MID-WAIAU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 34

MID-WAIAU.

August 1. — At , a meeting held at Eastern Bush in furtherance of the railway from Waicolo to Merrivalo the following delegates were present: — Scott's Gap — Messrs Officer and Dixon; Merrivale — Murchison (secretary) and Findlay; Feldwick— A. Salton and E. Davis; Otahu— Darley (chairman) and Fowle; Eastern Bush, Scobie. After a certain amount of discussion as to what place should in the meantime be asked for as the terminus, the following resolution, moved by Mr Findlay, was carried unanimously — " That the Waicolo-Orawia League urge upon the Government the necessity of a borrowing policy and a more vigorous construction of railways to meet the requirements of settlement, and also strongly urge upon the Government the claims of the Wai-cola-Orawia railway as a line that is urgently required, as settlement, mining, and all other industries in the above district are greatly retarded through the lack of railway communication." Mr Dickson, in speaking of 'the necessity for the railway, said that the settlers needed the hearts of lions. He had seen them with their horses' fastened to their drays on t'ae roadsides, and themselves passing, the night under the dray. It was obvious that 20 miles i\as much beyond the limit a man. could cart his produce profitably to the railway, and a large number, including all Eastern Bush, Otahu, Clifden, and "VVairaki, to say nothing of the country stretching ever to the north and west back to the lakes and "West Coast ranges, lived far beyond that limit. It was stated that nearly all the country within the Waiau, Takitimo, "Wairaki, and other districts which would be tapped by this railway vas held from the Crown under one or another form of tenure. Various practical suggestions were made as to carrying out the plans of campaign more effectively, and at dusk the meeting was adjourned until the first Saturday in October. Several of the delegates had a very long ride. The weather was bitterly cold, and the ground deep with snow. The state of the weather kept back the Wairaki and some other delegates. Surrendered and Open for Selection. — An immense area of country to the west and north has either been surrendered or forfeited. Next week a batch of these sections is open to selection. Most of the country was much over valued when opened about six years ago. It is stated that -when the Land Board was on its tour of revaluation a yea.r ago, they went to work with such good will that the new value of the land was found to be less than what the Government had paid its civil servants, the co-operatives, for their work on the roads and bridges. This yarn is given for what it is worth. At the meeting one farmer stated that he had 13 stacks of oats, which he would 'let stand otfer until another year, and that in the incoming season he was not thinking of putting any area in cereaJs. It was also stated that Mx Gates's property — a highly fertile and valuable block, had been sold for i' 3. Merrivale had been acquired by the Government; at £2 10s. The farm directly opposite Mr Gates's was let at more than double the value — viz., at £6 03, although it is not one whit more fertile. Weather and Agriculture. — The weather has been particularly bad. Other districts (judging from reports in your columns) must, however, have had it a lot worse. This makes us less inclined to growl. Ploughing is going merrily ahead. The settlers on the much-bespattered Otahu are seeing what it is made of. One settler says he is not frightened of it if he can get plenty of fertilisers on it at a reasonable rate. At present Mr Gardner, of Birchwood, has some splendid sheep running on a portion of it. Most of them are his stud jßomneys. Roads. — I always thought that thp two-chain load running through Otahu would be easily kept in repair, but I am of a different opinion now. Although the ground is light and shingle lie? not far below — in fact, at some places on the surface — yet with the smallest amount of traffic the road is in a very bad state. This points to a bad pan underneath. Our Cattle. — This district is lightly stocked this year, though far more cattle have been wintered by the farmers than previously. Cattle however, aie not generally in favour. The quality is improving. Merrivale station has some very well-bred animals, chiefly shorthorn. I notice that a. blue rpan animal is always a good doer. ''This cross seems to be 'the result of a mixture of shorthorn and polled Angus blood. That pretty breed, the Ayrshire, seems going out of favour.