KAUKAPAKAPA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 6

KA UKAPAKAPA.

The contract for the first section of the North Auckland Trunk Railway has been let, and I am glad to learn that a local man, Mr. n. Fulton, of this place, is the successful tenderer. Mr. Fulton has done a considerable amount of road work for the Government, and latterly for the Waitemata County Council in this distriot. He is busily engaged making preparations to start the work at once. The dietance contracted for is a little over four miles. Mr. Wetherby and staff are busy at work on the next section, He hae found a better and more direot route to the Makarau than the one originally contemplated by Flat Top Mountain. This will be very much shorter, and be more cheaply constructed. I have not yet learned what distance the next section is to be. Now that this long-talked of extension has at last been begun, it is to be hoped it will not lag, but that the ball will be kept rolling until it reaches Awanui. The North is entitled to this.

4 Messrs. Hunter and Nolan held a sale of cattle, horses, farm implements, &c, at the farm of Messrs. Dunniugham and King, to day. There was a large attendance. The bidding was spirited, and satisfactory prices were realised.

The Yolande has been loading logs for the last four weeks afc the mouth of the river. She finished at the end of last week, and sailed to-day for Sydney with a full cargo. The Messrs. Drinnan, of this place, snpplied the logs. It rained this morning, and a strong S.S.W. wind has been blowing all day, and much colder than we have experienced for a long time.

A meeting of the school committee took place in the school on Wednesday last, when it was decided to use the Temperance Lesson Book one balfr-hoar in each fortnight. The tender of Mr. Joseph David Simcock, for five tons of firewood, was accepted, at 9s per ton, cut and delivered.

Settlers in this part who have young fruittrees lately planted have had great trouble with the crickets. The long drought has caused the soil to crack, which forms a safe retreat for them. When all is quiet they sally fo/th, and attack the bark of the yonng trees, an inch or two from the ground, in a most voracious manner, completely ringing them in a very Bhort time. The remedy adopted is to clear round the trees about two feet, fill up all cracks, and bandage the tree a foot from the ground with calico. I have adopted this plan myself, and it has proved effectual.—[Own Correspondent, March 28.1