COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8692, 8 October 1891, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

[BY telegraph.— OWN correspondent.] Rotorua , Wednesday. Tile Town Board has offered a reward of £5 to anyone who will give information that may lead to a "conviction of the person or persons who wantonly uprooted the trees at the Esplanade. " Mr. Blythe returned from Tokaanu on Saturday, after an absence of six weeks. He informs me that the works on the Tauranga road are being pushed on with all speed by the two contractors, so that in the event of the other three or four contracts being let by the Government, the road will be opened by the end of January as far as Karoi. Mr. Mueller, the chief surveyor of Auckland, was here on a visit in connection with his department, and was accompaned by Mr. Blythe to YVaiotapu. Mr. Mueller expressed great surprise, and was much pleased with the sights in the valley; and no doubt he will .recommend to the Government the necessity of pushing on the new road towards Taupo down the Waiotapu Valley, particularly as Messrs. Coliu Rosa and Co. are making extensive improvement* on thenestate, Strathmore. Some twenty-two hands ate employed regularly, besides contracts being let to natives for fencing mate rial' from the Paeroa bush. This speaks well for the hitherto despised country between Rotorua, Waiotapu, and Taupo. The improvements just mentioned _ and the works that must be done on the Kalugaroa Plains, which will be in the market shortly, will all prove valuable feeders to our railway, the extension aud completion of which will be 6f immense importance to the Australians, Messrs. Colin Ross and Co., who have shown considerable energy and enterprise. The mail service between here and Galatea will go via Strathmore, the proprietors of which have expressed their willingness to give substantial assistance. It may only be a matter of twelve -months from now before a coach mail service will be running through Waiotapu to Wairakei. Hopes are entertained that something will be done to develope the mineral deposits reported to exist at Waiotapu, and thus open up the district to a bright future, which assuredly awaits it. Now that Mr. Blythe is here the deepening of the Ohau channel should be commenced without further delay. The steam launchownera are willing to give what assistance they can towards the consummation of this most important undertaking.