TAKAKA.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13752, 18 June 1913, Page 6

TAKAKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Tho building trade is very brisk in Takaka at present —a sure sign of prosperity. The very fine dwelling being built at Motupipi for Mr. Harry Wallie is nearly finished now. Mr. J. A. J. McLean, mauager of the cement works, is having a comfortable bungalow shaped house erected for him at Pohara, and a little further on the same road the school for the Tarakoho children is well on the way. On Mo~ tupipi road Mr. D. B. Scott is putting up a dwelling for himself. In the township itself Mr. W. H. Green is erecting a house for himself. The carpenters are still busy finishing the anside work of the new wing Messrs. Kirk and Co. have added to their store, and Messrs. Haase and Son, of Nelson, have a big gang of men at work on the alterations to the Post Office, and a very good job they are making of it. When finished our Post and Telegraph Office promises to be right up to requirements, and a tremendous improvement on the old office. Some agitation has been raised, lately to try and get our harbour improved, and there is plenty of room for improvement. From various opinions I gather that the favoured remedy is systematic dredging. A good many favour the idea of abandoning the present harbour altogether, and making Tarakohe the port, with a light line of railway to the township. Nautical men. however, say Tarakohe is not a much better haven than Waitapu,, that the water is not much deeper, and, further, it can not be worked in all weathers. Whichever way it goes, it is manifest to all that something must be don© in the way of improving our shipping facilities. All Takakaites were naturally elated at the success of our dairy company in winning the hundred guinea cup for factory butter at the Waikato show. It was a big achievement, and speaks well for the product of the factory. Some 15 years ago this same factory, then owned by Messrs. Langridge and Co., scored a win at the Wellington show. The factory is shortly to lose the services of a valued member of the staff in the person of Mr. Peter Jenson, who is returning to his home in Denmark. At a meeting .of factory directors • last week Mr. Jensen was presented with a greenstone and gold pendant- by tho. directors,; and great regret was expressed at losing Mr. Jensen's valued services.

News has been received that the Rev. C. A. Crossmari; our Anglican minister, is shortly to be transferred to Brunnerton. Mr. Crossman has! been very active and zealous in his work in this district, and has made a host of friends, by whom he will be much missed. The name of his successor has not been disclosed yet. Master J. Sheary, cadet in the local Post Office, has also received orders to proceed to Oamaru. His place here will bo taken by Master Allan, from Collingwood. The skating carnival, held last Wednosdav, was a great success, and is to be repeated this Wednesday, when it promises to eclipse the first performance.

The bachelors of Takaka are preparing to hold their annual ball.. This function is always eagerly looked forward to, as the young men here run these things very well The football teams are hard at it every Saturday battling for supremacy. On last Saturday Collingwood brought down a fine sturdy team, and proved far too strong for Golden Bay. The latter team has a few good backs, but the forwards this year are a veryscratch crew. Collingwqod has .nqrcr played ~ throe niatches^'^nd notcheel .three, wins,. so they, have a big'mortgage over the cup '■ this season.-• The Takaka district is trying; to maintain too many teams this year,for. thenunir ber of players engaged, and consequently all the teams are weak. At present there are three senior and two junior Rugby teams, and two League teams.

The weather at present is clear and very cold, with very severe frosts. Feed is very short, and the stock generally are having a very hard time. The cows have gone off to nothing, am* milk and butter are getting scarce commodities.The hens seem to be taken the same way, and there is a great shortage of eggs just now. The list of exports for' "the three months to ■ 31st March show that 541 pigs went over th© Waitapu wharf — this with an up-to-date bacon factory lying idle, and bacon retailing at about Is. a pound. What are the shareholders thinking about? Not very keen on dividends evidently.