WAIKAWA VALLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 31

WAIKAWA VALLEY.

April 30. — The school committee election fell through again this year, just as it did last year, but not from the same cause. Last year it was a beautiful bright night, and most ot the householders were engaged putting the last of the crop in the stack, and only the chairman and one other householder turned up. This year it was a dark, wet night, and onlj one householder came to the scratch— the chairman no doubt thinking it was very. much more comfortable at home than tramping or even riding to the school under such circumstances.

Communication with Fortrose.- — Our mail coi'tractoi has succeeded in getting the time table altered so as to allow him to leave Fortio=e at 9.30 a.m., instead of much earlier as hitherto, arriving at the Junction at 1.30 p in., Waikawa 2.30 p.m., and the mail will also reach Waikawa Valley at 2.30. This will make it much more comfortable for any passengers by the mail coach.

Waikawa-Wyndham Boad. — The Government — or those who act on their behalf in the district — seem to think that it is much better to keep a comparatively useless road in repair, by spending a considerable amount yearly in removing slips and filling up scours, than to sp?nd a few pounds and open up the whole road to wheel traffic. I refer to the Waikawa-Wynd-ham road. Thousands of pounds have been • spent on this road at one time and another, then all expenditure on further construction suddenly ceased about 18 months ago;- just when all the heavy work was done, and' such settlers and others who were compelled to use the road for stock, etc , were left to find their way for o> mile or two over an old sledge track,made, I believe, in the sixties, but on which at present all the old culverts and bridges have collapsed. The ' M'Lennan Bros, kepi, this track in very fair repair until it began to be used so extensively by the public a iew years ago. Since then they, as a matter of course, have expected it to Ls kepi in repair by the servants of the public, but have been disappointed in their expectations, and I fear the only way to get the Government to complete this road is to get them first of all to establish an improved State farm settlement somewhere on the top of the saddle. The land is not much good for such a purpose, bift-^such a small item as the quality of the land is ~iiot usually taken into consideration by the powers that be. 1 really think we should rea«e to ask for the completion of the road, and instead try to get the aforesaid State farm established, with all the necessary appendages; then we will find some philanthropic M.H.R to erect a dairy factory on a 7 percent, basis; after that we shall have the road to a certainty — peihaps a telephone.