RATANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 29 January 1902, Page 31

RA TANUI .

•January 27 Tie weather diu.n^ tho lv I - days vas rather Inoken. but vine then thc-e has been sou:e ver> dry weatuc., 01'y biokeii hut week In- a i.;is«iDg storm, ro doubt f he i-ffecl o: tho heavy bush lire" or> the Australian 1 oast. It ifc often nctn ed he-iP that whe.v.-n,-there arp any bush fires Hicre n su.e to be a fall of lain soon aftei vvjucU.

Public Meetws— A nn-etin£r wa-- ho d m Ratanui scnool en ha»tirdny, 25th, 4!) sc'tlpi" 1 Demg present, and Mr iioir occupyui^ the 1 (hair. Tho Chnnruai e.xb'a.neu that the moetin? was r.ille<l for the purpose of forming I a \i^ilancf Cominittep to keep in tovch witll ' the Catlms Rivei R.uh.ay League, «ome mpm- I bfrs of wl'ich had just made a tour 01 tho dis- ' tntt, and had gone away evidently wrJl satisfied I with their tup. A <=trong committee ' 101 rued, consisting of Mes«rs Mou (chairman), I Cowper fsecrctarj' and treasu-er), Williamson I White, Find'ater, Shaw, M'Master, Allen, Pol- I lock, W. Carlton, Warnock. and Harrington It wa3 decided to meet on the last Sdturd:i\ n; ) every month aad repoit progre'« The tnn , mittee has been formed of genuine set; era, »nd they will no doubt make their influence felt >i ! the district Surely pome good v, ill come of I thia tup of M.H.K/& auu membei& oi the I

A Hint mittec. — I have raents on the act Ct mmittee in en millers and other c loads on their waggons. (act that to overload a b in the state the roads have nine months was simply It is ceitainly a very un-^ on the part of the Takali Committee to try to take- the brea i •ieighbour%' months. The roads exist use of the public generally, not for any section of the district. They have been maae irom general revenue, and every settler in New <SeaJand helps to pay for them. Wake tip labakopa, and take a wider view of everything generally, and you will command the respect oi every right-thinking person. Beaurieß of Mature.— This is the time to see our district at its very best. No doubt many tourists will find their way down here tor a holiday. The rata is very beautiful, and could one be transported to your fair city just as it looks at present and kept fresh it would draw lnrgs crowds to admire its beaitty [There are a number of ratas in Dunedin privato garden', and the bloom hai certainly attracted attertitm for years past.— Ed.] I notice, many people think the rata only blooms once in three years. but that is a misconception, as it blooms regularly every year, and has done so to my own knowledge for the last 12 years. T&e ko\yh.u also blooms every year. The Apiary.— There are a large number of bee-Uini€i-s about here now, and rightly managed there is a good living to bo got from keepm? bee?. Nearly every tree in thy bush supplies hoDey or pollen, and as there is a contirnuus b.oom from early spring to well on m the autumn it can readily be understood how tbe was do so well. At present there is rata holly. veronica, and niiny beautiful Wiule ilunoers m the bu3h, augmented by a pieii;itul fciiuply of white clover. Apian^ts «ua 'i:sv cx.ucxi.,g the honey at nresor.t.