ARIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 576, 14 June 1913, Page 3

ARIA.

Own Correspondent ROADS MEETING A meeting of the Fio Pio-Ara road committee was held on Saturday afternoon last. There were present — Messrs Collins (chairman), Mr A. McKenzie, R. H. McKenzie, D. C. McDonald, S. Riddle, C. J. Riddle, W. Keighley, F. Davidson, and Geo. Petrie (hon. sec). Mr George Nelson sent an apology. The following reasons were urged that the road should be metalled as soon as possible—(a) The Te KuitiPio Pio road, now almost metalled throughout, cannot be made the most use of by Aria settlers until Pio PioAria road is metalled. (b) Eightyseven per cent, of the goods coming from Pio Pio direction come on to Aria, therefore the Pio Pio-Aria road is a main artery, (c) Plenty good and suitable metal exists en route, there is no reason why the road should remain a quagmire during the winter. (d) The back country to Aria deserves every consideration from arterial roads, (e) Expansion, though going along quickly now,would be vastly increased by good metal roads. (f) The present Pio Pio-Aria road is practically impassable to heavy traffic and fat stock during -fully six months of the year. (g) An open exit would permit farm expansiongrowth of cereals, fattening of pigs, sheep, and cattle. At present the dairy factory is the mainstay, (h) The saving effected would leave more capital for farm expansion, (i) Good coal is abundant round Aria, and would be used by Pio Pio Dairy Factory, and also by private people if it could be carted on the roads; in fact, the supply of wood is falling low, and coal will soon become a necessity, (j) Limestone is abundant and could be burnt for agricultural purposes, (k) Pio Pio-Aria road from its importance is certainly a main artery, and should be declared a main road. Mr Massey, Prime Minister, when speaking at Pio Pio some six weeks ago, said it was the unbounded duty of a Government in power to form, metal, and maintain all arterial roads aB far as their purse would allow. It would not be fair, nor is it feasible, that Aria and Paemako Ridings should bear the burden of this through road. (1) The rapid close settlement is causing great loss to settlers through lack of transit facilities. Much closer settlement in parts would go on, too, if roads were good, (m) Practically all the land to be served by this road is suitable for dairying—an industry which is rapidly increasing. It was decided to endeavour to find nut the tonnage carried on the Pio Pio-Aria road. It was also resolved to circulate a petition for signature to be presented to the Housft of Representatives by a deputation. Each committeman undertook to take petition sheets for signature; and it was also decided to ask Mr S. Hunter and Mr Barnett, Waitewbenua, to assist. Mr M. McKenzie moved, and Mr C. J. Riddle seconded a propoaition that subscription lists be sent to each com mitteeman. —Motion carried. A vote of thanks to the chair, Mr Mayne, and secretary, brought the meeting to a close.

PARAHEKA METALLING SCHEME On the same afternnoon a meeting, also in connection with roading, was held by the Kie Kie, Kumara. and Paraheka settlers. Mr A. R. Keighley in the chair. The chairman congratulated the meeting on its good attendance on such a wet day, and read a tele gram from the clerk of the Waitomo County Council to the effect that the approximate value of the rating area was £35,721; cost of forming, making culverts, and metalling would be about £15,000, and the rate not more than 15-16 din the £. Mr P. Smyth explained his conversation with Mr Mora, and said the rate, if anything, would be less, as a great deal of Crown and native land was yet to be included. Everybodv in the rating area should vote for the scheme. Mr R. H. McKenzie proposed that the scheme be pursued vigorously, and he thought it should have the sympathy and help of everyone concerned. Seconded by Mr W. Keighley and carried unanimously. In answer to Mr Davidson, the chairman said there was 13 miles 38 chains to be metalled. It was resolved that the obtaining of the signatures to the consent form should be left in the hands of Messrs R. H. McKenzie, A. R. Keighley, and F. Davidson. The presentaton of the consent form to the council was also left to these gentlemen, who aranged to meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 20th, A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. NOTES.

A very successful ladies' dance waß held in the Aria Hall last Friday evening, and the proceeds were to be expended on the plausible object of furishing the ladies' room in the hall. There has been a long succession of wet weather, resulting in the hanging up of a great deal of outside work, including metalling and sawmlling. The rivers are very much pwollen, and the clay roads are now very soft. The smith's shop has changed hands. Mr W. Lawrence has taken charge, and will fill a long-felt want, for undoubtedly there iB ample work in the district and surroundings to keep a man going regularly. The directors of the Aria Dairy Factory are making every preparation for the coming season. A new cream vat weighing 25cwt arrived recently, and will be placed in o the new addition to the building. The suppliers, directors, and particularly the manager, Mr McDonald, are to be congratulated upon the fact that the Aria Dairy Factory was awarded second prize in the home separation

class at the Hamilton Winter Show just held. The points obtained were only half a point below the higheßt. When it is considered that the cream has to come, in some cases.a long distance, and is sometimes packed at that, it can easily be conceived that conditions are not the best for making a good article. The butter, too, has to go 24 miles by waggon, and muat be at least 24 hours before it reaches a cool store again. Then it is considered that there were 13 competitors in the class, many of them on the railway lines, the Aria people well may be proud of the place obtained in the competition.