RANGITIKEI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 11131, 17 February 1886, Page 2

RANGITIKEI.

The political air of Balls is being gently put in motion. The member for the district is stirring round, presumably kissing all the mothers' darlings (of course this only applies to the infant darlings), and the would-be members are making ready to do likewise. The local politicians are buttonholing the electors to ascertain how the wind blows i with them, and to endeavour to instil their own particular views into their minds, but the strong element seems to be with the Bulls eleotors, how they can euchre Marton ; however, time will tell. If building is the sign of prosperity in a place, then Bulls appears about to emerge from its long sleep. There is a handsome new shop and residence just finished in the main streeti the Presbyterian Church is being added to, Dr Froode has just had completed a splendid family residence on the bank of the Bangitikei river, immediately behind his late residence, and several minor buildings and alterations going on indioate a lively time for the building fraternity. Host Akers, of the Criterion Hotel, has joined the vast army of martyrs — I mean benedicts — and has effected a wonderful improvement in the homeliness of the hotel, which is now one of the most comfortable on the coast, and next to comfort, charges reasonable. Harvesting oparations in the district are now nearly completed, and satisfactory crops are the rule. Mr Donald Fraser, of Parewanui, has got his oat crop safely threshed and housed, and the Maoris of Parewanui are making strenuous efforts to do likewise while the weather holifs good. The district of Parewanui contains some of the finest land I havn seen in the North Island, and must soon take a foremost place in grain producing, its large flats being admirably suited for it. There is a nice little new church built there, priucipally for the use of the natives, a marked feature about it being a brick family vault belonging to the Hunia family. The natives here arc an industrious and intelligent class. It is a pity that the native children are not schooled with the Europeans, as nothing teaches like example, and from the appearance of the natives I believe they would turn out their children so that fault could not be found on the ordinary ground of want of cleanliness. Since the advent of the new teacher (Mr Harlock) here the school is getting into a flourishing state, and all the parents seem very pleased to havu obtained his services. Mr David Scott has built a fine residence near the ferry, whioh ia quite an ornament to the place and onß of the handsomest places in the district, Burrounded as it is by a beautiful shrubbsry and splendid orchard. Eambler.