TAKAKA.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8300, 15 July 1895, Page 3

TAKAKA.

[BT OER SPECIAL COHBESrONDENT.J There is a Btir goicg oa now in this district to get a direct steamer service lo Wellington and the West Coast. Golden Bay has always been oot of it in this respect, and consequently, although a large producing people, we could not successfully compete With the outside world. Ihe business people and settler 3 here and in CoUingwood were raising a company to buy a boat suitable for the trade, anil now we understand the Eed Cro3B lite intends running the Manaia regularly from here to Wellington, and to the Coast when required. Should they do the thing satisfactorily as regards fivjghts and running they will doubtless keep the trade in their own hands, but the tettltra herp, elthough possibly not too flush of money at present, would certainly not belong denied in this respect, as they fully se3 the necessity of such a Eteam Eervice. Mess-rs Cro33 and Askew visited the Bay this week, making arraDgeaienta for their boat. With butter factories here and at CoUingwood a beat with a cool chamber will be wsn'ed before long, but this is an after consideration. This winter here has been the record one we hear from " the oldest inhabitant," and for wteks now we have bsen literally surrounded with enow, which as yet shows no Bigns of melting. We hear one or two have lost large number of sheep from this cause, Mr Flowers estimates hia loss at 000. We hope thiß report is over the mark. With snow, wet, and lack of funds, our roads are everywhere in a tad state. The slips on the Tukaka-P.iwaka hills are ohronic, and the contractors repairing ie are almost in despair. The m«in road through West Takaka, at Washaway Creek, has been pronounced unsafe by the Boad Board for months now, but beyond posting up a notice to that effect, nothing has been done so far. T^e Motupipi road is at present a bog. Trun funds and gravel are urgently in request. We must, however, wait patiently for spring, when the dry weather will soon improve things. A concert in. aid of Mr Qeorge Winter, of Wainui, waa got up and sucoessfu'ly carried through by Mrs G. C. Gilbert ou Wednesday evening, when a very well arra gedand pleasing programme wns gone through. A dance completed the evening, and we tru-t Mr Winter may derive some substantial benefit from them both. Some talk has arisen here through sesing our local dairy factory own ra oredited with doing big business in your town with their butter. We saw the replies also, and can sympathise with the factory owners, as we know they have had a big struggle to start their factory, and are not over the pinch yet, Fears are being entertained as to the safety of tbe schooner John Bell and her popular skipper, Captain Eirk. She left here for Lyttelton direct on June 23, an J beyond haviog been seen off the Kaik-uras, we have had no news of her.