Eastern Bush

Southland Times, Issue 13508, 16 July 1896, Page 3

Eastern Bush

. (FROM our own correspondent.) The winter has been very favourable for stock and all kinds are doing well. I hear of no loss anywhere from lung worm or any other cause. The clips in this quarter should be good, as turnips, which were below the average, are spinning out well, and there will be sufficient food to carry stock well into the spring. A party is at work at Clifden trying tho bed of the river for foundationsfor cylinders, and the banks as supports for anchorage. From this it would appear that the Government will call tenders for more than one kind of bridge. The settlers at Merrivale are now beginning to shape. Ono or two have not put in an appearance, but others are pushing energetically ahead. Messrs Scobie and Awdry have pub up splendid kowai fences which will last for a generation. Houses of one kind or another are springing up all over. Mr O’Kane looks most like an old settler as he has a couple of stacks up. I have not been along the road leading through the centre of the estate for six months. In answer to numerous enquiries I can inform your readers I will go over the roads at an early date and give an*impartial account as to their state, through yotS columns. According to what everybody say s—and what everybody says must be true—the state of the road between Mr Hector Morrison’s and the bridge beggars Messrs James King, Blatch, Tapper, 'and Norman McLaren are mentioned as being likely to contest the election for the riding at the County Council in November next. Mr W. 8. Lea was the recipient of a souvenir on his leaving the Feldwick and Eastern Bush schools to take charge of that at Garston, in the shape of a diamond and ruby pin, at a social meeting on 25th ult. The chairman, Mr J. H. Russell, in glowing terms spoke of the admiration which Mr Lea’s conduct and skill had evoked and the ringing cheers of the audience endorsed all the compliments the chairman had bestowed on Mr Lea. His successor, Mr Barraclougb, is expected to take up tho duties of the combined schools at an early date. A concert and dance was recently held at Eastern Bush in aid of the school funds. There was a hearty response to the invitation of the committee. One fault there was : the building was too small. The committee worked zealously to make the affair a success, and it is very gratifying to find their efforts crowned with success. To Mr Russell, the chairman, great praise must be given. Ho worked unweariedly. At the last general election the voting was very one-sided : Mr Mackintosh polled 48 votes to Mr Hirst’s 4. Voting will be more equalized should only two similarly representative candidates present themselves at the next election. Some are in favour of Messrs Seddon and McKenzie, while bitterly opposed to Mr Reeves and his school. Mr Ward was a tower of strength, but some of his adherents are likely to be pretty hard hit. Their argument is that if in the Ward Farmers Association all things were coleur de rose 12 months ago, while now a call appears imminent, is it not highly probable that the country’s finances are in like desperate plight ’ The action of the Land Board’s officials, who have been screwing things down pretty tight, has been the means of turning many from darkness to light. One thing is certain, viz , that of every score of men settled down on Crown lands 19 in a dozen years will become Tories. In this respect the Government has done well for the Waiau : may it continue its work until every cockatoo becomes a Conservative. Just one note for the last: Townsmen will wonder why ; workingmen will wonder why. Let them move over Merrivale ; let them cross the Waiau and go up the Lillburn; let them look at the farmers, ground down to the very last penny or threatened with total forfeiture. Then let them look at the scamped work done by Reeves’ men, which has to be paid for out of the scanty earnings of tho pioneers. Then they will cease to wonder. July 9th.