MAKARAKIA VALLEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 27 July 1909, Page 3

MAKARAKIA VALLEY.

(From a Correspondent.) July 22. — Thinking it was about time someone let your readers know we were at ill in existence, I propose sending you a few items that may be of some interest. Everything appears to be going on smoothly, notwithstanding trost and rain and floods. Happily wo are not troubled with the unemployed problem, as far as those settled in the valley are concerned, having plenty to do oneself and some are able to find others employment, which goes to show that settlement of such places tends to assist in solving the unemployed problem to a great extent. There is some bush-felling being done here this season, Messrs. M'lldowney Bros, haying let some, finding employment, with themselves, for some seven men. Others are having improvements done in the shape of fencing, etc., and everybody finds plenty of work to do. Messrs. Beckbessinger and Buchanan also have let ft contract for felling bush on the education reserve recently leased by them. The Kiwi Road work, like other backblock roads, is at a standstill, and the general impression here is that the decision of the Government to do away with the Roads Department will be a very bad job for such districts as this, where we are so badly in want of decent roads,' having only a six-foot track, although the first settlers arrived here over thirteen years ago. And how can we expect better treatment when the local bodies have the spending of the roading grants? In the past it ha« been too much trouble for them to look after the proper expenditure of th« thirds, and they have in many cases spent it on the main road, or on roads that had no right to it. I am very much afnid it will be a sorry muddle, and a bad day for the settlers who have spent many years, away back in the mud and slush, having to pay enormous prices to get their stores in and their produce out. It appears to be a distinctly backward step as far as isolated settlers are concerned. I think exception may also be taken to the remarks of Councillor Hunter re the co-operative system of road works, etc. — remarks made on the occasion of Mr. W. T. Jennings', M.P., visit to a meeting of the Clifton County Council, when Councillor Hunter is reported to have expressed the wish that the alteration in the mode of spending road grants would have the effect of doing away with the co-operative system. Now, sir, one would like to know what a young man like Councillor Hunter knows about the co-op. Is he aware that but for the co-op, nearly the whole of the well-to-do settlers of his district would have been unable to take up land, and, if they had taken it up, would have been unable to havo kept it going? Whereas, having the means of obtaining work (without the old style of outside competition) they were thereby able not only to get land, but to keep it, and with the assistance of that great department instituted by the Jovernment— -vis., the Advances to Settlers Office — have been also able to stock their holdings, and to-day, instead of being on the unemployed list, are in many cases able to give others a job, and in the season get a good fat cheque for their milk every month. The co-operative system has doubtless been the means of putting many thousands on the land since the inception of the scheme, and, what is better, kept them there. But unfortunately iso many forget this, especially when they are able to run alone, as it were. Much more could be said in favour of the name, but space will not allow ; but I think it will be found that the doing away with the co-op, will only make matters worse, and will not be quietly submitted to by those interested. A post office was opened here on February 6, under the name of "Rerekapa," this name being selected hy the department owing to similarity of names to Mnkarakia (correspondents please note); Mrs. J. Hutchins as posttfistresA; Jimmy takes out the mail on Saturdays, returning Sundays during winter;* out and return same day in summer. Should bnsiness warrant, the telephone will he extended here, when the Kiwi Road is through, the nearest telephone office being about five miles distant (Okau). The main road and the Upper Okau Road are reported as being in a very bad state, vehicular traffic being nearly impossible. A bridge over the Waitara River at the Rerekino Road, off Moki Road, is to be built on the suspension principle. I understand this bridge, which originally was to have been a narrow bridge of some two feet for crossing over sheep, is now to be nine feet wide. Weather : Plenty of rain.