DISTRICT NEWS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 245, 28 December 1894, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From our own Correspoiideiua). Makuri.

Our cricketer* are to be congratulated 5n the success of their tour. They on# and all speak in high praise of the kindniM shown them both at Pahiatia and Woodv ilk* Return matches between both place# (ire looked forward to after Xmas with pleasure. Mr Schroder, of the A.M.P. Life In- j mirnnce Company, is out and about, and with him Or Scott. Mr Haslett and Mr H. W. Briggs, J.P., paid Mttkuri a visit on official matters I connected with the will af the late Robert Beattie. Mr Corbin took ad vantage of the late hot weather to burn his bush, and jjdging from appearances ha# had a fair one. It is surprising (after what the lion the Premier said at Ng&turi at the bridge j opening ceremony) that no effort* at ali | are being unde by the Government either 1 to open tiie Makuri-Aohauga road or the j Makuri - Woodville road. Settlers and j others are beginning to believe in what • the Opposition say in reg&id to the Hon. Seddon's statement# that there is something more in them than mere “ Opposi- ; tion barrack." The Makuri-Woodville read ha* some miles of road and track formed, but owing to the usual departmental stupidity, the benefits derivable from this are rendered useless for the want of two small bridges, and for all purposes the road might still be in bush. Settlers require now to get in wire, grass seed, etc., and but for these two small spans could get their supplies in by dray for a long distance. As it is, a “ round-robin ’* *s being circulated to get up an indignation meeting and to forward a letter to the Hon. Premier asking him if he know# of | the present neglectful stale of affairs. I The weather has been all that could be ' desired for pu*hiug on and promoting settlement, but no advantage is taken of I this. Necessary works for which money | is placed on the estimates, seems only to ■ be expended when some cry is made from the unemployed. In fact it appears that settlement is dependent upon this. No further information of any sort is to hand . about the Government expert to revalue j land here.

Ngaturi.

Christmas has once more passed quiet’y enough—harder times and more work makes it to be regarded as very little more than any other season. Anyone, remembering Christmas twenty or thirty ye**-* ago, even in this colony, must realise the difference. However there are still some, despite the times, who cannot forget the Christmas of their younger days. One of these, Mr J. Dick, of this d;*:rict. who hails from Scotia’s shore, and whose hospitality is unbounded, welcomed a large gathering at his farm, where some thins of the old style was gone through. The Makuii hand echoed along the valley, and the visitors, keep ng time to the music, soon filled the spacious room, where everyone ha i to contribute to the evening « amusvmi nt. Those who were gifted with voices gat through their parts pretty well. But. alas, those who had indulg'd in the brawny pudding and had no room left for a voice, found :h*re was no quarter given. The entertainment was k- pt up until iniduight, when, aher partaking of a hearty supper, the visit >rs wended their way homewards - A large party of carriers and friends assembled a few day* ago an i succeeded in raising Mr Tuckey s brake from its awk ward position, it di tanee of some forty feet, to the load. Ii was eventual y towed behind Mr Futcher’s brak*- to undergo repairs. It wa* almost a miracle that Mr Tuckey escaped with his life, seeing the position in which he wa* found. Much sympathy is felt here for him, and it is to be hoped that a great many will turn up to the concert to be held at Tahiatua on Friday night for his benefit. Although somewhat reckless he w i, always ready to htdp those who required *»s*i**anee on the roads, and many feats of daring could be recorded of him while this river had been in Hood. etc. It is to be hoped he will soon recover again. Mr J. McLeod had a successful burn on his property to-day, and many others have set their bush going.

Newman

Most of the settlers here had quite a treat on Christmas Pay. Someone started a fire in the dry fern, and about one o’clock it began to blaze away properly, and as there wa* a nice wind blowing at the tiuae it spread in all direction*. Th# only damage done was a good few chains of fencing destroyed. A good many of the settlers turned out and rendered what assistance they could in putting out the fire near one or two places, a: the same time complaining that the smoke spo.lt the good dinners they had just been partaking of. A man named Delaney waa found dead under the Makakalii railway bridge on Wednesday morning. It is supposed that lie was walking over the structure and must cither have slipped or turned giddy, as he was picked up by the edge of the water. The fall is about HO or 90 feet. There is a notice on either side of the bridge cautioning people from going over, blit it does not scciu to d«ter people from making the attempt as it is a short cut from Newman to Kketahunr.. The inquest on the body will be held to-day (Thursday!. The Maknkahi railway bridge i« completed at last n* f: ; as the contractor is concerned. It only wants the rails laying now when everything would be ready for the iron horse. There is a tunnel being eompleted at the Deep creek which will turn the stream and allow the old bed of the creek to be filled in where the railway crosses it, and then nothing hind* rs the line being completed as far a* tiie Mangatainoka river except the powers that bo. The cattle stops, gates, and fencing are just, on the point of completion, but I suppose it will ho many a weary day before wo see the train running.