MATIERE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144145, 15 July 1913, Page 7

MATIERE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) July 12.—A series of hard frosts were broken by rain on the 9th but forsts are again in evidence, and the latter part of the winter promises to bo a hard one on stock, in fact I have heard of some losses already, but of course this may bo the result of injudicious selection or overstocking for tins, in common with other districts, has a class who see the grass through a magnifying lens. The main road is beginning to cut up badly and promises to bo even worse than in previous winters. In addition to.the increased traffic with extended settlement and increased population, the Public Works Department aromarting gravel, etc,, along the Ohura Hoad to put in concrete culverts at the Twelve-mile. Quito a lively scries of detonations attest the fafct that th© advance gangs are firing their useful salvoes, the sound of which to those expecting railway communication are even more welcome than a royal salute. I learn that all men who come along can find a job, tho department having instructions to put on as many gangs as possible. About thirty firms of contractors were, at different times, inspecting tho tunnel contract and w© should soon hear tho price of tho successful tenderer. Small contracts arc offering, it is said, in tho Ohura Valley between tho tunnel outlet and Matiero, tho term being specified as twelve months, bo that there is every promise that Mr. Massey will carry out his ondertaking to push both road and railway. While some take the extremely selfish view that the whole of the vote should be ox ponded at this end, I think that tho reasonable majority recognise that the far back settlors of Tahora and Moki Bead and their hintcr lands have just as tough a row to hoe as tho wayback settlors here, and, provided, we got a fair road in tho meantime, are willing to wait. I should be exceedingly sorry, if, through tho clamour of a a lack of sympathy with its natural less of cohesion, should prevent back districts from working to obtain a fair recognition of their just claims to a more equitable apportionment of public expenditure. As'far as one can sec the most fiery demagogues in railway agitation are those who wish to sell out or those who, quiescent enough while the Liberal party reigned are not so tolerant of tho efforts of an administration opposed to their own views of politics. When we remember that our worthy member, Mr. C. K. Wilson, has only belonged to tho “top dog” side for twelve months and in that time has induced the Hon. Mr. Massey to visit the district and has travelled all over his own electorate, penetrating in some' cases tho more inaccessible places on foot, the sight of tho shiny bald patch overlying Cf.K. is a very welcome one to settlors as a whole. His latest "activities promise to considerably ameliorate tho lot of tho married settlers in the Tangitu Block where ho took tho Prime Minister on horseback to see and hoar at first hand the settlers’ needs and requirements. Some migrations are taking place from this district to tho newly opened blocks north or Ougaruo. Mr. M'Gregor, of Otangiwai, with his family, are noV settled on their farm at Waimiha, and Messrs. E. P. Ryan, A. Lyford, and J. Boult, are leaving for the «cmc destination very shortly. Mr. Baitt, a settler at Whenunkura, was recently married to Miss Vincent, who formerly taught tho school hero. Tho children of tho school presented an address to the bride and tho ceremony was celebrated at tho residence of Mr. W. J. Coventry. I believe that later tho happy couple wore serenaded by friends at their own residence, extracting quite a volume of sound from tin instruments whose cadences if they lack melody, wore not difficiont in goodwill and tho evidence of various boots and a fair sprinkling of rice would have hinted to a “Sherlock Holmes” that ft wedding had taken place, while the presence of sacks on the chimney top gayo token that some of our boys possess a keen but rather perverted sense of humour. A fair amount of crop is being put in round about, land in various quarters receiving its first*levelling of hummocks and ploughing to make its transformation from virgin soil to cultivated paddock. A few lines of fat bullocks are going out of tho district and mobs of stores and sheep are being brought in. Some of tho latter have come from as far afield as Waipawn and it will be interesting to see how Hawke’s Bay shocp thrive hero. Mr. Jebb, our local sartorial artist, lias erected a dwelling on tho Matiere town extension and is the first to build in that locality.

A grant has boon applied for to form the iVhonunkura Hast Road giving access to a newly opened block about four miles from Matiero.

Messrs. Weinberg and Julian, of Nihoniho, have both built comfortable residences lately. Mr. Gondfellow, of Hamilton, was recently through the district to arrange for supplies of cream to tho Waikato Dairy Company, but I have not heard of any business. The suppliers of the local factory are holding a meeting to discuss dairy matters shortly. A price equal to about 1r per lb is lining offered by tho Waikato Company, but this may not bo much better than local rates when carriage is considered.