart; .recitation, Mr Bicheno; song, MrCullen; song, Mrs Hilder; recitation, Miss Mears; song, Miss Stuart; song Mrs Carter. A very plentiful supper was served.

Notes from Otangiwai during the summer season are always incomplete without a reference to dairying. Several of the local suppliers have made very good cheques this season. The factory has had a rather hard struggle meeting back interest this year, but I am credibly informed that the tide has turned and that nothing except a reduced supply can keep down, the prices paid out for butter-fat from next season onward.

The local people always refer to the Ohura County Council as the Mangaroa Town Board. The representatives on the Council for this end are but two compared with five at the southern end, and consequently a policy of "Mangaroa for the Mangaroarians" has obtained up to the present. Much indignation is felt at this end over the decision to erect expensive Council Chambers at Mangaroa. Surely a young county like this, with a very slender purse and unmetailed roads throughout can ill afford to beautify the township of Mangaroa with stately Council chambers. Mangaroa is not the centre of this county. Matiere is undoubtedly the geographical centre as a glance at the county map will suffice to show. The populationn of the two northern ridings is nearly half that of the whole county. The Government is dealing very harshly with the back country this year in the matter of votes, and are making the County Councils the catspaw. The £1 for £1 subsidies are very unfair in country districts, and their action in regard to Ongirue bridge is nothing short of scandalous. Notwithstandingall these drawbacks the distiret is steadily advancing. "Progress" is the settlers' watchword, and in everything except roads and bridges progress is being made. The school, which is one of the best indications of progress, has qualified for an assistant and Miss Evans has been recommended for the position. Mr Burnside, the. Board's inspector, visited the school recently and gave the district great credit for the establishment of a school garden and agricultural experiment station, and stated that it was the best he had seen. I am hoping to be able to publish in your valuable paper shortly a brief record of the experiments made and the results of the various tests with different manures.