COUNTRY NEWS.

Northern Advocate, 22 January 1915, Page 2

COUNTRY NEWS.

KAITAIA.

(Own Correspondent)

Christmas passed oft! very quietly iv this district. A wet Christmas this year would ha/re been received with widespread enthusiasm but it was not to be, and the festive season passed with ideal holiday weather. Picnics were the order of the day. It is very dry about this district, but in comparison with other Northern districts we have really no cause for complaints at all. We have lately had a couple of fair rainfalls, and the paspalum is now a valuable asset in keeping dry and fresh where other grasses fail. The new plant in the factory is doing good service, and working most satisfactorily. Good prices are being realised for consignments, 13Ss being the result of the last shipment. The various naw buildings b3i»i_ erected in the Kaitaia township are making satisfactory progress. The new boarding-house is nearing completion, the' Bank of New Zealand is well forward, the concrete building at Grigg's is also now going ahead and by show day in March the many visitors who are sure to attend the annual show cf the Mangonui A. and P. Association are likely to get an ey'e-openor'to the development of this township. Kaitaia now looks very different and the Kaitaia of two years ago is hardly in\ th>e growing township of to-day.

Not before its time work has been definitely commenced on the Double Crossing bridge which has for years ibeen a menace to the safety of the travelling public. Mr Fraser, the contractor for the new bridge, has arrived and Messrs A. Maria and L. Yates are at present engaged carting the material from Awanui to Kaitaia. Work on the bridge will be commenced at once.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Kaitaia Hall on January 7, the object of the meeting being to encourage the proposition tabled by Councillor Houston to move the headquarters of the council to a more central site, presumably Kaitaia.' The matter was thoroughly discussed, the greatest enthusiasm being displayed, and every encouragement was given to the councillors present, Messrs Houstin and Holster, to achieve their object. A letter was received from the Agricultural Society offering the free use of their hall as a council chamber and office until such time as the new proposed county chambers shall have been erected.

The new owner of the property lately owned and occupied 'by Mr Ramsey at Pukepoto has arrived in the district and taken up his residence on the property.

This week is sale week and considearblc interest is taken among stock owners as to the price of stock. The Farmers' Union will hold sales at

Victoria Valley on Tuesday ah.d Kaitaia on Thursday, while on Wednesday 'Messrs Mathews and 'Mathews ' will hold their monthly sale at Kaitaia.

•The firm of solicitors formerly known as Messrs Reed, . Logan and Stout now,' through Mr Reed's retirement, becomes Messrs Logan and Stout. The new firm has decided to keep open daily and Mr Stout will be found in daily attendance -at the office.