RATANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 35

RATANUI.

May 28. — The weather during the past wes-k has been very frosty the-re having been fottr nights of frost in succession. This is raither vnnusual ia this diaudct. This morning is cloiidy, and there are sign® of a rapid thaw. The days now ar-e nearly as short as they will be, as for about two months scarcely any dliffeience is noticeable. It is to be hoped the weather will continue good, and thus speed us past the middle of winter.

Railways. — Our railway is proceeding slowly bu* suxeJy. I suppose it is only natural to look for a spurt before election time. There is a strong agita-lion to have a siding put in a<t Hoavip-apa, as this is th<» centre where traffic converges from the surrounding districts — viz , from Waikopa. the M'Lennaa River, etc., and until the line is finished to Tahakopa this wmild be their nearest station. At present a sawmill is lying idle waiting for the train to run to -enable the timber to be sent out at a profit, end there i 3 no doubt m-ora will be started on the connection being completed. Church.— The contract for the erection of the Ratanui Church hias been let to Cos and M'Lean, of Owaka, and the new church will soon be an accomplished' fact. Roads. — Our roads are very muddy at present, but no very deep ruts have been cutTh them so far. As: a sample of the way county matters are mar aged, or mismanaged, I may state the- case of a local sawmiller, who was arraigned before the court at BalclTitha, for overloading. It seems that he put on hisi team and all hia men la3t winter to make part otf the road passable, besid-es which he has laid' out mouey on it this year. "Undter the circumstances it seems extraordinary action on the part of the council to go to the expense of prosecuting- this man, ajid it is not surprising that it moat signally failed. Would the money it wasted on this case not have been better spent on the roada? This is only ona ease of its bungling, and shows how the money is frittered away, with nothing to show for it.