RATANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 30

RATANUI.

August 6.— The weather has again been very r ugh. A heavy fall ct snow occurred last Satnrdvy night, and several heavy showers ftll during the week. It is the deepest snow that hag been Been in the district f- r many years varying fiom 4in to Ift in depth. At time of wr ting the weather h still threatening. A lmv Td thb M'Lbnnan. I bad a mn through the M'l.eunan settlement lust week, and was s-urpiised to see the iuuuiint of improvements effected duriug the stioit time the land has been taken up. This is a pet scheme of the Minister for Lands, and no doubt would work out successfully if tho Government would provide better roads, or bring the railway within reasonable distance. There is what is called a road, but God help those who are con.peMed to use it. In one place the timber is felled for three nvltv, with the exception of 12 chains in tho centre, which is left standing. This is a sample oft! c woik tioae by the officials hsie. However, ttie'petilars appear to bs an enc-rge'.ic sot of meu, cud they stick to their axe, cutting down va'nabls timber which the Government will yet wi&h they had reserved. The most valuable of this is totan>, black pine, ami red pine. Meetings.— A meeting was beU\ in Hevuyapa School bouce on Thursday night for the putpoie of forming a vigilance comimttre. Mr Jain* s W right •was voted to the chair, and after a short expla»atiou called en Messrs Johiißton and M»if_in, dtlpgales from Tahakiipu, to give an explanation of what had been done in 1 heir district, 'irey explained that a mealing had been h* Id there, at which it was decide! to get the various distrrte to co-operate and form vigilance committees in each contrc— viz ,at b'atanui, Houipap*, Tahabupu and Chat-lands. After this the following committee was <1 cted :— MePSisHarJand, Burton, "Warncck, Bimows, Gywnne, J. Wright (chairman and t-eci etary). The committee's duty will fee to take an inteicst in all matters fvr the advancement of the district. Railway Extension.— A meeting of sb-.ut 20 settlers was held in the Kataruu School «n August 5 to cemfcider the at\vis.iiul;ty of pctiti ming (lov-'inment to extend the Outlins 11 ver ia;l■way as far as Taliakupu. Mr W. Ciilton was voted to the chair, ami addressed the meeting briefly. Mr Johnston lead the pelnioii, ana Mr Moirm&Vid and Mr Moncur secouded, " 2 hat the petition be approved as worded," and a further motion "That a vigilance committee be formed to advise with Tahakupu aud other centres, said eon mittee to consist of five members," was also carried, and the following committeo was duly appointed i-Mc-sPis Leal, Carltoo, Moncur, Callahan, and h.uv, with Mr Carlton chairman aud Hr Shaw secietaiy.