TE RAU-A-MOA.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 214, 23 May 1913, Page 3

TE RAU-A-MOA.

(Own Correspondent.)

An enthusiastic meeting of settlers was held in the school house on 19th instant. Mr j. Randall was voted to the chair, and Mr R. C. Honore appointed to act as secretary to the meeting. The chairman explained that Mr J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato district, would be in Te Rau-a-moa the next day to meet them, and it was desirable to discuss and arrange the business to be put before that gentleman during his visit. It was resolved on the resolution of Mr French, and secondejd-by ,Mr Le Prou, that this meeting of settlers is of opinion that all stock reserves in this district be thrown.open for selection under the optional tenure, as reserves are a menace to successful settlement. Mr French stated that a reserve Section 10 Block 10, Hauturu Road, was an instance. Mr Randall referred to a 50 acre reserve at the junction of the Kihi and Hauturu roads. Mr Honore also mentioned the* 150 acre reserve at the junction of the Pirongia West and main Pirongia to Kawhia coach roads. All these three reserves were unimproved, and thus interfered with adjoining settlers ring fencing their sections.

[t was proposed by Mr* Smith j and seconded by Mrßendall and j carried unanimously that Tapu- j hunaku block, comprising about j 3,000 acres ol' unimproved crown j land facing Hauturu Omarau and j extending to Kaimangu and ; Kihi roads, should be immediately thrown open by the Government for selection under the optional tenure. On the motion of Mr Dassler seconded by Mr Le Prou, it was resolved that this public meeting of settlers’ protests against the wholesale speculation in native land in this district, and urges upon the Government the necesj sity of compelling lessees to im- | prove Slicir lands before disposal. ; of same. jf '< It was reported at the meejrfng ; that iij the district there the \ following native I lands,which had bem/clcalt with 1 and refold, and mirone pennyworth had been effected: —Hikurangi block of 900 acres; also blocks on the main coach road east ol Te Rau-

! a-Moa and on the Otorohanga | Road of 400, 140, 600, and 190 ! acres.

It.was resolved, on the resolution of Mr Le Prou, seconded by Mr Randall, that Messrs Young and Wilson, M.P.’s, be asked to urge upon the Government the need for metalling the main coach road from Te Rau-a-Moa to Opa ran. if was also resolved to ask that that portion of the main coach road between the Ngutunui bridge and the terminus of the present metalled road be metalled.

During the forenoon ot 1 uesMr Young paid a visit Te Rau-a-Moa, and there received a deputation from the settlers in regard to the requirements ot the district. He was accompanied by Mr R. T. Davies, the County Council Member of the Riding.

Messrs J. Randall and Le Prou were the spokesmen, and 'aid before the member lor the district the resolutions arrived at by a meeting ot the settlers held the clay before. In reply, Mr Youngsaid that he had noted all their representations, and he would place the.ll before the various Ministers and authorities concerned. He had seen for himself the conditions of life oi the pioneer settler in the new and rough districts, and would take a pleasure in urging their claims Unpractical sympathy and encouragement at the hands of the Government of the clay. At the request of the chairman of the school committee, Mr Young and party were invited to the school house to see the conditions under which the children had to spend the winter. The need tor lining tlie inside walls of I’ve school, and the building ot a large open fireplace to heat the room can well be realised when it is known that the settlement is over 1,430 feel above sea level. Mr Young explained that the matter was one for the Board of Education, and he would have much pleasure in seeing Mr Garland and Mr Edgecombe, members for their ward on (he oiukbnd Education Board, and emphasize their needs for more comfortable quarters for the school children. At the time of the visit the strong wind was beating the rain through the weather-boards into the school room. While at the school Mr Young was invited to address the children, and in a brief interesting speech urged them to make the best of their opportunities while at school, because the instruction and training taught there along with what they obtained at home was the foundation upon which their manhood and womanhood was built. He hoped they would all grow up to be good men -and good women. Mr Young proceeded to Pirongia by the mail coach, and before leaving was cheeied by the children and heartily thanked by the settlers for his visit and the interest he had shown in them in travelling their by-roads through the bush country as well as the main coach road.