WOODVILLE NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 21

WOODVILLE NOTES.

February 5, The country adjacent to Wopdville hasa verdant appearance that is very pleasing to the eye after the traveller has been through Halcombe, Feilding and Bunnythorpe and the other burnt-up districts. Just about the foot of the range there have been some seasonable and refreshing showers, the effect of which has been to give the grass a start again. The immediate district has not suffered to any extent by the recently prevailing bush fires; and it is now said that in cases where dwellings and fences, or other property, have not been destroyed the benefit through the wholesale destruction of logs and stumps will be both substantial and permanent. ; ' The new railway time-table does not give satisfaction by any means. It is considered very unreasonable that a resident of Woodville cannot go, say, to Dannevirke and return on the same day. There are almost universal complaints on this head. Mrs Jull, the wife of the proprietor of the Railway Hotel, who, some months ago, had the misfortune to meet with an accident by which her leg was broken, has now almost completely recovered the use of the injured limb. Mr Stackpoole, storekeeper, has been in very indifferent health for some time past. Lately he went to Blenheim for the sake of change, and in order to consult Dr Cleghorn, but I regret to say he has returned very little the better for his trip. He is now under the care of Dr Milne. His condition is causing his relatives.considerable anxiety. The residents complain, and with every apparent justice, that the additional rate chuged oil fire insurance premiums imposed on account of the risk of fire spreading from burning logs or stumps (which was so much in evidence some years ago) is still maintained. There is absolutely no danger from this cause now. The prevailing wind is northerly, and in that direction there are now no logs or stumps left to become ignited and prove a source of danger or anxiety. It would be only a matter of simple justice to readjust the tariff in the way suggested. The expected bpom in trade in Woodville consequent on the opening of the railway has not 4 yet made itself manifest. Perhaps a dozm additional families may have taken up their residence here, which, of course, is something, but that is about the total result so far. The loss from the closing io'.vn of the freezing works was much more significant as regards business. An agitation has been spoken of to induce the farmers to take over the concern themselves, but I fear the effort will be a failure.' Sections near the railway station have slightly increased in value, being nowworth about <£3o per quarter acre.