MILLERS FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1115, 31 January 1885, Page 3

MILLERS FLAT.

(From our own Co-respondent.)

As we have just started on a new year, a resume of the past year may not be out of place. We are still progressing. New buildings are springing up. Good land, wherever available, is being taken up, fenced, ploughed, and otherwise improved ; but the greatest drawback to the district is the dilatoriness of the Land Board in placing the land in the market, and when it is for sale placing a monstrous upset price on it. This was the case in rural sections here, and another instance I will bring under notice is in the case of block xin, Benger district. If the Board would throw open the block in question under the agricultural lease system, I will guarantee that the half of it will be taken up within a month by bona fide settlers. As it is, the block is lying idle, and, belonging to no one, the Crown is receiving no revenue from it. If the country is to progress, the sooner the members of the Land Board rouse themselves out of the lethargy into which they have fallen the better it will be for the country at large. Failing that, it would be better to abolish the Board altogether, and give the administration of the land to the local bodies, who are much better able to classify the land and value it than a Board such as we have in Dunedin. lam certain double the settlement would have taken place here if the land had been thown open as it ought to have been. Still we are progressing steadily under all the disadvantages we are saddled with ; and one of the chief of these is railway communication. Speaking of railways, I thought the Lawrence people were to hold a meeting early in January to take steps to extend the Lawrence line. If prompt action is not taken before next meeting of Parliament, Lawrence will be completely isolated, as I am pretty certain the Swift Creek railway will be extended to Moa Flat, when you may bid good-bye to your up-country friends." . Mr Shiels, of Millers Flat, started cutting a field of oats to-day. Harvesting will be pretty general in another week. ■ A geld of about 25 apres waa cut at

Teviot Station last week. The straw certainly was there, but the oats the sparrows and linnets took as clean as if the stuff had been threshed. Mr Elder (of Moa Flat) likewise suffered with a field of oats.

Everywhere the small bird 3 are to be seen daily on the wing in alarming numbers. They are nearly as great a nuisance as the rabbits. lam happy to say the rabbits are not nearly so great a pest this year as last. The settlers are now destroying them every month of the year, which prevents them increasing in such numbers as they have done in the past. The vigilance of the Rabbit Inspectors also keeps the settlers hard at tvork. I am glad to see the County Council is calling for tenders for part of the road, Beaumont to Miller's Flat. A most necessary part of the road that requires making is fro.n the Menzion Burn to the north end of Anderson's contract. Until this is finished the settlers here are completely cut off from getting firewood. There are plenty of idle men travelling throughout the country, and now that the money is voted by the Council the road should be proceeded with, as this is a better time to carry out the work than during winter. January 26th, 1885.