FEUDING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2851, 20 June 1896, Page 4

FEUDING.

T)io Debating Society has discussed tho question. “Is it desirable that the land should bo held as freelu id or leasehold I" Etr Withy load off in tho affirmative, and Hr Watson in the negative. A number of rtienibers spoke for iind against; after whidll a vote was taken, and it was decided that the freehold tenure was preferable. . , , ; Tho aforesaid question will he discussed again week by the members of the Rongntea Debating S iciety and the Fending ditto. The prohibitionists intend to bring out Mr Ransom to contest the Otaki electorate and Mr James Reid for tho Rmgitikei. Ruth gentlemen have had considerable experience in county council meetings, Mr Ransom having been chairman of the Manawatu County Council for several years in succession, and Mr Reid held the same position in the Kiwitea County Council for two years. Tho work on tho new bridge, now being erected over the Oroua River near Fowler's, lias betin delayed on account of the contractor not being able to get tile necessary machinery to enable hint to proceed With the putting down of the cylinders. .The plant..ilsed by the contractor for the repairs of tho Onepuhi bridge will be taken to tho site of tho Apiti bridge this week, and then progress will be made.

Mr Sinclair, the contractor for the aforesaid bridge, has been appointed overseer by the Pobangina County Council. He will commence his duties as soon as ho has finished his contract. Mr Scott, C.E., of Palmerston, is appointed overseer and engineer pro fem. Mr Scott acts in a dual capacity, as ho is engaged by the Manawatu Highway Board in the same capacity The settlers in the Apiti district realise the benefit derived by the Co-operative Works instituted by tho Government. Numbers of straggling settlers are very thankful for a little work to assist them in their struggles to got some land of their own. A lot of road-making in the Coal Creek block has been done by the settlers. The work is let to them at so much per j’ard for shifting stuff, or at so much per chain for felling hllsh, clearing Hubs, &c., and they Work in gangs of six or eight as requred. A certain number of settlors get a month's work at a time, and then another lot is taken on. This is done so that all tho settlers in the district, who require work, may have a chance of earning a little ready cash, which, of course, is very acceptable to tho settlers who have gone on tho land without much capital to work on. Jf marriages are a criterion of tho progress a district is making them, Apiti must bo making rapid strides. Yet there are numbers of “ bachelors’ halls " to bo adorned yet. It is commonly reported that if any mairlagoablo lady visits the Apiti district she is generally booked. Young ladies, beware 1 Mr Jenkins, of Rangitikei, has purchased Mr Oheinan’s property on the Peep o’-day road, and has taken possession of same. Mr Jenkins believes in making things move. The settlers in thatdistrict will find him to bo a very good neighbour. Mr W. S. Strelton, another Rangitikei settler, has a section in tho same district. M r Strelton has lately built a now house, and is doing a lot of other improvements on his property. Tho wire rope stretched across the Rangitikei River from the Orangapunga sawmills to the Mutiaonoho for the conconveyance of timber broke whilst a load was being taken across. Fortunately no one was on tho load at tho time, as there is a fall of over one hundred feet to the bed of the river. It was quite a common occurrence for persons to get on the loal of timber and ride across. I have gone over several times myself. There appear to bo more enquiries for landed properties just now. Several properties have changed hands lately, and negotiations are ponding for the purchase of other farms. There are a number of enquiries for leaseholds just now, and and high rents are offered. I notice that a few settlers in the district have commenced to plant shelter and other trees. Mr PitzHeibert, of Cinder Hill, has gone in very extensively for planting this season,