FEILDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 18

FEILDING.

Since writing my last items of nows tho Borough Council has decided to light the town with electricity. This will bo in advance of our neighbouring borough — Palmerston. But most of the burgesses think that the Council is too aspiring, and that a water supply and a drainage scheme should bo considered before tho lighting ot the borough is decided upon. However, 1 presume that t ho burgesses will not be satisfied with one luxury, and that the other requisites will follow in due course. 1 notice that tho Marten Borough Council has taken over tho management of the public park. The Feikling Borough Council has a recreation ground, but there is room for improvement before the public will appreciate a walk in it. A meeting of Conservatives has been hold in Feilding to consider who shall he brought forward at the next general election to contest the Kangitikei seat. Mr Lethbridge desires again to be in the fray, and Mr Bruce has, at the request of some of his admirers, expressed his willingness to bo brought forward. Nothing definite was arrived at, and the meeting adjourned sine die.

There is considerable rivalry amongst our local storekeepers just now, and the public is reaping the benefit. There is just as keen compefiiioii in business in the country towns as you have in your large cities.

The Kiwitoa County Council, as usual, postponed the metalling of the Rimholton toad leading into Pemberton until late in the season, with the result that portions of the road are now almost impassable. The Government has come to the aid ot the Council in the matter of the repairs of this road, yet it is in a laid state of repair. I nolicothatmet.nl is being put on the road now, lmt if wo do not get some dry weather such work will he a waste of public money. In the Apiti district—which at one time belonged to the Kiwitoa County, but now is included in the Pohangiua County —there are excellent roads, which were metalled during t he .summer months, and, of course, are now lit for traffic. The settlers about Pemberton and Rangiwahi pull rather wry faces as they plough through tho mud and slush. Epithets which are nioio forcible than polite are poured forth upon the devoted heads of the councillors who guide the destinies of this district—or attempt to.

The settlers in this district are unfortunate in not having a warden residing in their midst who can speak from experience, when in tho Council, of the state of the roads. For the last five years the settlers have had to wade through a sea of mud for about four or five months in tho year.

The two gentlemen who lately contested tho seat vacated by Mr Horner, for this ward —Messrs Stanley and Tompkins—are residents outside of the district. Mr Tompkins, who is a storekeeper, and resides in Birmingham, was tho successful candidate. 1 think Mr Tompkins will do his best to further the interests of the ratepayers in that district. Mr Stanley would have made a good warden. Ho has a practical knowledge of how roads should be made and kept in a proper state of repair without consulting the engineer. I think Mr Stanley would have served tho ratepayers well if elected, and that they would not have had cause to regret their choice.

It. is tho opinion of a number of ratepayers in this largo county that it would

be more to their interests if tho engineer resided in tho county and spent more time looking after the roads. The engineer resides in Feilding, and has to travel about 10 miles before he reaches the border of the county.

The road leading from Rangiwahi to Wairaki has been formed by the Government. I notice that pegs are placed on the pack track leading from Wairaki to tho Three-log Whare (Buahine).aud on enquiry I was informed that tho Government intended to make a dray road right through. This will bring the traffic of the Pemberton, Rangiwahi and Wairaki districts to tho central lino of railway. Instead of travelling between 30 and -to miles as the settlers do now before they get to the railway, they will, when this road is finished, be within 12 or 15 miles of a railway station.

The Government have voted a special grant of ASO towards the repairs of tho read leading from the Rangiwahi township to the outside settlers. Mon have Been engaged to dig drains on the sides of the road just now to drain the water off, and in the summer metal will bo put on. r understand that the roads in this particular part of the district are under the supervision of tho Government, and that the engineor-in-eharge has stated that the Council will not be requested to take charge of the said roads before they are in a thorough state of repair. Settlement is progressing very rapidly in this dist riot.

Numbers of settlors who have embraced the facilities offered by tho Government in their lending scheme are now rejoicing in the assurance thatthoyaro not under the thumb of the money-lenders, paying from S to 12 per cent., hut by paying (1 per cent, they are not only paying the interest on the money borrowed, but reducing the capital. 1 have heard it expressed by settlers that it will be wise for persons who intend to borrow money on their properties to embrace the present opportunity. The Rev Harrison, tho newly-appointed Wesleyan minister, was welcomed by a public tea-meeting. The weather during tho past week has been splendid, but it is now raining very heavily, with a probability of a flood.