FARMERS' UNION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 50, 28 February 1918, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

KOI:.ERE-M-OTUPI'KO BRANCH.

A meeting of the Korere-Motupiko branch cf the Farmers' Union was held on Satm day, th e 23rd' insfc., at Kikiwa. There was a good attendance of 25 members from all parts of the district, presided over by the president, Mr G. L. Mead.

Before proceeding to business, the president feelingly referred to the death in England of Private W. Gibbs from sickness. Th e deceased was a paid-up memlber of the branch, and had only left a short while ago. He moved' a vote of sympathy and condolence with the relatives, and that the vote should be conveyed to his wife and elder brother, Mr F. Gi'bbs, as representing the family. The motion was' feelingly spoken to by Messrs Hugonin and Macmahon, and. carried standing.

Messrs L. Robertson and Geo. Stratford were proposed and! elected as members.

Mr 'Macmahon explained' the result of his inquiries as to valuation of hides and skins, and gave the information that monthly valuations are to be held for the future, thus doing away with the 'trouble of undue decrease in weight. Complaint was made of the Korere telegraph and money-order office not /being now open for business every day, and of the inconvenience caused thereby. It was moved and carried that the Chief Postmaster 'be - asked (that the Post Office should b'e kept open, as was don e formerly. Mr R. King moved, seconded by Mr J. E. Horton, that the Public Worki Department be urged through the member for th e district to proceed with the erection of a bridge over the river Mo tueka at Golden Downs, for which £ISOO was vctedl five years ago. The ford in its present state was absolutely dangerous. It was the shortest route from Topliouse to the Waimeas for stock driving, and settlers on the far side of the river had to cross for post and telegraph (business and medi cal calls. After several members had discussed the matter, the motion wan j carried. I

It was .proposed by Mr E. L. Newport, and seconded by Mr A. Mead, (that the Waimea County Council hi written to, asking for cutting opposit* Blue Glen homestead to be widened sft and the protective railings repaired; also thait th e Council b 6 asked to put a motor and stock bridge over Brough's ■Creek and do gravelling at the junction and other bad places on Tophouse road.—Carr i ed>.

Proposed! by Mr J. Brough, and seconded !bv Mr D. Kerr, that the County Council he asked' to urge the Minister for Public Works to provide in the district Public Works grants £IOOO for re-grading the road from Kikiwa to Tophouse.—Carried. Proposed bv Mr C. Hugonin, and seconded by Mr A. E. A. Wiffin, that a strong protest b e sent to the Railway Department regarding the bad order of the railway fences -from Kohatu •to Tapawera, and' in .places all the way on to Glenhope, and that it be urged that (the fences should be strained at onc e to prevent sheep travelling alonu the road from getting on to the railway, and that the weeds, (blackberries and> 'briars ttihat have been cut and let', were an intolerable nuisance, and should be raked- up and! destroyed'; also that th 6 stock loading yards along the line be repaired. Many .present spokn, agreeing) to the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr N. McConochie, a returned sol- • dier, complained thait. promises made through the union some months ago for a road to his section at Cow Valley, Glenhope, had not been fulfilled, and that unreasonable conditions had been proposed. —It was resolved that thost responsible should Ibe reminded of their promises. A motion proposed by Mr A. McConochie, and seconded by Mr N. McConochie, urging the erection of a footbridge over the Little Hop e Creek on the Tadmor-Glenhope road, so that the school children could cross, was supported and carried, and the County Council is to be written to to that effect. The deferred motion from last year proposing the division of the district into two branches was discussed', to Itest the feeling of that end of the district, as the matter has to be decided nex month. The feeling was _ strongly in favour of leaving the district as at present constituted. The Korere-Mo-tupiko branch is at present the strongest in th e Nelson provincial district. The president welcomed a visitor, Mr K Goodall. Hon. secretary of the Tad-imor-Matariki (branch, and expressed appreciation of his preserve. Mr Goodall, in replying, said he w struck by the good attendance of members, and wished he could report the sam 6 interest in his branch. A motion of thanks was accorded to Messrs Kerr Bros, for the use of Blue Glen homestead for the meeting that night, and also to the ladies of the house for the dainty supper provided by them. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Korere on the second Saturday in March.