MAKATOKU NEWS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 679, 15 August 1884, Page 3

MAKATOKU NEWS.

(From our own Correspondent.')

I have to apologise to your readers for not having kept you better posted up of late, with the ordinary and extraordinary news of this very important centre of the bush, but my excuse is the political and social fever, which w r o are suffering from in its most virulent form. First, we had the licensing contest, which, as every one fought, was won by the Blue Flags with the greatest of ease, and as a result it was fondly supposed that the “ pubs” were completely annihilated. Now, from what I hear and know r , it has proved a mistake, as the practical result of the Blue Flag victory is that the “ pubs” are more plentiful than ever. The political contest I will not say much about, as it was a very onesided battle here, and only for the large barricades of poles, trees, and other things of that sort, the enemy could not have kept the field here at all.

The excitement of these contests has hardly had time to cool down, and yet another is commencing on Boad Board business. About a year ago the Makatoku District was merged intothe Ormondvilie District at the urgent request of the latter Road Board, who gave as their chief reason the smallness of their district, which gave them nothing to do and nothing to spend. Now, it appears that they have such a pressure of business and are so flush of money that they have appointed a clerk to help to do the one and spend the other. At present the total amount of their rates for Boad Board purposes is about £3O, and out of this magnificent sum they have appointed a clerk at the salary of £ls per annum. It is said by a good many people that the situation has been made for the man, and the mode of selection favoured that view of the case, the Makatoku people have determined to form themselves into a Boad District, and steps have already been taken in that direction. A meeting of those owning land or property in the district will be called for an early date, the particulars of which I will take care to furnish you with.