MID-WAIAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 25

MID-WAIAU.

May 10.— The settlers at Extern Bnih h«ld a meeting early in March petiti >ning the G^vernjnent to grunt the parliamentary vote of j£ISQ for a road leading up the Waiau V-alley, via Lonncker's Bush. A wire wns r>ent to the Miuiater ■ for Lands. The money is granted, but thecounty council have wi-ely resolved to defer the constraction of thp road un'lil'.the coming season. The Gorge road ib reported to be in a dreadful mess, owing to the bad weather. Tan road is now fenced in. This drives the traffic into the straight line, whara vehicles have not prdvioualy passed. The passage of a waggon belonging to Mr Mackintosh, M.H.K,., was rather a serious affair. .An unknown cave .existed, the crust gave way, add the waggon went ia some little depth. Mr Covkin, the contractor, is busy forming the road, lie has found a shingle pit netir one of tbo largo caves of very good quality, ■which will prove of great value if there is only I any Quantity ot it At any rate it will enablu him t« grav«l the upper, end, while for the Jower , end there are thousands of lour, lying at the Waiau. - <■' Grassy Creek — Thi« piece of country, which is being made viaWe, has 'been very troublesome to ■settlers And the county council. Jt is to be hoped that trie present works will 'put matter)) in a state ■ which will suit both the public and "the adjoining landholders. Ferry.— The ferry at Clifden is, as usual, in an tmraMsf *ctory state, but fortunately the ferryman is ft capable boatman. Another ferry is being est&blisn- d about six .miles lower down the river for the use of the State farmers, who have ino&tly abandoned the ground. In some ca#ee the lost state' of this country is worse than the first. Felled timber is lying -on the ground, and through . this the, young scrnb is faat springing up in a most ,luxuriaut crop ; and the ground is loaded with so much per acre spant on it. A fatality wems to hang over everything undertaken by the Government officials in charge of certain departments.